Isaac’s face turned from playful teasing into a pained sadness. “But I really I thought that it was.”
Elly’s heart shrunk. She was killing him. Gently, she leaned against his warm chest. “I am so thankful for you Isaac. You will always have a very special place in my heart, as the man who brought me back to life. I hope that someday it can be enough.”
He ran his hands absent-mindedly through her hair. “It never will be.” There was silence. “I guess I better go then, if this is the end of things.”
Elly held his hand. “No, please stay awhile. I like you near me.”
They watched the flames flicker slowly out, the last plume of fire licking up the side of a small log. Isaac stared at her, his chocolate brown irises boring into the side of her face, while Elly kept her eyes glued to the fire. He pulled the blanket off himself, stretching his long body in the moonlight, and wrapped it around her shoulders, tucking it gently underneath her. His coarse musician’s fingers lingered on her chin as he tipped her lips up to his for one last kiss.
The night howled around them, as Elly said goodbye to the very last piece of Aaron. Isaac shut the door softly behind him, and Elly bent her head and cried. She headed inside, her throat dry from crying and began clearing the kitchen table. The lasagna was still warm. She stared at. Would it be wrong, with all that had happened tonight, to actually eat? Isaac’s stunned face appeared in her mind, the jilted look in his eyes, the agony that had played on his face while the fire died in front of them. He had been devastated and completely taken off-guard. Elly had truly hurt him, and it broke her heart, but the future was opening in front of her, and he wasn’t a part of it. It wasn’t fair to stay with him a minute longer. She looked back at the lasagna, muttered, “Eh,” and grabbed a fork.
Epilogue
Before anyone could notice, the sky turned grey and opened up her folds, letting in the snow, and with it, the Christmas season. It was Christmas Eve, and Elly was in charge of the turkey. Despite her inherited culinary abilities, how one cooked a turkey was somehow beyond her, so she was employing the help of the local news anchor.
“You will shove your hand into the cavity of the turkey and pull out the neck and gizzards.”
Elly stopped dead in front of the television. “I’m sorry?”
The woman proceeded to shove her hand up the bird’s back and pull out its insides. Elly gagged. She picked up the turkey and shook it violently over the trash can, random innards falling out. It slipped in her hands and tumbled into the trash can.
“ARRGGGHHH!!” she screamed. She grabbed it quickly out of the can and rinsed it in the sink. She turned to Cadbury. “Nobody saw that, right? Okay. good.” Cadbury yawned and licked his chops, waiting for a morsel to fall to the floor.
Elly turned her attention back to the news anchor with the bouffant hairdo. “Now, turn the turkey over and truss it with twine.”
Elly squinted at TV. I’m supposed to tie it up? What? She quickly wrapped the turkey, one end over another until it looked like some sort of prisoner of war.
“That’s done!” Elly pulled out a stick of butter, melted it in the microwave and slathered it all over the turkey. It felt a bit naughty, patting its rump, getting it all lathered up and sending it on its way into the oven. Dirty bird, Elly mumbled to herself. This, she knew, was what happened when you got used to kissing a handsome man every day. Suddenly, you had the dirtiest of minds. Elly turned down the television and up the radio.
Some alternative jazz played through the apartment, circling around Elly and echoing off the windows. Jazz would forever remind her of Isaac. She hadn’t heard from him since that night on the roof, although she had seen him loading up his car with his guitar and various boxes. She had waved and smiled. He had not, and it had sent Elly into a tearful flurry of guilt.
The oven beeped and she absentmindedly brushed a strand of hair out of her face with the oven mitt. It was so HOT in here with the oven on. She walked to the front of the apartment, pushing open the front window in time to see a black SUV pull up at the curb and Kim and Sean climbed out. She gestured gaily from the window, the cool air biting her warm cheeks.
“HEY! We’re just meeting downstairs, the table is all set!” she called out.
Kim waved back, holding a baby car seat in her free hand.
Elly whipped off her apron and headed downstairs, skipping down the steps. She loved her outfit. A red headband pulled back her blond curls, and a black dress with a red sash hit her right at the waist. Snarky Teenager had become her new shopping partner, and Elly couldn’t believe the difference new clothing could make on a person. Her black flats clicked on the stairs as she rounded the corner.
“Hello!” she cried happily. Kim ran up and threw her arms around her.
“Merry Christmas!” she exclaimed.