From Present to Past (Phantom of the Opera)

Chapter 13

(Nadir's POV)

"I'll go tell the chief to prepare supper." I said as I stepped out. Sarah smiled as Erik helped her out. "That sounds wonderful." She turned to Erik. "And you're eating it too." She said firmly. He sighed. "I suppose I am hungry." He said.

I smiled at them and nodded. Then I made my way to the kitchen and found Carly and Reza there instead of my head chief. "What are you two doing in here?" I asked. Reza grinned brightly up at me. "We're making supper!" He said.

Carly nodded and smiled, "Yes, I gave your cook the rest of the day off." I looked over at him. "I hope you don't mind."

I sighed. "Oh well. There isn't much point in trying to stop you anyway." I said. "What are you going to make?" I asked as I tried to get a peak of what might be going on.

"Have you ever heard of Sloppy Joes?" She asked with a smile. I arched an eyebrow and shook my head. "Never once. Dare I ask what they are?"

She laughed a little. "Well, it's mainly just hamburger meat and ketchup. But, I improvised a little." She said.

"Oh." I said as I retreated to the doorway of the kitchen. "I can't wait to see what exactly this new food combined with your improvisation makes."

(Carly's POV)

I smiled, "We could use your help." I said as Reza nodded. "Papa, Carly doesn't know how to make bread and she says we need it. Can you make it for us?" He asked as he looked at his father hopefully. I laughed softly, it was true, I didn't know how to make it. Nadir laughed. "Yes, I'll help. I do know how to make bread." He peeled off his suit coat and hung it over a chair. "Hand me an apron."

Reza ran over and quickly brought Nadir an apron. I smiled and stirred my hamburger meat. Nadir tied it around his waist and began to work on the bread. "What kind do you want?" He asked.

"You choose." I said as I looked at him.

"White." He said as he began to make the bread. "Sounds good." I said as I watched him. He smiled at me and returned his focus to the project at hand. As he began to knead the dough, I spoke up, "Can I try?" I asked softly.

He nodded and moved over to let me try. "Just copy my motions."

"I can't do it." I said as I tried to copy his actions, but failed horribly.

"Here. Allow me to show you." He took my hands in his and began to work them in the dough. "It takes a lot of hand strength in the right places."

I nodded, "It takes a whole lot of muscle." I said as I tried to work the dough, doing a little bit better. He smiled and retracted his hands from mine, letting my try again on my own. "We'll have to make bread more often so you know how to knead it."

I nodded. "Yeah, we will." I said as I tried to work the dough again. He stood back a bit, watching me and giving me a few pointers here and there.

"Can you take the meat off the stove and pour in the sauce?" I asked him and then looked over at Reza, "Can you set the table for me?" Reza immediately began setting the table and Nadir went to deal with the meat.

I smiled and finally finished kneading the bread. "Let's switch." I said as I walked over to the stove. He nodded and returned to his bread, putting the dough into bread pans and slipping it into the oven. I soon finished with the Sloppy Joes and set it to the side. I then walked over to the doorway and watched with a smile as Reza set the table.

The bread finished a few minutes later and Nadir walked over to me. "The bread's done." He said as he watched Reza over my shoulder.

"Good." I whispered as I glanced back at him. "He's such a charming boy."