His Baby Boy novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: Diagonal

Malcolm could not cook.

He said so himself, standing in his spotless kitchen with a loaf of bread in one hand and a block of cheddar in the other.

"I can make grilled cheese," he said. "It's the only thing I've ever made on purpose."

"I'll take it," Perrin said.

He sat on a tall stool at the island in a pair of Malcolm's gray wool socks, which came halfway up his calves.

The pan was new, and the label was still on the handle.

"Did you just buy that?" Perrin asked.

"On the way home. At the corner shop." Malcolm peeled off the sticker. "The old one had a bent handle."

"Did you ask me first?"

Malcolm stopped with the sticker on his thumb.

"I didn't think of it," he said. "It's my kitchen."

"It's your kitchen." Perrin folded his arms. "But you said you'd ask. About anything for me."

"The pan isn't for you. It's for the sandwich."

"The sandwich is for me."

For a moment Malcolm's face was serious, a CEO about to explain a point of procurement.

Then the corner of his mouth went, and he laughed out loud, a short surprised bark.

"You're right," he said. "That was a violation. Perrin, may I use the new pan to make you a sandwich?"

"You may."

"Thank you for letting me."

"You're welcome, Daddy," Perrin said, and went pink to his ears.

Malcolm turned and busied himself with the butter.

He was grinning at the stove.

The sandwich came out lopsided and a little black on one side, and he cut it on the diagonal with great ceremony.

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