Gloria abruptly halted what she was doing, her attention drawn to Lukas as he leaned over the dining table to examine the meal she had so carefully prepared earlier that evening.
It was unfortunate, really—she had already rinsed away and discarded nearly half of the dishes she'd spent hours crafting, her efforts seemingly wasted in a moment of quiet despair.
With a swift motion, she dried her hands on a nearby towel, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill over once more. She stepped closer to Lukas, gently taking the plates from his reach. "Hold on just a second—I'll reheat everything properly. Please, have a seat and wait."
Lukas stood there silently, his eyes following Gloria's every move as she darted between the microwave and the stovetop, reheating some portions with quic
