Lend Me Some SUGA

Part 3

The impromptu to brunch was cut short when August got a phone call. Aubrey didn't understand what he was saying. She was going to have to figure out how to politely ask at some point. Besides English she only knew a little Spanish so she had no reference point.

August excused himself and went indoors, closing the screen door behind him. Aubrey took the time to browse social media on her phone and finish her half of the strawberries. She wasn't sure how long her was gone.

"Sorry about that." She turned her head in his direction. 

"It's no thing hun. Hope I'm not rude in askin'. What language was that?"

"Oh. Korean. My mom was just checking in on me." 

"Aw that's sweet of her. Did you tell her how well the cinnamon buns came out?"

August did that thing again where he rubbed the back of his neck looking kinda uncomfortable. 

"No. I haven't told her I've been trying me hand at baking. She probably wouldn't approve."

"Not approve? My momma loves a man who knows how to bake! Her loss, just means more pastries for the rest of us right?" It was a shame his mother wasn't encouraging, what is her opinion, was a necessary skill. No wonder he was relying on a kit. 

She had an idea.

"Say suga'. What are you up to this evening? I found myself with an unexpected day off. I could teach you how to make a mean chocolate cake?" August's eye light up at the mention of chocolate. But he seemed a little unsure. "Aw come on. I gotta run some errands any who so why don't you swing by around 6?" It didn't take much of a push.

"Um ok sure. Um should I bring anything with me?"

"Nah. Just you're pretty smile." He was blushing again. She didn't think she was coming on that strong. Either way she needed to actually run those errands before the church crowd clogged up the streets.

At 6 pm sharp she heard a soft knock at the door.

She opened it to find August in a white button up. "Oh no hun. You're going to ruin that shirt! You're going to want to where a t-shirt. And bring your apron." She made a shushing motion as he just stood there for a second looking unsure. "The doors unlocked." She called after him as he finally did turn to go back to his room.

As she waited she made sure to preheat the oven and checked that she had everything from her cookbook. Her copy of the "Joy of Cooking" wasn't nearly as annotated as her mothers, nor grandmother's for that matter. She had taken an interest in baking as a kid so her mother had gotten her a copy. She was longer quite the baking fiend, but she rarely bought store-bought if she could make it herself. 

August was back in a dark blue shirt and his apron on. Much better.

"Great. Alright, I'm going to have you read the instructions while I butter the pan. Oven is already preheatin'." August studied the book intently. It was adorable. He looked at it like he was trying to memorize it. She was almost finished with the pan. 

"Need any help?" She asked cautiously. She realized she didn't know how much he even knew about baking. She remembered those meal kits always came with big picture step by steps, maybe that was also what he was used to.

"No. I think I got it.... I mix the dry ingredients first." 

The recipe didn't call for anything fancy like laminating butter or whipping eggs whites so it was hard to screw up. He was curious about the alterations to the recipe, namely yogurt instead of milk.

"Yeah, I think it tasted better. There are actually a bunch of things you can substitute in recipes, well not everything. But applesauce brownies for one are good." August looked skeptical at that suggestion. It did sound like it wouldn't work, but that was food science for you. August took being ordered around by her in stride. It wasn't a large kitchen but but it helped that she was mostly dictating from the other side of the island.

"Ok. And then last trick, just sprinkle on to cocoa powder on the parchment paper. Mhm. That's a good pour hun. Now into the oven with both of those sheets for 30 minutes."

The only reach hiccup was getting the chocolate to melt for the frosting. But with her looking over his shoulder he got it the second time around. 

The finished cake looked good. A rustic frosting spread topped with and the rest of the strawberries. But it was August's smile that won the evening.  He carried the cake to the coffee table like a trophy, Aubrey in toe with two glasses of milk, plates, and cutlery. She took several pictures as he cut a sizable slice. She'd have to ask if he had a social media account or finally get his number to share them.

"Alright hun. What's the verdict?" The blissed out look that greeted his first bite of the cake was answer enough. She would definitely have to host more bake nights.

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Joy of cooking recipe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL52FF89E19B091CB5&v=vsSz7t5lqzw