perfect recipe (5)

“And I’m telling you what we’re cooking needs,” she said, not bothering to hide her grin. Damien grumbled under his breath but headed to the backyard, where the garden was indeed overgrown. The late-season weeds clung stubbornly to the soil, and Damien could feel his hands cramping after the first ten minutes.

By the time he finished, his shirt was smudged with dirt, and he was regretting every childhood memory that made him think Grandma Lucille was all sweetness and smiles. Finally, he trudged back inside, expecting her to be waiting with a pot ready to simmer.

Instead, he found her sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea, flipping through an old photo album. “All done?” she asked, her face lighting up as though he hadn’t just spent the last hour battling invasive species.