Then crossed the room.
He placed his hands gently around her waist.
"Because you're beautiful."
Clara laughed.
"Samuel Thorne, you're getting sentimental in your old age."
"Been sentimental since the day I met you."
She smiled.
"That is not true."
He kissed her cheek.
"Mostly true."
She shook her head.
Then returned to brushing sauce over the meat.
Samuel watched for a moment.
"Smells familiar."
Clara raised an eyebrow.
"It should."
He leaned closer.
"Is that the same recipe?"
"Exactly the same."
"Even the molasses?"
"Even the molasses."
Samuel smiled.
Then looked toward the pantry.
Clara followed his gaze.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then she began laughing.
"Don't you dare."
Samuel grinned.
"What?"
"You know perfectly well what."
He approached the pantry door.
Clara pointed her wooden spoon at him.
"Samuel!"
He opened it.
Looked inside.
Then turned toward her with a solemn expression.
"Clara."
She stopped laughing.
"What?"
He looked back into the pantry.
"You're not going to believe this."
Her smile vanished.
"Samuel."
He slowly reached inside.
Clara's heart skipped.
Then he withdrew a small bundle of blue thread.
She stared.
Samuel smiled mischievously.
"Found this behind the flour."
For a moment, Clara stood motionless.
Then she understood.
"You wicked man!"
Samuel burst into laughter.
She hurried toward him with the wooden spoon raised.
He backed away.
"Now, sweetheart—"
"You nearly frightened me to death!"
"I couldn't resist."
"After all these years?"
He laughed so hard he had to lean against the doorframe.
Clara tried to remain angry.
She truly did.
But his laughter was contagious.
Soon she was laughing too.
Samuel caught her gently in his arms.
She rested her forehead against his chest.
"You impossible mountain man."
He kissed the top of her head.
"Still glad you married me?"
Clara looked up.
Her expression softened.
"Every single day."
Samuel smiled.
"Even the difficult ones?"
"Especially the difficult ones."
He kissed her.
Then held her close while the ribs continued roasting.
Outside, the first snow of the season began drifting past the windows.
Much later, after supper, Clara found Samuel sitting on the porch.
The mountains were silent.
Snow covered the distant ridges.
The moon shone over the orchard.
She brought two cups of hot cider.
Samuel accepted one.
"Thank you."
She settled beside him.
For several minutes, they watched the night.
Then Clara asked, "Do you ever think about that first supper?"
Samuel smiled faintly.
"Sometimes."
"What do you think about?"
He considered.
"The strange way life changes."
She nodded.
He continued.
"I used to think the worst thing a man could discover was that the people who raised him had done terrible things."
Clara listened.
"But I learned something."
"What?"
Samuel looked toward the mountains.
"Knowing the truth doesn't mean you have to carry their choices forever."
She smiled.