Richie in the Kitchen

“Richie what are you doing in there?” Toni yelled from the living room sofa.

“Lunch,” he yelled back.

Toni knew it was time to get off the sofa.

“Go back and lie down you know what the doctor said you’re to take it easy for a couple of days.”

“No way can I lay on the sofa while you’re in the kitchen, what is that?”

“Soup, a can of soup I can handle this Toni.” Richie was adding various spices and herbs from her spice rack.

Toni gave him a look, “and what’s that on your hand Richie, on the bandage?”

“Oh yeah a little problem with the can opener.”

“Honey, just quit I know what you’re trying to do but its driving me mental you’ve caused your hand to bleed and look, look at my stove.”

“Chill out Toni go back to the sofa.”

“No, no look at me…Richie?”

Richie turned and looked at her; everything he was feeling was in his face. Because of him she’d almost died in the back of that van he couldn’t do enough for her now that she was home and safe.

“I’m okay now, I’m here you’re here we’re safe and sound. I love you Richie.” His arms went around her.

“I can’t seem to hold you close enough,” he said into her hair.

“I know, I know.” It was the same for her. “You go sit at the table and let me finish this concoction you’ve got going.”

“I’ll make the sandwiches,” he said.

“No, I don’t want blood on my bread, I’d prefer ketchup. Sit, please.”

Toni found the can to see what kind of soup he was doctoring up on the stove and added a little parsley.

“Did you take your pills?” she asked.

“Um no.”

Toni found his prescription by the sink and got him a glass of water, “open,” she said placing the pill on his tongue, “drink and swallow.” She said standing between his legs.

“Yes ma’am,” he replied. “Your soup is boiling over,” he said smirking.

Toni narrowed her eyes at him and removed the pot from the burner, “that’s because you had it on high you never heat-up things on high.”

“It said bring to a boil on the can, I was doing fine until you came in here.” He said. “I know my way around a kitchen.”

“Oh yeah then why haven’t you cooked up your specialty for us, you know spaghetti?”

Richie smiled, “they don’t have the right kind of noodles here in Oz.”

His spaghetti specialty was a running joke between them going back to the first time she’d gone over to his apartment in New Jersey for dinner.

“I’ll just bet Ivy could order them, she’s got connections down at the grocery now.” Toni grinned.

“That’s right maybe I’ll stop by there and see what she can do,” Richie was thinking about the new Italian chef at Andy’s, “I could also pick up the ingredients for a mean spaghetti sauce.”

Toni gave him a loving look, “you do that honey.”