Jared ambled over, and he and Agnes began to eat.
Agnes had prepared a sumptuous meal, including medium rare steak, pot roast, Caesar salad, and a bowl of clam chowder.
It took Agnes a long time to prepare the food.
Over the years in Manhattan, she had been so busy with work, she barely had time to cook.
She usually just had a sandwich.
And Nocturne, who had a long slumber schedule and difficulty digesting complex foods, usually ate simpler food. Fortunately, Nocturne never got sick of the simple diet.
Jared had already started to dig in.
Agnes was inexplicably nervous, "How is it? Do you like it?"
Jared tried a bit of everything, then said candidly, "The steak is a bit overcooked, I'll deduct ten points. The pot roast is leaning on the saltier side, another ten off. The vegetables could be fresher so that's twenty off. And it tastes like you forgot the salt in the clam chowder. That's another ten off."
Every dish had its flaw according to Jared. If he were to grade it, it would have failed. Agnes felt a wave of despondency, but it was to be expected.
Jared had such a discerning palate, coupled with his chef-level cooking skills.
How could she ever compare?
Agnes put down her fork, saying, "Maybe we should order takeout."
But Jared laughed, "Let's keep eating," he said, looking down at his plate. "It's prepared by my wife, so it deserves an extra hundred points."
The way Jared said it was so natural.
It had been many years since Agnes had heard the endearing term 'wife'. Watching Jared relish his meal, the corners of Agnes' mouth instinctively curled up.
They continued their lunch together.
Agnes had a small appetite and was done eating after a while.
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