Crystal Lies - Melody Carlson [103]
“Hello, Jack,” called a woman’s voice down the hall.
“That’s Mrs. Gardner,” said Jack in a quiet voice. “Widow lady, been here for years.” Then he called out a greeting to her and quickly introduced us.
“Would you like to join us for turkey dinner?” I asked her without even thinking it might sound strange.
She seemed surprised but pleased. “Why, that’d be very nice, dear. Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. I made enough to feed a small army, or a rock band.” I smiled. “Anyway, no one showed up, and I’d hate to let it go to waste.”
So it was settled. Jack and Mrs. Gardner and Cammie and her two little ones would be my guests tonight.
I was just turning on the oven to warm the food when the phone rang. I dashed for it, imagining it was Jacob saying that he and his friends were on their way. Well, even if that was so, they’d have to make do with a little less food. I certainly wasn’t about to turn my neighbors away now. But it was Marcus.
“I just thought I’d see how you were doing,” he said. “I still remember how hard it was on the holidays in the beginning.”
Touched by his thoughtfulness, I told him about fixing dinner for my no-shows.
“That’s too bad, Glennis, but not too surprising. I hope you didn’t go to too much trouble.”
“I did the works,” I told him, describing the menu in detail.
“Wow, that sounds good.”
“Why don’t you come join us?”
“Us? I thought you said no one showed up.”
Then I explained my plan B to him, and he laughed. “I’d love to come.”
“Great,” I said. “Hopefully the turkey won’t be too dry.”
“I happen to like dry turkey.”
“Then come on over.”
So, what could’ve been a totally disastrous and depressing day turned out to be something of an adventure. The turkey wasn’t terribly dry, and the gravy was some of my best. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and to my relief, all the leftovers fit in the refrigerator.
Then, after dessert was finished, Cammie decided to lead our somewhat diverse group in a rousing game of charades. But eventually we realized that the generation gap was a serious challenge. (“Britney who?” asked a bewildered Jack Smart.) Plus, it was almost nine o’clock, and Avery and Warren were getting cranky, so the party began to break up.
“I should probably get the rug rats to bed,” said Cammie as she balanced a fussing Warren on one hip. “But thanks for having us over. I really do like your apartment. I wish you’d help me fix mine up cute like this.”
“I’d love to,” I told her as I handed her a paper plate of leftovers.
“And thank you so much for including me, dear,” said Mrs. Gardner, giving my hand a squeeze. “I feel that I’ve made a new friend today.”
“It’s been great getting to know you,” I said and handed her a plate of leftovers too.
“You’re a good cook, Glennis,” said Jack as he shook hands with Marcus. “And it’s been a pleasure meeting your friend Marcus here.”
“Thanks, Jack.” I handed him yet another plate. “I’m so glad you could come.”
“How about I give you a hand with the cleanup,” offered Marcus after my apartment emptied. “Oh, you don’t have to—”
“I want to, Glennis. And you might be surprised to learn that I know how to wash dishes.” He reached for my chef apron, then put it on and grinned.
As it turned out, Marcus proved to be quite adept in the kitchen. But first he insisted that I sit at the counter and simply watch. “You’ve already put in a long day,” he told me as he filled the sink with hot soapy water.
“But I feel guilty not—”
“No arguing.” He pushed up the sleeves of his sweater and turned back to the sink. “Now, tell me, how’s it going?”
“What do you mean?” I studied him as he wiped down the counter next to the sink before he set the drain rack on it. I hadn’t failed to notice that Marcus was a nice-looking man, but seeing him wearing my apron with his sleeves rolled up and making himself quite useful in my kitchen, I actually thought he was rather handsome.
I wondered what Geoffrey would think of someone like Marcus. He’d probably assume by his ponytail and unpretentious