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Robin knocked three times on the Wheeler’s front door, staring cautiously over the top of a celery stalk that was sticking out the top of a large paper grocery bag. She waited a few moments until Karen opened the door, with a soft but slightly confused smile.

“Robin! Hi sweetie, what are you doing here?” Karen asked, warmly.

“Hi, Mrs. Wheeler! Could I maybe, come in please?” Robin asked warily, before giving a toothy smile.

“Yes, of course. You can set your stuff down if you need.” Karen moved to the side to let Robin in the house. “Is everything okay?”

Robin stepped into the house and haphazardly wiped her feet twice on the welcome mat before making a beeline for the Wheeler’s kitchen island.

“Yes! Everything is stellar. Well, no it’s not. Well, nothing is wrong per-se, but I am having a major dilemma, and I was hoping you could help, maybe?” Robin said as she set her bag down on the counter, and wiped her hands on her jeans. “Of course you know that Nancy is coming home from Emerson for the very first time for winter break tonight, and I wanted to surprise her with her favorite dinner tomorrow, but Mrs. Wheeler, there are so many different ways to make chicken and dumplings. I went to the library to find a recipe, and some call for chicken thighs, some call for chicken breasts, some call for rosemary and thyme and others call for parsley and oregano, and if I’m being honest, I don’t even really understand the difference between chicken broth and chicken bullion. I mean, doesn’t chicken bullion just end up making chicken broth? I don’t know. But, I went to the store to get some of the ingredients, and I couldn’t remember which recipe I was following, and then I panicked and realized that it doesn’t even really matter which recipe I pick if it doesn’t taste like the one she’s used to, and then I double panicked and realized that I don’t even really know how to cook. I mean, I can make the essentials, but it’s usually a total chaotic mess when I try a new recipe, and I really don’t want this to be a chaotic mess because it will be the first time I have seen Nancy in two months, and I really miss her and I want this to be at least close to perfect.”

Robin felt Mrs. Wheeler’s hands gently grab the sides of her arms to stabilize her, and that’s when she realized that she had been pacing around the Wheeler’s kitchen and had also been holding her breath. She deeply sighed before looking up at Mrs. Wheeler.

“Would you, perchance, be willing to help me make the recipe?” Robin asked with a small, embarrassed, wince. “I think I brought at least most of the ingredients.”

Karen let out a small breathy laugh.

“Of course, Robin. I would be happy to help you. Tell you what,” Karen started, as she gave Robin’s arms a quick pat, before turning to the grocery bag that Robin brought and taking out some of the ingredients. “I was planning on ordering Pizza tonight, just something fun and simple for Nancy’s first night back, but what if I taught you how to make this, and then we all celebrated Nancy tonight, together. I know she would be glad to see you here tonight.”

Robin smiled.

“That would be great, Mrs. Wheeler. Thank you.” Robin said, finally settling into the moment and catching her breath.

And that’s exactly what they did. Karen pulled out the recipe for chicken and dumplings that she had made for Nancy growing up and showed Robin what to do. She showed her some simple cooking tips, like how to cook the chicken thighs in the water to make her own chicken broth, how to easily shred the chicken, and how to knead the dumplings exactly right. She even shared with Robin the family’s secret ingredient, which was simply a little bit of poultry seasoning in the dumpling dough, but apparently it made a world of a difference.

They finished making the soup just in time for Karen to head out to pick Nancy up from the airport. She told Robin she could make herself at home while she was gone, which made Robin a little bit nervous, though she wasn’t sure why. This was her girlfriend’s house, but she had never been here for more than a couple minutes without Nancy, let alone an entire afternoon. But, the time went by quickly as she helped Mike set the table for dinner, and she worked on a color-by-number picture with Holly. She was helping Holly sort through crayons when she heard the front door crack open.

“We’re home!” Karen shouted from the foyer.

“Nancy!” Holly shouted, as she scooted away from the table, and ran towards the doorway. Holly threw her arms around Nancy’s waist.

“Hey, Holly-Bug.” Nancy said, as she returned her hug and lightly rubbed Holly’s back, as she shifted her duffel bag to her elbow.

“Nancy, I missed you! I have so much to tell you. In Mrs. Ambrose’s class, I’m all the way up to the sevens on my times tables, and both me and Derek made it into the school play. Wait! I have to go show you my script! Let me get it.” Holly said, as she bounded past Nancy towards the stairs.

“Well, that was fast.” Nancy said, with a small chuckle. Robin watched as Nancy’s eyes drifted to the side of the foyer where Mike was standing.

“Hey.” Nancy said, as she held out her arms, offering a hug to Mike. He shuffled over and wrapped his arms around Nancy.

“Hi.” He said, over her shoulder.

“I missed you.” She said, quietly.

“I missed you, too.” He replied.

Nancy stepped back, moving her hands to Mike’s elbows, and looking at his face.

“How are you? Are you good?” She asked.

“I’m good.” Mike replied, sincerely. “Are you good?”

Nancy nodded softly.

“I’m good.” She said, with a soft smile.

“Good.” Mike smiled back.

Mike stepped to the side, and Nancy’s eyes landed on Robin. Robin could feel her gaze, it was heavy, it being the first time they had been in the same room in months. Without a word, Nancy stepped over and wrapped Robin in the biggest hug she was physically capable of. It was deep and full of longing. Nancy and Robin talked on the phone every night and wrote each other letters as often as they could, but nothing compared to being in the same room as the person they loved.

Nancy slightly stepped away, just far enough to press a kiss to Robin’s forehead and another to her lips. A scoff emerged from the edge of the doorway.

“Get a room!” Mike said, before turning on his heel and heading back to the living room.

“Michael!” Karen called after him, the second half of her response fading away, as she followed him into the living room.

Robin reached her hands up and cupped Nancy’s face, gently brushing her thumb along Nancy’s cheekbone.

“Hi.” Robin whispered. “I missed you.”

Nancy smiled, and leaned into the touch of Robin’s thumb, closing her eyes.

“I missed you so much. I thought of you constantly.” Nancy replied.

Robin hummed in agreement, before Nancy spoke up again.

“My Mom told me about your secret plan. You made my favorite dinner.” Nancy said, her eyes becoming the slightest bit glassy.

“Something like that, yeah.” Robin said with a smirk. “Your mom came to the rescue. Or, more like I ran to your mom asking for help in a desperate attempt to salvage the crumbling frenzied plan I had. She saved the day.”

Nancy smiled.

“Thank you.” Nancy whispered. She reached up and pressed another quick kiss to Robin’s lips before grabbing her hand and leading her to the kitchen.