"Okay, let's review…" Sophie said, pacing back and forth across the kitchen as Daniel stood at the Aga in the Fairfields kitchen, carefully steaming asparagus and smiling at her General Patton approach to the evening.
"Oh yes… let's. Because we haven't discussed this enough yet," Daniel teased, looking over his shoulder at her, a grin quirking at the corner of his mouth.
She stuck out her tongue in return, and he laughed. "This is serious. Operation Hookup is in effect."
"You need a better code name for your little pet project…" Daniel ventured, and she stopped, planting her hands on her hips.
"Listen, buster, I have one night to get Kat and Matt to realize they are perfect for each other, and they are going to be here in only a few minutes, and so if I say we need to review, we need to review. Stop cooking and review!"
"Can I just repeat now that I think this whole operation is ridiculous? Listen, Yenta, these two don't need you to play matchmaker in order to find out if they like each other. For all you know, they are already embroiled in a hot, passionate affair and have no need for your services at all," Daniel said, his tone serious. "Maybe they are hiding their love child even now to avoid the disappointment of their parents, who think they are not a good match for one another and would never accept a child born out of wedlock."
Sophie stared at him, her mouth slightly open. "You get that off EastEnders or something? Coronation Street? Are you a secret soap opera junkie? You are, aren't you?"
"I'm just saying…"
"Look, Matt is shy, and Kat is looking for a boyfriend, and they are perfect for each other – smart, funny, kind and all sorts of other positive attributes. I'm simply facilitating the process to get two lovely people, who, yes, have known each other for a while, to realize they are each other's destiny. A little support would be nice," Sophie said, hands still on hips.
Daniel slung a towel over his shoulder, and then slowly swiveled to face her, giving her a small salute and sighing slightly. "Review away," he said, his mouth curling into a teasing smile.
"Okay, we need to make sure they sit next to each other."
"Check."
"We need to make sure the food tastes good. Food should always taste good on a first date."
"Check. My food always tastes good. Even though they don't know they are on their first date."
"Can it, Farmer Ted. Okay, we need to make sure we have sparkling conversation all evening. Possible topics of discussion if the conversation lulls include…"
"The National Book Award nominees, the plight of Darfur, the wavering exchange rate of the Euro and anything to do with Posh and Becks," Daniel said, deadpan, biting his lip slightly at her steely expression.
"I. Don't. Like. You."
Daniel laughed out loud at her tone. "No Posh and Becks?"
"Can it," Sophie repeated, mock glaring at him. "This is serious! We want fun, light conversation that will reveal that they have a lot in common and should marry immediately and start making beautiful babies."
Daniel raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
"Or at least that they should go on a second date," she amended at his questioning look.
"Better," he agreed, turning back to monitor the progress the vegetables. "Sophie, it's all going to be fine. I've never known conversation or quiet to be an impediment to you. In fact, I've never known you to sit through a quiet moment at all."
Tugging the towel off his shoulder, Sophie landed a solid thwack to his backside with it, and then carefully replaced it on his shoulder, smoothing it down perfectly.
"Please, sir, may I have another?" he asked without turning around, and Sophie dissolved into a fit of giggles just as a knock was heard on the front door.
"Oh, god. They're here. Or one of them is here. Okay, remember…" Daniel gave Sophie a solid push towards the hallway, encouraging her to answer the front door, rather than fretting about it.
"Go. It's all going to be fine…"
"I have butterflies," Sophie confessed. "My butterflies have butterflies."
"Dinner is going to be great," Daniel reassured them. "And don't forget to tell them you cooked everything. That'll impress the hell out of them."
Sophie gave him a small smile, and then hurried towards the door.
**
"Sophie, that was a great meal," Kat said, dabbing at her lips with her napkin and smiling at her friend. "Very British. I didn't know you were such a good cook."
Sophie bit her lip and began to deny her involvement when Daniel kicked her lightly under the table. Throwing him a stern look, she straightened in her chair. "Thanks. Danny was a big help."
Kat raised an eyebrow at the nickname, but said nothing.
"That was really great," Matt agreed, smiling at Sophie and Daniel. "I… I brought a pie for dessert."
"What kind of pie?" Kat asked, her eyes lighting up.
"Apple crumb pie," Matt said shyly. "It's my mum's recipe, but I've made it a few times…"
"You… bake?" Kat asked curiously, and Matt's cheeks coloured at her incredulous tone.
"I…"
"I can't make desserts to save my life. A pork roast, muffins, even croissants, but I can't make anything sweet. What's your secret?"
Sophie looked at Daniel triumphantly as Matt and Kat drifted away from the table, still discussing sugar ratios and pie tins. "See?" She hissed as they began to clear the table.
"And we didn’t even have to discuss the art of sumo wrestling…" Daniel whispered back, mock wincing as Sophie lightly pinched his arm.
"This is so great!" She said gleefully, looking over her shoulder as Kat and Matt continued to talk quietly, heading for the den. "I'll bring coffee in a minute – make yourselves comfortable!" Sophie called over her shoulder, then smiling at Daniel. "Okay, we have to stall."
"What?"
"Stall," Sophie whispered. "We don't want to go in there and ruin the delicate balance."
"Speaking of unbalanced…"
"Shut it, cowboy. This is good – this is a love connection!" Sophie whispered, handing him another plate for him to wash in the sink. "Stall…"
Sophie and Daniel managed to clean the entire kitchen at a leisurely pace, Sophie occasionally peeking into the den to see Kat and Matt still deep in conversation, then crowing about it to Daniel. Finally, they made a pot of coffee and joined their guests, spending the next two hours engaged in banter, discussion and joke telling until Kat covered a yawn and Matt solicitously suggested they leave their host and hostess for the evening.
Daniel and Sophie waved their guests away as the headlights flooded the dark evening, and then Sophie turned and socked Daniel on the shoulder.
"I knew it!" She said with a wide smile. "I KNEW they just needed a push!"
"It's not like they are picking out the colours of the bridesmaid dresses yet…"
"Give it time," Sophie said confidently. "Just give it time."
Daniel looked down at Sophie's pleased face, his heart swelling at her happiness.
Maybe it was time for HIM to stop stalling, to stop giving it time…
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