Space for the second tray

The kitchen was narrow enough that two people opening cupboards needed a plan. The oven was narrower still.

Nina's vegetables were roasting when Theo came in with a prepared tray of pasta. He put it on the counter and asked roughly how long she needed. Ten minutes, perhaps fifteen.

He had washing to fold upstairs. They used the house room's “Oven is free” Quick Ping so he could leave the kitchen without losing track.

Nina waited until the potatoes were browned, lifted out her tray, and moved it onto a trivet. She sent the Ping while her oven gloves were still beside her phone.

Theo saw it, finished folding the sheet in his hands, and came down to put in the pasta.

They ate at different times that evening. Nina was washing her plate when Theo's pasta was ready. He borrowed her oven gloves to lift the tray out.