Recipe for Satisfacton(56)
He walked around the room as he spoke watching over the children. “Pour your mixture into the ramekin. Top it with the bread crumbs. You’re going to cut off a pat of butter and break it up, leaving dollops on top of the bread crumbs around the top.”
She was impressed with herself. It looked a little…homemade, but after following Jack’s instructions, she placed her dish into the oven.
“Excellent work, everyone. That will take about twenty minutes. Let’s clean up.”
Groans filled the room. Guess these teenagers liked cooking but not the cleanup that accompanied it. This was her favorite part. She watched Jack float around the room laughing and joking with the kids, but never once offering to help. He was a hard-ass.
“I don’t see you cleaning, Sterling Andrews.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You really are full of surprises, Jack Vaughn.”
“Impressed?” He leaned his hip against the counter.
She expected a fancy night out on the town, not an intimate glimpse into his private life. A fling didn’t usually entail revelations this big. Maybe she wasn’t the only one liking the idea of this becoming more than just casual. But she knew the score. In just over a week he’d be gone.
“Of course I’m impressed. These kids love you. They listen to you and respect you.”
“They’re great kids. Just misunderstood.” He looked around the room with a soft smile. “Emmett,” Jack pointed to the kid with the skullcap, “lives in an independent living home. He can come and go as he pleases. In another year he’ll be ready to work in a restaurant. I think Cole would be more than willing to take him on. The rest of them live with foster parents.”
“You give them jobs?”
He nodded. “When we can. That’s the whole point of this program. To not only teach them the life skill of cooking, but to equip them with some experience for securing a job in the culinary arts once they have to move out on their own. At least they’ll have a chance to support themselves.”
Every minute she spent with him impressed her more and more.
“Megan’s finally found a foster family that understands her.” He stared at the young girl who kept looking at him with stars in her eyes. “She’s been bounced around for years, every few months moved to a new family. I think this time she’s found a match.”
She knew exactly what it felt like to be overlooked, and she even had two biological parents. In her eyes that seemed not to sting so much. “Do they get adopted? Kids their age?”
His face hardened. “It’s very rare. We know the statistics. My brothers and I had lost all hope of finding a real family. Then Vivian came along.”
“Do you ever think of taking in a foster child?” She didn’t know if she had it in her to take in a teenager. She knew firsthand what a handful her own siblings could be, but they were family. She couldn’t imagine taking in a stranger. More importantly, if a woman was going to have a life with Jack Vaughn, she needed to know what was in store for her. Not that she would ever have a life with him. It was pure curiosity.
“I think about it. I feel guilty about it. But I move around too much. Foster kids need stability.” There was that guilt card. She knew all about that one.
“You shouldn’t feel guilty. You’re giving back. Just because you aren’t opening up your home doesn’t mean you’re not making a difference.”
He nodded, but she knew he didn’t take her words to heart. It was something he needed to come to terms with on his own.
The timers on the ovens went off almost simultaneously. The cooking time was up and the group spent the next forty-five minutes eating, laughing, and making fun of her inedible macaroni and cheese. Witnessing the program in action gave her a new appreciation for the work all four brothers did. They gave up their time and money to give back the same way their mother had. It was admirable. Jack was admirable. Worth so much more than he gave himself credit for.
The kids eventually filed out one by one, each making an effort to say an individual good-bye to Jack. Even Sterling got a couple of hugs.
As soon as the last kid shuffled out, Jack asked, “Are you ready for the second part of our date?”
Her stomach danced with excitement. “Let me guess, back on the motorcycle? To drive to a hot-air balloon? That will take us to a spaceship?”
Jack shook his head, laughing at her.
“Hah, no.” He grinned. “Come on. I want to show you something.” Jack wrapped his arm around her waist. “You were right about the motorcycle though. Ready to get back on?”
She sighed. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”