Perfect Partners

think you have to be that precise about it. Just start blending and stop when it turns into carrot soup.”
    “I would prefer to follow the recipe, if you don’t mind.”
    Letty raised her eyes ceilingward. It was hard to believe this was Stephanie, the gourmet cook who normally could whip up the most exotic creations with cool expertise and a casual flair. She obediently glanced at the minute hand on her watch. “All right. Go.”
    The roar of the blender cut off conversation for one blissful minute.
    “Stop,” Letty called.
    Stephanie lifted the lid and glanced inside. “I don’t see any big pieces left.”
    “It looks like carrot soup, all right,” Letty said. “Maybe we should stop now.”
    “No, the directions said to stir and blend one more minute.” Stephanie stirred the carrot mixture and lowered the blender lid. “All right. Ready?
    “Ready.” Letty watched the second hand creep past. “Stop.”
    Dr. Humphries strolled up at that moment and peeked inquiringly into the blender. “Oh, dear. We took it a little too far, didn’t we?”
    Clearly alarmed, Stephanie grabbed the cookbook off the counter. “But it says blend for a total of two minutes.”
    “It depends on the number of carrots you use,” Dr. Humphries explained. “We’re only making a small portion tonight. Next time try it for one minute.”
    “Yes. All right. One minute.” Stephanie stared at the blender full of liquid carrots as the instructor moved on to the next station.
    Letty realized her stepmother was on the verge of tears. “Stephanie?”
    Stephanie snatched the blender off its mount and rinsed out the orange mixture under the faucet. “Read the next recipe to me.”
    “Stephanie, it’s only a bunch of carrots,” Letty said gently. Awkwardly she put her arm around Stephanie’s trembling shoulders.
    “Don’t you think I know that?” Stephanie pulled away and wiped her eyes with the hem of her apron. “Just start reading, will you?”
    Letty picked up the cookbook and slowly read the next recipe aloud. Stephanie engaged in a flurry of precision slicing and dicing. When she was finished, she appeared to have herself back under control.
    Letty timed the next batch of pureed vegetables with great care. Stephanie looked enormously relieved when the instructor pronounced the finished product perfect.
    “Excellent, Mrs. Thornquist. Just the right texture for baby’s delicate taste buds. Now, then, back to our seats, everyone. We will discuss fruit juices next.” Dr. Humphries sailed to the front of the classroom. The students trickled back to their chairs.
    Stephanie whipped out her notebook and prepared to take down each and every pearl of wisdom that dropped from Dr. Humphries’s mouth.
    “Stephanie?” Letty sat down slowly beside her.
    “Yes?”
    “You know what you said earlier about Joel and Philip fighting over Thornquist Gear, not over me?”
    “What about it?”
    “I think you were right. It was a very good insight. Not exactly flattering, but probably accurate.”
    Stephanie shrugged. “It seemed obvious. Everyone wants something. Once you know what that something is, you can understand their motivation.”
    “I don’t suppose it’s very likely that Philip has come chasing out here to Seattle because of undying love, is it?” Letty tried to keep her voice light.
    “No, but is that really a major problem? A mutual interest in a business like Thornquist Gear can unite a couple even more firmly than a baby or physical passion.”
    “I hadn’t thought of that.”
    Stephanie clicked her ballpoint pen into the ready position as Dr. Humphries stepped to the lectern. “You know, Letty, Philip must have been genuinely fond of you in the beginning or he would never have asked you to marry him. If that affection is combined with a strong business bond, marriage to him might be very stable and satisfying.”
    “Provided I got into therapy,” Letty muttered.
    Fortunately Dr. Humphries was already holding forth on the virtues of homemade fruit juices for infants. Stephanie did not hear Letty’s remark.
    Half an hour later they left the class and walked out into the cool night. Stephanie got behind the wheel of the Porsche. “It was a good session. Dr. Humphries has her doctorate in infant and childhood nutrition.”
    “So you mentioned.”
    “She’s a noted authority on the subject.”
    “Gee, I don’t know, Steph. A hundred bucks to learn how to pulverize vegetables into mush seems a bit