Page 104 of Perfect Three

Lizzie was looking from him to Jack.“How come you both so big?”

Sebastian got on his haunches.“Because we eat all our vegetables.”

“Ooh yuk!”Lizzie wasn’t impressed.

Colin whispered conspiratorially to Sebastian, “She doesn’t like vetables, but I do.I’m going to be as big as you is.”

Sebastian muffled a grin behind his hand as he nodded.

When he stood, the three men each lifted a carrier.With the twins, Lucy, and Allison carrying the baby following, they went outside to the chicken pen.

There were six chicks, all six weeks old, and seven chickens that were five months old.As well, Sebastian had bought a very handsome rooster.

The twins helped lift the chicks out of the carriers and fussed over them.It took about fifteen minutes before the children were ready to come out of the coop.They’d had to name each one and then introduce them to Lucy’s original hens.Lucy told the twins to pull off some leaves from the nasturtium vine and a couple of old cauliflowers growing in the garden to give to the birds.

The rooster, meanwhile, strutted around, trying to determine who he could boss about.Then he flew to a low hanging branch on one of the trees and crowed.The twins laughed with delight.

Lucy locked the pen door and left the kids to play in the yard with a soccer ball while the adults all walked back inside.She put the peeled root vegetables in the oven after turning the lamb.

Allison had a surprised look on her face.“You’re cooking a roast?”

“Yep.Jack’s been teaching me to cook.I’ve even made dessert.Cupcakes for the twins and crème brûlée for the adults—all from scratch!”

The look Allison gave Jack was not pretty.Fortunately, he, Sebastian, and Geoffrey were deep in conversation about the program they all had links to.Allison was looking decidedly uncomfortable.

Lucy got the impression things were not going the way she’d planned them, especially when it was so evident the three men liked and respected each other.Lucy wasn’t sure how Geoffrey felt about her relationship with the men, but judging by the relaxed way the three were talking, Lucy was confident the three liked each other.

By the time lunch was ready, it was discernible that Allison would prefer to be anywhere else rather than Lucy’s.Thank goodness everyone else appeared relaxed.The twins seemed to be very taken with both men and demanded they sit next to them, spoiling more of Allison’s day.

The conversation around the table was enjoyable for all but two people—Allison and Sebastian.Whenever he spoke, Allison would stare across the table at him with an undisguised look of repulsion on her face.

“Gee, Lucy, Jack must be a good teacher.This is delicious.You did great.”

“Thanks, Geoff.”

Allison looked daggers at Jack, then in a sarcastic voice said to the table in general, “It doesn’t really take much talent to teach someone to cook.”

Silence fell, but Geoffrey whispered something to Allison.She flushed and pursed her lips, then made a show of cutting her meat.

After that, Lucy tried disregarding her, but it was becoming increasingly difficult when she rudely ignored the two men, completely acting as if they weren’t even in the room.

The twins loved their cupcakes, even more when Lucy told them they had some to take home.

Jack made coffees all around and then carried in a birthday cake that had been hidden from Geoffrey in the library.The kids sang at the top of their voices then made a great to-do of helping their father blow out the candles.When they’d finished eating their cake the adults allowed them to go back outside and play while they talked.

Allison sounded irritated as she said to Lucy, “So what’s with the cooking thing, Mum?You should have asked me.”

“Jack offered to teach me, and I took him up on it.I really enjoy doing it.It’s surprised me how much.Anyway, Allison, I’ve told you plenty of times I wanted to learn, and you’ve never offered.”

“I thought you were joking.”

“Heavens, Allison, I said it so often.I even asked you plenty of times to show me how to make things, but you’ve always ignored it.”

“Well, you should have asked me again.”

Allison sounded livid, but before Lucy could reply Jack spoke up.“Lucy’s been a great student, Allison.”Jack winked at Lucy.“You should taste her herb-creamed scrambled eggs or the quiche with asparagus and bacon.She’s even making bread.”

Allison pointedly ignored his comments and turned aside, but Geoffrey had a laugh.

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