Duckie makes an impressive waffle breakfast.

I was up early— really early for here, —but still jet-lagged. I kept Arnaud, my assigned sub, up pretty late last night. Now, heads out of the gutter—yes, I absolutely enjoyed his company, but I also needed him to take care of something important. Cody had to be up extra early this morning, and he’s terrible at waking up on his own. So I had Arnaud handle it, calling every number I gave him until Cody finally answered. It took ten minutes. Ten. But mission accomplished. Anyhow, Arnaud stayed up all night to ensure he’d be awake to make Cody’s call, so I let him sleep in this morning.

The house still asleep, I was on my own for the morning. I wandered into the kitchen, expecting to scavenge for something simple—maybe just a quick coffee. But there was duckie, already up, already brewing a fresh pot. He greeted me with that eager-to-please energy of his, and before I could even think about making something myself, he took over.

And oh, did he spoil me.

Thick, golden waffles, crisp on the outside, perfectly fluffy on the inside. He plated them beautifully, stacking them just right and dusting them with powdered sugar like a professional. Fresh fruit—strawberries, blackberries, even a little bit of sliced banana. He warmed the syrup just enough to drizzle smoothly over the top. And, because he’s a perfectionist, he added a dollop of freshly whipped cream with just a hint of vanilla.

And the coffee? Perfection. Rich, smooth, exactly how I like it. He even frothed the cream before pouring it into my cup.

I sat at the kitchen island while he served me like I was royalty. Every little detail attended to, every bite delicious.

This man has many talents, and I’m happy to take full advantage of them. I’m almost going to feel bad for him during the punishment ceremony tonight!