“That smells delicious,” she announced. “It’s really very lovely of you to cook for me. I don’t think anyone has ever cooked for me before... except maybe my mother, but that was such a long time ago and…” 

“Wine, my dear?” Giles interrupted, handing her a glass, his eyes sparkling and his mouth twitching in barely contained mirth. Her happy rambling lightened his heart, gently erasing a little more of the years’ accumulated weariness with each passing day.  

“It’s an old family recipe, one that I thought you might appreciate. Rabbit parmesan.” Her dazzling smile was reward enough—for now.