Alex watched Thea run off, back to the kitchen. The ping was from the oven. He couldn't help but anticipate whatever was cooking.
Since he had a little taste of her food, he wanted more. All his life, Alexander never had a person, man or woman cook him a meal as a show of care.
He neither ate at a friend's home, roadside stalls or hotels. When he lived on the streets, he worked hard just to get a warm meal by the end of the day.
He didn't regret any of it. Unlike most, he perceived his past as a beautiful beginning point. He was able to see the beauty of life in the worst of places.
Now that he was in a better place, he could appreciate little acts of kindness even more. The world was full of cruel people. Finding a genuinely good person was a rarity.
He didn't know Thea enough to judge her character. However, from the little he had seen, he appreciated her efforts to portray her emotions.
