The kitchen was the warmest room in the house, filled with the golden light of the late afternoon sun and the comforting aroma of simmering beef and herbs. Delia was humming a happy, aimless tune, the sound a soft and cheerful counterpoint to the gentle bubbling of the pot on the stove. After weeks of tension and turmoil, this quiet, simple peace felt like the greatest of luxuries.
She was making beef stew, a recipe from a book she had bought in town some days ago. The book was propped open on the counter, its pages still crisp and clean. Eric was in his study, buried in ledger after ledger from his new responsibilities at Carson Textiles. She had decided to surprise him, to cook for both of them, to create a small pocket of normalcy in their extraordinary lives.
"Add vegetables," she said aloud to herself, her finger tracing the words in the recipe book. Her voice was light and happy. "Add chopped carrots and turnips. Cook for five to seven minutes, stirring occasionally."
