The Art of Starting Over

Chapter 27 - The Party

I took a good look around me and sighed. I had never seen the living room look so festive.

I had given Sosa a hell of a time trying to convince me to throw a Good Luck for the Procedure party for Millie, but now, seeing the yellow and purple balloons strewn all over the floor and the big We love you, Millie! banner Sosa had drawn by hand, I had to admit I was glad she had talked me into it.

"What do you think, Sunxajn?" Sosa chirped proudly as she twisted a length of golden tulle ribbon into a large bow at the end of the bannister.

"It looks amazing, Sosa. Thank you," I replied warmly, going into the kitchen to check the time.

It was six o'clock. Perfect! Carmen and Millie should have been packing up from Bingo right about then.

The oven timer went off, and before I could do anything, a sharp, anxious voice cut through the air.

"Don't touch that! I'm coming!"

Jeremy whizzed through the door in Nanna's red and pink apron and made a beeline for the oven. He swiftly put on Millie's pink oven mitts and opened the oven door. The smell that engulfed the room was out of this world. I moved closer to see what was inside the dish and almost got hit by the piping-hot tray as Jeremy swerved dangerously, unaware that I was right behind him.

"Step back, woman!" he snapped at me angrily as he set the tray on the chopping board. "What are you doing in my kitchen?"

"Your kitchen?"

"Yes! I'm the chef, so it's my kitchen!" he announced, moving around me to get to the fridge.

I couldn't help but mimic him as he returned to his workstation, but I did it silently and behind his back so that he wouldn't see or hear me.

When I had told him about the party, I had expected him to dismiss the whole thing as gruesome and atrocious. But to my amazement, his response had been, That's a great idea. I'll cook! I had told him he was just as bat-shit crazy as Sosa, but eventually, I gave in and let them have their way, figuring we could all use a distraction. It had been two weeks of constant worrying and dancing on eggshells around one another. Maybe this party was exactly what we needed.

I reached over past Jeremy and snatched what looked like a rolled speck, stuffing it quickly into my mouth before he could slap my wrist away. He glowered at me angrily at first, but then his look became expectant.

"Oh, wow, this is good!" I said, unable to keep the surprise out of my voice. I had been fortunate enough to have Jeremy cook for me several times over the past few days, but this was simply exquisite. There was no other word for it.

"Of course, it is!" he said a little too smugly. "Wait till you try the salmon and avocado tartines."

I snorted in response. He was wearing one of his designer suits and his usual arrogant expression, both of which contrasted heavily with Millie's apron and oven mitts. He had shaved off his stubble completely, and he looked younger and sharper, making it impossible for me to ignore how good he looked as he carefully plated the roulades at an angle, each equidistant from the other.

I turned my attention to the rest of the kitchen. What must have been all of Millie's pots and pans, cutlery, plates and bowls were scattered along the kitchen cupboard or piled into the sink. But on the table, there was a wide array of assortments that looked absolutely wonderful. He had even placed tiny cards on each serving dish, with the names of the items neatly handwritten in curly calligraphy.

Pizzotti, Garlic Focaccia, Gourmet Onion and Tomato Bruschetta, Marinated Crab Puffs with Mint Crème, Mozzarella and Cherry Tomato Delights, Mini-Quiche, Mini-Club Sandwiches, Assorted Canapés...