“You’re just in time,” he said as he took a delicious-looking lasagna out of the oven.
“Man, that smells divine.”
“Thank you.” Mack smiled as he set the bubbling dish on a trivet I’d forgotten I owned. The table was already set for two, with lit candles in the middle.
I put the wine to chill in the freezer. “I’ll wash my hands and be right back.”
“Okay.”
I ran upstairs quickly and cleaned up, placed supplies in the nightstand, and returned to the kitchen.
“Have a seat,” Mack said as he made himself comfortable at the table. I joined him. He’d poured wine into two glasses.
“Is that the bottle I…”
“No, I bought wine, too.”
“Ah.” I took everything in—the freshly made salad, the meal, the company. “I didn’t expect all this, but it’s perfect. Thank you.”
“I’m glad. I wanted it to be special. It’s a new year, and things are looking up for both of us, I’d like to think.” He raised his glass. “To new beginnings, Charlie.”