Scott calls his mother at work telling her she doesn’t have to lift a finger for dinner, that we have everything under control. I do a brisk cleaning of the main floor which already looks good and set the dining room table. I’m not sure if this is a fine china moment so I go with using her everyday dishes. Scott starts prepping by chopping the vegetables and then we work together on the main course. We chose a salad and minestrone soup followed by a vegetarian lasagna. By the time Deborah finishes work, the house smells of marinated pasta sauce.

Our work is done for the most part when...