On the table rested two golden grilled cheese sandwiches beside a bowl of soup whose fragrance betrayed its homemade origin through floating flecks of parsley and thyme, and although my exhaustion remained anchored within my bones, suspicion rose sharply beside it.
“You searched through my cabinets without asking permission first.”
“I searched for ingredients rather than invading privacy,” he replied evenly. “I limited myself to food items, and I documented everything carefully.”
He pointed toward a folded note placed beside my keys.
Used: bread, cheese, carrots, celery, broth cubes. Replacing when possible.
Replacing.
“With what resources do you plan on replacing anything?”
Before he could answer, Oliver burst from the hallway with irrepressible energy, backpack bouncing wildly against his shoulders while excitement illuminated every feature of his face.
“Mom, Adrian fixed the door that always stuck before.”
I blinked in disbelief.
“What exactly do you mean by fixed?”
Oliver nodded enthusiastically.
“It closes smoothly now, and he even made me finish homework first.”
The man’s mouth twitched faintly.
“He demonstrated impressive intelligence once the environment became quiet enough for focus.”