When they entered the dining room, Estelle didn’t rush to sit down but waited for Eva and the children to return so she could sit between them, hoping to avoid Cristofer this time. To her surprise, he chose to sit across from her.
In this way, they didn’t sit far away from each other at all. What was worse was that they would look each other in the eye every time they raised their heads, so Estelle focused on her plate, feeling too nervous even to enjoy the smell of the ravioli.
Mrs. Moorsum assumed that Estelle and Cristofer still had a strong bond and that their current issues were not too serious. After placing all the dishes on the table, she tried to mediate between them. She encouraged Estelle, saying, “Estelle, try the pumpkin ravioli. I’m sure you’ll love it.”
Estelle, trying to avoid making eye contact with Cristofer, forked a piece of ravioli and tasted it. She felt warmth spreading through her as she took a bite. She complimented Mrs. Moorsum, saying, “Thank you. It tastes just as delicious as before. It’s amazing.”
Mrs. Moorsum was pleased to hear praise for her cooking and smiled, “Then you should have more. I made some extra pumpkin and spinach ravioli and stored them in the refrigerator. There’s also chicken soup still simmering in the kitchen. You can store it in the fridge and have it whenever you catch a cold.”
Estelle started to feel a sense of warmth she had before in the Rose Garden as she listened to Mrs. Moorsum’s chatter, and her mood improved.
“Estelle, you’re quite thin, so you should eat more,” Mrs. Moorsum continued. “When I drove Christina here, she mentioned that she didn’t want to be the youngest child anymore and wished for a younger brother or sister. You need to be healthier if you plan to have another child. Don’t rush into anything. Remember, the month after giving birth is crucial. If you get sick during that time, it could affect you for the rest of your life….”
Estelle suddenly coughed awkwardly, “Ahem! Ahem!”
As Estelle took a bite of ravioli, she heard Mrs. Moorsum’s words and almost choked. Fortunately, someone offered her a tissue to wipe her mouth, saving her from embarrassment.
“Thank you,” she said, assuming it was Eva who had given her the tissue. However, Cristofer leaned in and whispered, “You’re welcome.”
Estelle was taken aback and almost choked again. She glanced at Cristofer and then at his outstretched hands holding the tissues. Trying to hide her discomfort, she replied, “I was talking to Eva.”
Cristofer nodded calmly and asked, “Would you like another tissue?”
Meanwhile, Christina, oblivious to the situation, was happily eating ravioli with her mouth full. Yohan, more perceptive, fed Yvonne a cherry tomato to divert her attention.
Estelle impatiently grabbed all the tissues from Cristofer and continued eating while everyone else watched her with confusion. Mrs. Moorsum didn’t understand what was happening and looked to Eva for an explanation, but Eva shook her head to motion her not to ask further.
At this moment, Luke’s cheerful voice broke the awkward silence. Wearing oven mitts, he brought out a large pot of soup and said, “It’s chilly after the rain, so I made some soup. I’m not a good cook like Mrs. Moorsum, but my pear soup is delicious. Come on, have a….”
However, he abruptly stopped talking when he saw the embarrassed expressions on Cristofer and Estelle’s faces. Cristofer’s expression changed slightly, and Estelle’s face turned bright red. The soup seemed to remind them of a memorable night, although they weren’t sure if it was a pleasant memory. They both lowered their heads and started eating in silence.
Observing their reactions, Luke finally realized what had made them uncomfortable, so he quickly reassured them, “Don’t worry. It’s just pear soup with nothing special in it!”
Estelle glanced at the pot and nodded with a forced smile before resuming her meal. The three children sensed the awkwardness between their parents but didn’t understand why. They all looked at Estelle and Cristofer with puzzled expressions.
Eventually, Christina spoke up, “I know, Mom. You don’t like the soup because of its seasoning. You don’t like the smell of the sage leaves, right? Grandpa Luke, can I have the soup?”
Cristofer couldn’t help but chuckle but refrained from saying anything, quietly signaling to Luke not to bring up the soup topic again. He kept his head down and stole a glance at Estelle, who had turned beet-red. Seeing her embarrassment brought a smile to Cristofer’s face, and he thought, ‘You’re just as shy as you used to be, Estelle.’
Luke had completely forgotten about the previous incident related to the soup’s ingredients. He believed that the soup could warm them up on this cold day. He quickly filled Christina’s bowl with the soup using a large spoon.
However, Mrs. Moorsum looked at the soup with suspicion and stopped Luke, asking, “Luke, did you say this was pure pear soup? Did you add anything else?”
“No,” Luke replied with pride, “I learned this recipe from a friend.”
In Cristofer’s opinion, Luke could quickly learn almost anything except cooking. He couldn’t help but ask, “Did you consult an actual chef to confirm that your recipe is correct?”
Luke scratched his head awkwardly, setting the spoon aside. “Well… it’s just soup. You only need pears and water in the pot. Do I really need to consult a chef about that?”
Mrs. Moorsum quickly intervened, saying, “Oh, never mind. Let me take care of it. Pears alone aren’t enough; you should add some lemon juice, butter, and fresh sage leaves to enhance the flavor. You all stay here, and I’ll take it back to the kitchen. You can enjoy the dessert after the main course.”
This news delighted the three children, who knew that Mrs. Moorsum would treat them to something tasty later. Meanwhile, Estelle and Cristofer exchanged glances. Even though they quickly averted their eyes, they could still read each other’s expressions clearly. Cristofer couldn’t help but chuckle when he looked away, and Estelle rolled her eyes in his direction.
As everyone enjoyed their meal, Mrs. Moorsum retrieved the soup. Estelle suddenly stood up with relief and helped Mrs. Moorsum serve bowls of soup to each child and Eva.
“Mr. Hans should have some soup too; I can tell you’re not feeling well,” Mrs. Moorsum remarked.
Cristofer replied, “I’m fine.”
“I didn’t mean that,” Mrs. Moorsum winked at him, implying something. “Have you and Estelle had any recent issues? It’s been a while since you two had some fun, hasn’t it? Did you see how you looked at Estelle just now? It seemed like you wanted to devour her. I’m sure you’re quite eager.”
‘Psst…’ Estelle was so startled that she spat out her soup. She hastily grabbed a tissue and wiped herself and the table, apologizing, “Sorry, it’s too hot.”