You Had Me At Hello.

Pulling Ourselves Together.

Three months pass.

It's Thanksgiving weekend, and Elise and I are hosting it at our house.

Mom and dad were going to get Mike, who was getting to spend the holiday weekend at home.

"Where did you put the turkey?" Elise called.

"It's in the fridge. I put it in there to thaw so it would cook faster." I said.

"Where's the giblet gravy?" She asked.

"Fridge, second shelf down." I said.

"Are you gonna help me?" She asks, her fists high on her hips.

I smiled, "I'm a mexican who can't cook." I said shrugging.

She waved me over, "Come here and I'll show you. You're gonna have to do this every Thanksgiving if we get married." She said.

"If we get married? We're getting married, come hell or high water. And if you can teach me how to bake a turkey, you'll be the first woman to get through my tough skin. I hate cooking." I said.

She smiled, "There's a first time for everything." She said shrugging.

The doorbell rang.

"Coming." I called.

I opened the door, "Hey guys, come on in. Elise is teaching me how to cook." I said.

"I'll be damned, it is possible." Mike smarted.

"Shut up, or I'll knock you out." I joked, hugging my brother.

"You pregnant yet?" Mike asked, walking into the kitchen.

Elise rolled her eyes and pointed her gravy spoon at him, "Shut up, or I won't feed you." She said.

He laughed, "I kid, I kid. I'm glad to be getting some home cooked food for the first time in three months." He said.

"Well, we're glad to have you home. How's the program going?" Elise asked.

"I'm doing alright. I'm ready to come home." He said. 

Elise stirred the gravy, "To say that things here have been exciting would be a lie, because they have been really, really boring." She said.

"He not even giving ya any?" Mike asked.

"No, no, sex is not in short supply around here, it's just that we're living the normal life again." She said. 

"I'm ready to get back to making music." Mike said.

"Me too." I said.

Elise leaned against the counter, licking gravy off her fingers, "You guys were happier when you were making music." She said.

We both laughed, "We're all ready to get our lives back on track." I said.

"I thought you already were." Elise said, checking the turkey.

"We really start getting it together when Mike gets home for good." I said popping open a beer.

Elise nodded, filling a crockpot with water.

"What in the hell is that for?" Mike asked, downing a beer.

"Red beans." Elise said matter-of-factly.

We both must've looked equally dumbfounded, because she rolled her eyes and shook her head, 

"It's a Texas thing. I was raised on red beans and cornbread." She said putting the little brown beans into the boiling water.