**KILLIAN'S PERSPECTIVE**
I had never set foot in the kitchen before, but my resolve to whip up something special for Amanda was stronger than my lack of experience.
As I stood there, gazing at the array of kitchen utensils laid out before me, I felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me, making it difficult for me to know where to even begin my culinary adventure.
Anne, my ever-reliable friend and an experienced cook, had made sure I had everything I needed to get started.
Because of her generosity and her skill, I rarely felt the need to learn how to cook for myself, after all, why bother when there was someone like her around?
Still, today felt different; today was about making my wife happy, and that motivated me to press on despite my fears.
With a hint of apprehension, I reached for my phone and dialed Anne's number.
"Good morning, Anne!" I greeted her warmly, though confusion tinged my voice.
"I've decided I want to cook something for Amanda, but I'm not quite sure where to start. Can you guide me?"
Her laughter rang through the phone, brightening my mood.
"I'll be right over! I'm already packing my bags because you'd better not try to poison my grandchild with your novice cooking!" she said, and I couldn't help but chuckle at her playful teasing. She always knew how to lift my spirits.
"Thanks, Anne! Just to let you know, Hab will drive you here," I replied, feeling a sense of relief that assistance was near.
"Okay, but remember, the priority is to prepare something delicious for Amanda; we can't let her starve, now can we?" Anne quipped, her voice filled with genuine concern.
I exhaled deeply, trying to collect my thoughts.
"Well, she mentioned she's craving pasta and chips. How do I even get started with that?"
"There's a cookbook tucked away in the cupboard," Anne said, her laughter bubbling over once more.
"I wrote it myself, so use that as your guide to craft something nice for your wife!"
"Alright, thanks!" I responded, appreciation flooding through me.
With newfound determination, I opened the cupboard and retrieved the cookbook while putting on an apron that I had found hanging nearby.
As I glanced at my reflection in the kitchen mirror, I couldn't help but laugh at the sight. Never in my wildest dreams did I picture myself in an apron, especially as I had been so consumed by work in the past.
Yet here I was, ready to engage in this new role of homemaker and aspiring chef.
With Anne's advice in hand, I started my culinary journey, but it didn't take long before I found myself making mistakes.
I miscalculated the timing, burned the eggs, and ended up with pasta that was overcooked to the point of being mushy.
Just as I was about to throw my hands up in defeat, I heard Anne's laughter ringing from behind me, which soothed my frazzled nerves. I couldn't help but grin as I cracked yet another egg.
"What are you doing, Mr. Drakes? Are you trying to burn the house down?" she teased, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"I'm attempting to prepare a meal," I replied, trying to sound matter-of-fact despite my fumbling.
"Goodness! I might just have to let Baby John know about your lack of culinary skills!" she continued playfully, slipping on a second apron and joining me in the kitchen.
"Uh, Baby John? Just so you know, it's going to be a girl," I corrected her, though I could feel the joy bubbling up inside.
Amanda chimed in, "I want a boy!" her voice firm with conviction.
"I want a girl who looks just like you, though," I smiled, glancing at Amanda with affection.
"That's sweet, but I just know it's going to be a boy. Now come on, let's finish this up because I'm starving," she insisted with a playful roll of her eyes.
"Absolutely!" I replied, buoyed by the lightness of our playful banter.
As we muddled our way through the cooking process, we found ourselves laughing and enjoying each other's company.
There was something heartwarming about sharing this experience with Amanda; not to mention, her cooking expertise helped guide me through the chaos.
It was while I was giving Amanda a shoulder massage that Anne walked in, her eyes twinkling with delight as she took in the scene before her.
"Aww, just look at you two! How are you doing, Amy? How is our little Baby Junior doing?" she asked, her voice filled with warmth.
"We're doing just fine, welcome Anne! How was your trip?" Amanda asked, her voice brightening with the joy of seeing a familiar face.
"Oh, it was long, but I brought back a mountain of supplies to help take care of you during your pregnancy," Anne said, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.
"And trust me, there's so much to teach you in this journey, honey."
I could see the joy and love reflected in Anne's eyes; it reassured me that she would be an amazing support for both Amanda and our baby.
"Oh Killian, how did your cooking go?" Anne asked, her tone hinting at the mischief of her inquiry.
"Oh please, let's not get into that!" I groaned as Amanda burst into laughter beside me.
"He wasted two crates of eggs and two dozens of pasta!" she revealed, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"Gracious Lord!" Anne exclaimed, pretending to be appalled.
"Killian, for a first-timer, you're really not doing so well. I can only imagine how our little one is going to react when we tell the baby junior about your kitchen mishaps!"
"Wait a minute, you mean Kayla, right? It's definitely a girl!" I declared confidently.
"Oh really? Okay, then, Kayla it is," Anne chuckled, clearly taking pleasure in our spirited exchange.
"I'm off to make a real meal now," she said, placing emphasis on the word "real."
"No, Anne! I really did manage to prepare something decent! You should take a break after your long journey, you need to rest." Amanda insisted, determined to stand by my efforts.
"Oh darling, it's perfectly fine; I've got plenty of strength in me, thanks to your husband, he was a handful, let me tell you! Let's just hope that Junior takes after you and not him," Anne quipped dramatically.
Amanda giggled, and I couldn't help but smile; while I might have had my fair share of chaos in the kitchen, I was ready to embrace the role of a productive family man.
With a beautiful family surrounding me, I felt an overwhelming sense of purpose. Whatever mistakes I made now would only be stepping stones toward building a brighter future for us all.