A wave of relief immediately washed over him. She wasn't mad, and she accepted the apology!

"Y-yeah," Barrel said. "Guess I should've just gotten that out at the beginning, huh?"

He let out a few giggles as he walked back to the table.

"Dessert's almost done," he said. "And nothing burned. So at least we got that."

Barrel relaxed into his usual smile. He picked up his plate and moved closer to Agatha, solely so he could be close enough to lift his glass and toast instead of being at the other end of the table.

"To things going well?" he asked.