An Encounter for a Lifetime

Chapter 10

There was a shift. A few days had passed since the beach outing, and Nathaniel had noticeably opened up. His increased frequency of texts and calls to Kanan was a change he welcomed; His worries about not staying in contact after the party seemed needless. The extension seemed promising for the continuation of their friendship.

"You're a great cook...but failing in the baking department," Kanan said.

"I can't be perfect," Nathaniel chuckled on the other end. "I can promise you a great meal with some burn cookies for dessert. I'll follow the recipe, but the result is anything but."

"I'm no professional, but I can offer you some lessons." Kanan offered. "My grandma taught me a thing or two. I can't have burnt cookies after delicious food." Growing up, Kanan found himself drawn to his grandmother's old recipe book, which was now his mother's. He would spend hours looking over the pages, imagining the enticing aromas and flavors.

One day, Kanan decided to try baking one of the recipes. With determination and a sprinkle of beginner's luck, he carefully followed the instructions, measuring each ingredient with precision and mixing the batter with care, his grandmother offering guidance in between. The kitchen filled with the scent of vanilla and cinnamon that traveled through the house as the cookies took form. His family gathered around to sample his creation. The cookies were a hit. Encouraged by their response, Kanan's journey as a baker began. Weekly, he experimented with different recipes that his family enjoyed. At some point, his weekly baking ended, but his passion remained true.

"We'd make the perfect duo. You handle the baking, and I do the cooking." Nathaniel responded. "I'll take those lessons, though I can't promise to make you proud."

"Now that I think about it, how do I know you're the best chef out there," Kanan stated. "Toast and eggs don't tell me much."

"I can make you dinner," Nathaniel offered. "What do you say? This Saturday? I could cook for you, and you teach me how to bake. A nice little dinner, just you and me." His words filled with uncertainty as he spoke, afraid of the possibility of rejection.

"We could do that. We haven't seen each other in a minute."

"Also, if you don't mind, I was hoping you could stop by the store this evening. I'm looking for some company."

"I'll stop by," Kanan promised before glancing at his buzzing phone. "Sorry, I'll have to call you back. My dad's calling."

"I'll text you the details."

The call ended. Kanan answered the incoming phone call. It had been a while since he last spoke with his father. Though they didn't have a bad relationship and were close, phone calls weren't a regular occurrence for them. The familiar tone resonated over the phone, "Kanan, How are you?" He said. "I've been meaning to call. Your mother called me. Is everything okay?"

Despite the end of their marriage, they maintained a respectable and friendly relationship that allowed open communication. It was just like Kanan's mother to continue to worry even after he said he was okay. "I'm fine. Better than I've ever been."

"I can tell by your voice. You sound happy." Kanan's days brimmed with new companions and joyful days, yet the concept of being happy never crossed his mind. Nonetheless, he found himself exuding an aura of enjoyment. "Kaelan did say that you found someone. Be sure to introduce them to the family. We could all gather for dinner." His father added.

Kanan couldn't believe his ears. Kaelan's playful disclosure had Kanan taken aback. "Just what is Kaelan telling mom and dad?" He thought. "Don't listen to a word Kaelan tells you. He's just a friend I made recently. He's a great guy, but we aren't dating."