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As Katherine’s eyes welled up with tears, her small hands trembled as she touched his face. “Ditto.”

“Excuse me?” Matthew laughed.

“I said ditto.”

A smile lifted the corners of his mouth.

“Do you mean to tell me that I poured my heart out to you, and all you can say is ditto?” he demanded, going after the side of her neck, snarling and growling as his fingers tickled her sides.

“Matthew!” Katherine giggled uncontrollably. “Matthew! Stop!”

“Okay…” he said, kissing her forehead before hopping up and heading into the kitchen. “Where do you keep your takeout menus?”

Katherine scrambled up off the couch and chased after him, laughter still in her voice. “Why do you do that?”

“Do what?” he asked innocently, pulling open several drawers before finding the one he was looking for. “Ah-ha.”

Grabbing the first takeout menu from the stack, he began to study it. But Katherine walked up behind him and took the pizza menu from his hand, replacing it with one from Mr. Chen’s Chinese Restaurant.

After studying the paper’s bent corners, faded print, and overall crinkled appearance, he said, “Looks like someone’s favorite.”

Katherine smiled, liking how he always noticed the little things.

“I would say that based on these handwritten stars and random doodles, you’re not a big fan of tofu, baby corn, and mushrooms.”

“Onlysomemushrooms,” she said. “It’s a texture thing.”

“Good to know.” Matthew nodded thoughtfully. “As far as I’m concerned, everything you have starred looks good. Why don’t you pick two of your favorites, and I’ll call and have it delivered.”

“Only two?” Katherine faked a scowl, then laughed, grabbing the vintage push button phone from the wall and punching in a set of numbers she knew by heart.

Placing the receiver between her ear and shoulder, she took the well-worn menu from his hands, folded it as gently as possible, and placed it back on the stack in the drawer.

“Hey, Suzie, it’s me,” she announced to the person on the other end of the line. “Can I get an order of the usual?”

It was silent as Katherine listened. Then she added, “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just taking the night off.”

“Tell her you have to go,” Matthew whispered. “Tell her we have some unfinished business.”

Silently snickering, Katherine shook her head.

“I can take a night off without there being a problem,” she said, biting back a smile as Matthew crooked his finger at her. “Hey, how are you and Mr. Chen? How’s business?”

Covering the receiver as Suzie started to vent, Katherine whispered, “Sorry. I’ll be done in just a couple of minutes.”

Then she paced back and forth across the kitchen floor, listening intently while twirling the long telephone cord around her finger.

“Oh my gosh! No, he didn’t!”

“What’s wrong?” Matthew whispered, but Katherine was still engrossed in what was being said.

“I’m telling you, Suzie, there are other produce suppliers out there who wouldn’t hit on you all the time.” Then she nodded as she listened. “No, I get it. A deal’s a deal. But let me know if you ever change your mind. My produce guy would be thrilled to have your business.”

After Katherine was silent for a few minutes, she laughed. “Yeah, I’ve seen him. You know he bought the house next door.”

At that, Matthew’s ears perked up, and he stopped searching for plates and silverware to listen.

“You know what they say about a man in uniform,” she added, blatantly checking Matthew out, then laughing at whatever Suzie had said in response. Shaking her head, Katherine finally told Suzie she needed to go and said a quick goodbye before hanging up.