Much. Thanks.

[She keeps saying that, and it seems cheaper each time. Silently, she resolves to learn how to make something tasty very soon.]

I said something to that effect myself not long ago, so I have to agree.

[She just has to claw her way back up to her previous, hard-won pittance of acknowledgment, which is a little bittersweet, is all.]

...I'm looking forward to it. I really do like this place already.