Page 34 of Sweet Madness

A “thank you for everything you did last night” breakfast.

“I hope he likes it…” I hesitate for a moment, not wanting to impose, but then I remind myself that everyone deserves sweetness and kindness in their life, and it seems Shaw Banning doesn’t have a whole lot of that.

With nimble fingers, I sift flour into a white mixing bowl, the powder cascading like snowflakes on a chilly Christmas Day. Beside me, the pink iPad Shaw gifted me last night rests against a jar of sugar, its screen showing an online tutorial from a creator called Cookie’s Kitchen, guiding me through the elaborate steps of crepe-making.

I’ve never made crepes myself, but I’ve enjoyed eating them before, and every time, it felt like tasting a little piece of heaven. The delicious treat always made me smile. Every. Single. Time. So as soon as I opened my eyes this warm summer morning, I made it my mission to make Shaw smile today or at least brighten his day just like he brightened mine yesterday.

And food always makes me feel loved and cared for. It makes me happy. He deserves that too.

“Okay, let’s do this.” I clap my hands in excitement and then reach for the neatly folded cow-print apron that I found tucked away in one of the cabinets, appearing as though it hasn’t been used in years. I tie it securely around my waist, the ties looping into a neat bow at the back. “You can do this, Ella. It looks easy enough...” I cheer myself on, and with a confident flick of my wrist, I crack three eggs into the bowl, the shells tapping lightly against the white ceramic surface. The yolks spill forth, golden and rich, blending seamlessly with the flour. As I whisk the ingredients together, a delicious aroma begins to fill the kitchen, the scent of vanilla and butter mingling with the fresh morning air. Outside, birds chirp merrily, their song as cheerful as my mood this morning.

Seriously, this place was a dream come true.

With my free hand, I lift a bright yellow mug with a happy face on it to my lips and inhale deeply, savoring the bittersweet flavor that dances across my tongue. Once I get my daily dose of caffeine, I continue with breakfast.

Once the batter is prepared, I pour a scoop onto the sizzling skillet, the batter spreading out in a perfect circle with a satisfying sizzle. I watch as the edges begin to crisp and brown, the crepe taking shape before my eyes. “Oh, I am actually doing it!” I exclaim in awe.

With a swift motion, I lift the crepe from the skillet, the surface golden and glistening with melted butter, looking delicious. A sense of triumph surges through me as I watch it land perfectly back in the pan after flipping it. “Yes!” I did it.

As I continue to cook and add the finishing touches to the food, the tutorial guiding my every step, I can’t help but think how magical this moment feels. Here I am, in Shaw’s kitchen, learning how to make crepes, feeling happier than I have in a long time after recently feeling lost and stuck.

Before, nothing felt right. This does.

Smiling, I look around the kitchen while the crepes cook on the stove. Then, I gaze out the window at the ranch land, feeling a rush of belonging that makes my smile even wider.

Could this be it? I wonder. Could this be what I’ve been missing? I think to myself as I continue cooking. When the last crepe sizzles to perfection, I can’t resist a smile of satisfaction. Carefully, I move them to a plate, the delicious aroma making my mouth water. I quickly add chocolate syrup to the crepe and a few slices of bananas and strawberries.

“Yum.” I lick my lips while I look down at my creation. “What a beauty.”

And here I thought I wouldn’t be able to make them this pretty.

Out of the blue, Shaw’s words from last night come back to me. He suggested I keep posting on social media as if nothing bad is going on, as if there’s nothing wrong in my world, and that he would protect me so no one and nothing would touch me. My heart skips a beat as I think about how confident he looked when he made his vow.

I believe him. So, with a plate of freshly cooked crepes in hand, I pause to snap a quick picture. The morning sunlight serves as the perfect filter, illuminating the plate. As I post it to my feed, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride. I did it. Yes, it might seem a little silly to celebrate baking something, but I didn’t know what I was doing, and I tried my best, so I feel proud. Now I just need the crepes to taste as good as they look.

I sent the same photo I posted on my feed to my sisters through our family chat. Alongside the photo, I send them a bunch of pink hearts, a chef emoji, and a cloud emoji. Shortly after, replies start pouring in from two of my sisters since one of them never wakes up this early. Ambrose wakes up with the moon.

EvieKenton: Yummy! ????

HavenSKenton: You did good, sissy! It looks delicious!!??‍??? ? ? ? ? ???

Me: Thank you, guys! It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be.?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??

Ambrose: User automated response. Fuck off. I’m busy.??

EvieKenton: Oh, I’m so telling Mom.

Haven: Evie…

AriannaKenton has been added to the chat.

EvieKenton: Hi, Mommy!!??

Ambrose: User automated response. Fuck off. I’m busy.??

HavenSKenton: ????

EvieKenton: Busteeeeed.