He placed a tea bag into each cup and turned his back to me to reach into the inner pocket of his vest.

While his broad shoulders completely blocked my view of the stove, I stepped quietly to the counter, picked up the mug he had set out for me, and tipped the hot liquid into the drain of the double sink.

I pulled the handle on the hot water dispenser, filled the ceramic mug with plain hot water, and set it back on the marble counter in exactly the same spot.

When Daniel turned back around, he held out the mug of hot water to me with both hands, his face broad with a warm, comforting expression.