But she wasn’t the rigid, unshakeable woman he’d known before the breakup. He’d loved that Vera too, but seeing her vulnerable had hit him like a truck, unlocking new depths of love he hadn’t known he could feel. This Vera was afraid but willing to press on. If she could handle that, maybe she could handle the mess Rami brought to the table.

“There you go. Belly full? That’s a good girl.” Vera encouraged Jessa, setting her back into her walker.

So maybe she did still talk to Jessa like she was a puppy. They could work on that. One step at a time.

“Come on over; we’re ready to roll.” Rami pulled the cheese from the fridge and slapped it down on the counter next to Vera. “Put that pan on medium heat and toss a smidge of butter in there.”

Vera lifted the cheese from the corner, eyeing it skeptically. “American cheese?”

“Don’t question it. Just go with the flow.” He intervened when she grabbed the chef’s knife to slice the butter, putting a butter knife into her hand. Was he just looking for an excuse to touch her? Probably. “Overkill. Butter knife. Butter. Make sense?”

She gave him a withering look, tossing the butter into the pan, where it started to sizzle. “Next.”

He handed her the bread. “Now, put two slices of cheese in the middle.”

“Are we seriously making grilled cheese?”

“I told you we have to start at square one, and this one will come in handy in a few years when Jessa is in her ‘I only eat chicken nuggets and grilled cheese’ phase. Now put the sandwich on top of the butter in the pan and give it a good smush with the spatula.”

He hovered just behind her, ready to jump in if it started to burn.

“Is that a phase they go through?” She asked, poking at the sandwich with the corner of the spatula.

“So I read in the parenting blogs. Lift up one corner and check how brown it is underneath.”

Vera slid the corner of the spatula under the sandwich and lifted. “It’s brown!”

Jessa babbled, matching Vera’s enthusiasm like a cheerleader.

“Perfect, now flip it. All at once. Don’t fear the sandwich; the sandwich should fear you.”

“You are so corny,” Vera groaned. She gave the spatula a sharp flick and flipped the sandwich over.

“Yeah!’ Rami cheered, holding his hand up for a high five. She slapped it, and they shared a grin.

He stepped back to let her finish without his guidance, ready to step in if she asked for help. When the two sandwiches were done, almost golden brown apart from a slight char in one corner, she insisted on carrying the dishes to the table. She set them down with a small bow.

“Call me Martha Stewart,” she declared.

Rami set Jessa on his lap, out of the zone of potential falling food, and took a bite. “Mmm. You make a mean grilled cheese. Tomorrow, we’ll try pasta.”

She bit into the sandwich. “That’s not bad at all. Go, us.”

He polished off his sandwich and leaned back in his chair, noting Jessa’s sleepy blinks. “I’m quite proud of us. Me, the wise teacher, and you, the eager student.”

“Don’t let it go to your head. Looks like someone is ready for bed,” she said, leaning forward to cup Jessa’s cheek. “Team up?”

“Yes, please.”

It didn’t take long for them to get Jessa down. She was comfortable in their routine, familiar with the steps that lead to bedtime, and in a matter of moments, was quietly snoozing. They snuck out of the bedroom, and Rami couldn’t help but think of what had happened the last time they’d done the same, when Vera had led them to the bedroom. From the flush in her cheeks, she was remembering the same thing.

“I should get ready for bed.” Vera turned away from him abruptly, heading for her bedroom.

He watched her go. She swung the door shut but not completely; he didn’t hear it click closed. Everything he wanted to say to her was burning inside of him, demanding to be let out.Idiot, she knows that you want to be with her already and she made it clear you missed your chance.But did she? He hadn’t told her directly what he’d realized—that he had issues to work on, but finally, finally, he was ready to start, and that he wanted her to be there.

The thought of saying those words out loud had him squirming. But he remembered the words in his book, that vulnerability was often uncomfortable, but it was worthwhile. It brought people closer together. Steeling himself, he approached Vera’s door.

He could hear her moving around inside, the water splashing in the sink, the sigh of her relaxing. Rami wrapped his knuckles on the door. It opened slightly.