Marta was working carefully over the stove, doing her best to copy what she saw Edith do. The past week, Marta woke every morning to help Edith make breakfast while Abe would get Ezra ready for the day. Marta didn’t want to tell Ezra she helped, because she was still learning, but she felt she was getting better. She was currently attempting to make malawach. It was a french toast like dish, made from a puffy dough that Edith made a large batch of yesterday before she left. Marta was carefully doing her best to fry the dough in the pan, not wanting to burn it or do it wrong. 

Hearing a cough, Marta glanced up and saw Ezra standing there. She smiled brightly, and let her eyes appreciate the view. He had his shirt still unbutton and Marta could see his bare chest and for a moment, she felt her stomach form a loop. But she shook her thoughts away when she reminded herself she had to focus on breakfast. “Just you wait mister. You are going to be so impressed.” She looked up at him and stuck her tongue out playfully.

As she was beginning to flip the dough over to start frying the other side, there was suddenly a loud noise and Ezra screamed. Marta dropped her spatula and jumped out of her skin. She turned, panicking that it was Oscar and he snuck in, but when she saw Atalia she relaxed a bit. She saw that Ezra looked shaken, and with his weakened state, she went over and stood by his side, wrapping an arm around his waist. She felt him lean against her, and she let him. 

She listened to Atalia explain the books she brought and Marta smiled at her. “Atalia that is so kind of you. It is a bit unclear what is going to happen” she said, a frown forming on her face for a moment, but taking a deep breath, “But I am not going to give up. And it means so much that you want to help.”

Suddenly a smell entered her nose and she remembered the breakfast. “Oh!” she said, making sure Ezra was ok, before turning back to the stove. Thankfully she caught it in time and nothing was burnt. She looked at Atalia, “Would you care to stay for breakfast?” she asked.