Playing For Keeps

5-Mimosas And Pucks

Casey

I am hustling. 

Erin and the rest of her friends are supposed to be here around ten and it's nine forty five. 

The muffins are still in the oven and I just realized I don't even have Champagne flutes for the mimosas. 

Oh well the stemless wine glasses will have to do I guess. 

I take everything out to the table outback. I've already set out the bacon and scrambled eggs, along with all the silverware and plates. 

Inside I grab the cut up fruit bowls and set those in the center. Wiping the back of my hand across my sweaty forehead I head back inside to the kitchen.

The oven beeps and I'm quick to remove the tray of muffins, almost burning myself on the hot rack. 

I let the muffins cool as I make work of running upstairs and changing into a sundress, brushing my wild hair into something presentable. 

"It's just grandmas friends." I mutter to myself as I flatten the dress in my full length mirror. 

Yeah, grandma's friends who may be slightly judgy and a lot gossipy. That didn't mean I loved them any less.

At the sound of the doorbell I run down the stairs. 

I wonder who's early?

Opening the door I find Renata standing there, a cake wrapped in cellophane in her hands. 

"Hi, Casey." She greets and I open the door wider, "Come in."

I lead her out back and she takes a spot at the table. 

"I guess I'm early." She says and yeah no shit. Still I smile and tell her it's ok. 

Heading back into the kitchen I put the cooled muffins on a dish before taking them outside, where I find Renata eating one of the pieces of bacon. 

"Oh this is really good. Did you get this bacon from the market?"

I shake my head, "I just went down to the grocery store."

She hums, "Your grandma used to get everything she made from the market. It guaranteed the food would be the freshest."

I smile tightly, "I'll remember that for next time." Then I change lanes to get the focus off of me, "So how's Tommy?" I ask about her husband who just recently had surgery.

Renata brightens, "Oh he's doing better. Zina is helping him today while I am out."

Zina was nice, her and mom would hang out when mom came down with us to visit grandma Jo. 

We talk for a few minutes before more people start showing up. 

Shirly, Brenda, Erin, Tracy, Nickoma, and Renata all end up showing up. 

"This is nice." Erin says as we start to eat, "I don't think we have all gotten together for a brunch since Joanna died." She says and the morning takes on a saddened note. 

Joanna - my grandma Jo - was as lively as they come. She was well known and well liked in the community here and her death was unexpected to most. 

I can feel her loss at the table this morning. 

"Well she's with us in spirit." Shirly adds, "I am sure she'd love the brunch you've put together Casey." 

Honestly Shirly saying that makes me feel better about how I did today and I didn't realize how worried I was about today. Worried I had failed my grandma at making a simple brunch.