The Night I Flew

Chapter 9

Alex's mom started making her way to the kitchen along with Rosette. I tried to follow but was stopped by Alex. He walked behind me holding my shoulders. "Do you want me to help you put that on?"He asked, pointing to the small box in my hands. I pulled the necklace out and gave it to him. He swept my hair to one side and placed the necklace on, latching it in the back.

I turned around and kissed him. "Thank you. I'm going to try to help your mom make dinner, Okay?" I said,turning back to the kitchen. "Okay, don't burn anything!"He said behind me while I was walking. I didn't say anything but I laughed to myself and kept walking. I looked in front of me to see Mrs. Solanne and Rosette waiting for me.

"Just a little heads up, I don't exactly know how to cook."I said, lowering my head. Mrs. Solanne walked up to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "That's okay Hun. We can teach you."She stated, looking at Rosette for confirmation. Rosette nodded and smiled at me.

"So, first you'll need an apron."Rosette said, pulling out a flower designed apron that was clearly hand-stitched. She helped me put the apron on, tying it in the back for me. "Okay, I'm going to make something I haven't made since before Reginald passed."Mrs. Solanne said, smiling at Rosette, whose face lit up. "You don't mean-"She started but was quickly interrupted by her mother. "Grandma's pumpkin pie!"They both squealed simultaneously.

Rosette turned to me and held my hands in hers. "You are about to taste the best pumpkin pie in the world!"She said smiling. Mrs. Solanne looked through the bags, pulling out the ingredients. "Rosy, dear. Can you get a bowl for me?" She asked Rosette. She didn't respond but quickly started digging through the cabinets and finally pulled out a large bowl. "Ana, come over here." Mrs.Solanne waved me over to where she and the bowl were.

"We'll start off easy. I've already measured out the amounts, now just pour these into the bowl."She pointed to the small cups filled with different things. I picked up the biggest cup and poured it in the bowl while she said, "One cup of flour." I set the cup on the table and started pouring the rest of the cups into the bowl as she told me what was in each. 

"Now we'll mix it until it's a shape-able dough."Rosette said, now holding out a large spoon. I started mixing but half way through Rosette showed me an easier way to do it. Eventually, it turned into a light brown dough that we spread out in a pan to act as the crust. We continued like this in making the filling. Mrs.Solanne would help me put together the ingredients while Rosette would help me pour it. 

We eventually put strands of crust on the top, making it cis-cross in different ways. We put it in the oven and started on a few other dishes.  While we were making the stuffing I tried to ask Mrs.Solanne for something. "Oh, mothe-"I wanted to call her mother. "Mom."I said, correcting myself for a second time tonight.

"If you don't want to, you don't have to call me Mom. You can always just call me Holly if you want."She said with her same soothing smile. I loved that smile. "Holly. That's a lovely name."I said, smiling back at her.

We finished cooking and everything was out of the oven and ready to eat. I looked around me, taking the small house in again. Little Goldie playing with Reggie, showing off her new toys. Alex laughing at them. Rosette and Holly smiling while putting the final touches on the food. I looked over and caught Alex's eye. I smiled at him and waved. He waved back and gave me one of his signature, wonderful smiles.

I hadn't realized that Rosette and Holly had set up the table until I looked back over at them. "Dinner's ready!" Holly shouted into the family room. The others all flooded into the room, smiling and ready for food. "Smells amazing mama." Alex said, giving his mom a side up. "Thank you but don't forget these two girls also helped."She said, sitting down and pointing between me and Rosette. We both smiled and sat down at the round table. It was small, but still felt big.

I sat in between Alex and Reggie, Marigold and Rosette sat on either side of their mom, who was right in front of me. "Marigold, why don't you say grace?"Holly said, watching little Goldie's face light up. "Really!? Okay!" She said gleefully, reaching for Rosette and Holly's hands. I did the same, offering my hands to Reggie and Alex and closing my eyes. 

"Lord, we thank you for this lovely meal, for the gifts, and for everybody sitting at this table. You sent us an angel this Christmas, and for that, we will be forever thankful. Let every Christmas from here on out be this wonderful and this filled with love. Please continue to protect us and fill our lives with love. Amen."She smiled and went straight to the food.

Alex had leaned over to me and whispered, "I completely agree. You are definitely an angel. How else could you be so perfect?"He laughed, still holding my hand. He had started rubbing his thumb over the top of my hand. "I suggest you start filling your plate before there's nothing left."I said, smiling at him.

He looked in front of him, then at me. "What did I say? Angel."He said, grabbing a roll. I filled my plate and we all sat there,talking, laughing , and joking. I did try the pumpkin pie. They were right, it was the best I had ever tasted. What a wonderful time in my life. I don't think I have ever felt so much love and exception. All because I loved the boy who worked in the stables.