Stephan, doubts unfurled, raised an eyebrow. “Can she?”
“Yes, she can.” Thomi dumped ice cubes into the pitcher of tea. “She doesn’t have to cook it, you understand! But I count it as an accomplishment for her!”
“Excuse me?” retorted Rikki, between resentment and amusement.
“Rikkayla, I just can’t count boiling water a major accomplishment! Any i***t should be able to do that!” Thomi swept him a gesture toward the side door in the dining room. “Go out and talk to David. Wait! Here, take the hamburgers and hot dogs. Can I trust you men to cook these without charring them?”
Taking the covered tray from the refrigerator, she thrust it into his hands, and cast him the same doubtful look he’d favored Rikki with.
Stephan, who hadn’t, truth be told, any experience in food preparation, inside
