Elly snacked thoughtfully on a spiced nut. “It took a long time. I had help.” She grinned at him. “Like you.” Anthony sat back in his chair. “I just can’t get over how good it looks in here.”
Elly glanced around her studio proudly. It had only been about a month since the wedding, but there had been several changes. She had ordered a fancy sign for above the door and had the glass etched with their logo. A large blackboard had been hung behind the design table, fit with vintage picture frames, each holding the flower orders for the week. Elly had replenished her ribbon supply, and now a dowel near the ceiling held hundreds of gorgeous ribbons in green polka dots, red stars, pink stripes, and fuchsia paisley. The store exploded with freshness and color.
“Well, you know, Sunny gave me enough extra that I had a lot to put back into the shop.” She paused for dramatic effect. “And…I just bought the new delivery van.” Anthony and Snarky Teenager sighed happily in unison. They both hated the other van.
Anthony put his hands behind his head. “I love this place.”
Elly gave him a half-smile. “Me too.”
Kim cleared her throat. “Elly, is it okay if we eat? I want to make sure that I have enough to eat and feed Hadley afterwards.”
Elly jumped up. “Yes! I’ll bring down the food.”
Anthony stood shakily. “I’ll help!” he cried, before Kim pushed him back down.
“You aren’t allowed to do anything but eat. Sit down.”
Basir stood. “I would like to help…please.”
Elly nodded. Basir followed her up to the kitchen and she sent him down with garlic mashed potatoes, mushrooms stuffed with brie, steaming French bread, and green beans amandine. He came back up quickly and Elly marveled at the glory and energy of his youth.
“Looks delicious! Where is the turkey?” he asked.
Elly nodded toward the oven.
He knelt, glanced inside and stood up awkwardly.
“Um, ma’am? That turkey is not cooked.”
Elly waved her hand at him, annoyed. “You’re from Russia, I’m sure turkey is different over there.”
“Well, ma’am, I’m not meaning to insult, but,” he gestured to the oven. “It is not cooked.”
Elly yanked open the oven. Oh no. The turkey was definitely not cooked. It was still a pale, pasty beige, and Elly could see ice chunks on the inside.
“Oh no.” She screamed down the stairs. “KIM!!”
Kim poked her head around the corner. “WHAT?”
“Come up here.”
Kim sauntered up the stairs. “I have a baby downstairs, remember?”
Elly nodded. “The turkey isn’t coming.”
“What?”
“The turkey…” She opened the oven and Kim crouched down.
She straightened up quickly. “Elly, how long has it been in there?”
“Maybe 40 minutes?”
“Elly, how long do you think it takes to roast a turkey?”
“I figured it was like a chicken breast….you know, 45 minutes at 350 degrees.”
Kim smacked her forehead. “You know how to make everything else, and you’ve never made a turkey? Turkeys take hours.”
Elly’s mouth dropped open. “That can’t be right. They didn’t say that on the news.”
“You learned how to cook a turkey on the news? Who does that?”
Elly shushed her. “My mom hated turkey, so I never learned how to make one. What do I do? I’ve ruined Christmas…” She flopped onto the couch melodramatically.
Kim gave her an exasperated look. “What did you do last month?”
Elly looked up from her hands. “What?”
“What did you do last month?”
“I designed my ex-husband’s wedding.”
“That’s right, so if you can do that, this turkey thing should be no big deal.”
Elly pushed herself to her feet. “That’s right, thanks for the reality check.” She hollered down the stairs for help.
Ten minutes later, Elly, Keith and Kim came back from his deli, carrying a tray of elaborate sandwiches.
“So…” Elly started. “We had a problem with the turkey.”
Snarky Teenager let out a groan. “Did you eat it?” she asked.
Elly gave her a mean look. “Instead of turkey, we are having sandwiches with our other sides!”
Everyone around the table was silent until Anthony clapped his hands wildly. “Sandwiches! Sides! Yay!”
Elly chuckled “Thank you for your enthusiasm, Anthony.”
While Kim dished out the food, Elly filled everyone’s wine glasses for the toast. Afterwards, all eyes trained on her as she settled into her chair.
“So, um, I guess I’m supposed to speak.”