The Luncheon

"I'll leave you guys to it." Sky said as he left them both in the kitchen and went to his room.

Jake and Cat were in the kitchen still deciding on what to cook as lunch for everyone. "I think we should cook linguini with lots of condiments and assortments." Jake suggested.

"Really?" Cat asked. "What kind of assortments?"

"You know like minced meat, beef, maybe we can add a few pieces of tuna and bacon. Let's just throw some things in there, I'm sure it will turn out great."

Laughing Cat said to Jake, "This is why you don't know how to cook. You don't just throw anything into the food, there are things you can add and things you can't. Let this be your first lesson." Turning around and adding water into the pan, Cat left it to boil for some time. "We are going to cook the linguini and then make the sauce for it. Now pay attention."

"Yes ma'am." Jake said moving closer so he could see what Cat was doing better. "What kind of sauce are we making?"

"We're making the Aldoro sauce. Do you know it?" Cat asked.

"No, not really."

"Don't worry I'll show you. Just keep paying attention. You wanted lots of assortments that's why I chose the Aldoro sauce. We'll add some beef like you wanted, ham, and maybe a little bit of minced meat. Is that alright?" Cat asked him.

"Are you kidding?" Jake said clearly excited. "I can't wait for the end-product of all this planning. What's for dessert?"

"Fudge cake, strawberry pie and apple flavoured cobbler."

"I think I'm going to stuff myself full this afternoon." Jake commented.

Laughing, Cat removed the pan containing the already boiled linguini and began making the sauce while Jake paid very close attention to everything she did.

***

"Whoa. What is that?" Andrea asked as he came down the stairs and perceived the nice aroma wafting through the air.

"That, is the sweet scent of my delicacy." Jake answered from the kitchen.

"Ehem." Cat pretended to cough to get Jake's attention.

"Okay, it is our delicacy." Jake said signalling himself and Cat.

"Well, that smells delicious. I didn't know you had a friend who could cook this good Jake." Andrea said. "You should invite her over more."

Coming out of his room, Sky also perceived the aroma of the food that was almost ready. "I gotta say Cat," Sky said walking over to the dining table to take a sit, "you sure do know your way to a man's heart. Dad, I think I'm in love." he said to Andrea.

"Stop being silly Sky." Andrea told Sky. "Something tells me, Catherine here, is not into younger guys."

"What makes you say that Mr Dipson?" Cat asked.

"I have a very good intuition. That's all." Andrea answered giving Jake a knowing look.

"What?" Jake asked Andrea after seeing the look he was giving him.

"Nothing. Is the food ready?" Andrea asked joining Sky at the dining table.

"Yes." answered Cat. "Sky, Jake? Can you two please set the table?"

Getting up, Sky joined Jake in setting the table for lunch. When they were done setting the table, Jake went into the kitchen to help Cat serve the food.

"Wow!" Andrea exclaimed after eating the food that was served. "This tastes better than it looks. Did you put some secret ingredient in it or something?" Andrea asked Cat.

"No Mr Dipson." Cat answered smiling thankfully. "It was all teamwork. Well basically my work, the only thing Jake did was taste it every now and then."

"Hey hold up. Tasting is actually a very important part of cooking. You gotta know if the taste is perfect, that's why you need someone like me around the house." Jake said in his defense. "And besides I did mince up some of the meat didn't I?"

"Yeah you did," Cat answered honestly, "while your mouth was chewing most of it."

"Which sauce is this?" Andrea asked. "Is this the Aldoro sauce?"

"Yes Mr Dipson. How did you know?" Cat asked him a little bit surprised.

"Well I'm kind of a cook myself. Cooking is like my hobby. So yeah I know a few things." Andrea said feeling proud of himself.

"Don't praise yourself too much dad." Sky said, also enjoying the taste of the food in his mouth. "This is way better than what you're capable of, no offense."

"None taken. I am also aware she's a few steps ahead of me." Andrea agreed.

"Really dad, a few?" Jake asked with one of his eyebrows lifted up.

"Catherine, don't listen to them. You're an excellent cook." Andrea commended her.

"Thank you Mr Dipson. Who's hungry for dessert?" Cat asked after they had finished eating.

"Bring it over Cat." Jake said to her even though he had eaten enough food.

"Are you sure you can eat dessert bro?" Sky asked him with a skeptical look. "You look like your stomach is about to burst open." Sky said with a slight laugh.

"That's rubbish Sky. Cat, bring the dessert. I'm sure there's still enough space in here for some dessert." Jake said tapping his abdomen.

"Okay Jake. If you insist."

Clearing the table with Sky's help, Cat brought the desserts and they all got a taste of each of them.

"Ugh." Jake groaned while slumping in his chair. "That was officially the best lunch I've ever had. Thanks Cat."

"For what?" Cat asked.

"For everything." Jake responded. "I think I'm going to skip dinner. If anyone needs me, I'll be in my room. Sleeping while all this food digests."

"Next time don't eat so much." Andrea said.

Going to his room and immediately lying on his bed, Jake shut his eyes and slept off instantly.

***

Waking up later on in the day, Jake was still a bit groggy from his sleep. "Damn. All that food sure did a number on me." Jake said to himself. Seeing himself covered with his blanket, Jake was surprised. He didn't remember doing that when he laid down on the bed. Looking around him, he was shocked to see Cat sleeping in his bed with him with the novel from before open beside her hand.

'She must have come here to check on me then fallen asleep.' Jake thought. Getting down from the bed and putting Cat in a better position, Jake kept the novel on the table, covered Cat with the blanket, then laid back down to sleep but still leaving a reasonable distance between the two of them on the bed.