"It is your turn," he agreed, laughter held deep inside but bright in his eyes. "Today you asked for the chef. Not the King." And as it turned out, his drink was a coconut bellini, fizzy and sweet, and Hadama savored his first sip as he held the bubbles on his tongue a moment before swallowing down the playful burn of the champagne.
Alas, the bells gave away the attempt to leave the package for later. A tactical error, he would admit, but the small chimes had added a musical lilt to the gift box that he had been unable to resist when he had wrapped it. His attempt to gloss over the arrival of the present on Flora's counter went about as well as one might expect and he inclined his head in admission of defeat as he began to unwrap the butter - and the large package of cream cheese from its waxed paper covering. "Ready for baking. But the box is yours. A belated birthday present." Given the trauma that had accompanied her birthday this year, it had seemed better to wait for a more auspicious day to celebrate it, even if it had taken an extra season to arrive.
Alas, the bells gave away the attempt to leave the package for later. A tactical error, he would admit, but the small chimes had added a musical lilt to the gift box that he had been unable to resist when he had wrapped it. His attempt to gloss over the arrival of the present on Flora's counter went about as well as one might expect and he inclined his head in admission of defeat as he began to unwrap the butter - and the large package of cream cheese from its waxed paper covering. "Ready for baking. But the box is yours. A belated birthday present." Given the trauma that had accompanied her birthday this year, it had seemed better to wait for a more auspicious day to celebrate it, even if it had taken an extra season to arrive.
