Page 46 of Safer Together
I glance around the table and notice everyone is finished with their meals. I stand and start to clear the tabletop; Beth hops up to help me. I transfer the leftover salads and vegetables into smaller bowls and cover with cling film and place the slices of turkey and ham into containers before rinsing all the dishes and stacking the dishwasher.
Beth grabs the bowls for me from the pantry while I retrieve the pavlova and trifle from the fridge. “They look amazing. Who made them?” Beth asks.
“Your brother made the pavlova and I made the trifle,” I answer.
Beth looks surprised, “You can cook?” She quizzes me.
“I can cook basic food. I love desserts, though, so I make them quite often”
She licks her lips “We never have trifle. Mom always makes pavlova. Mom and Dad visited Australia many moons ago over Christmas one year, and they had pavlova for dessert. Mom loved it so she asked for the recipe and has made it every Christmas since. Most Americans don’t know what it is, however, you do. Have you been to Australia, Angela?”
“Not personally, no. My best friend is a chef and he has made it a few times. He likes trying international recipes all the time. I have to say, this is the one I’ve liked the best so far.”
Beth smiles back at me, nodding. “I understand, I can’t wait to dig in” she picks up the pavlova and makes her way back to the dining table. I follow her with the trifle, before I can turn to collect the bowls Beth has already returned with them handing them out. Everyone has trifle with the exception of Maggie and Arthur, who have pavlova.
With dessert eaten, everyone gets up from the table and makes their way back to the living room. Elliot helps me clean the table and I place the remaining desserts back in the fridge. After giving the cutlery and bowls a rinse, I place them into the already stacked dishwasher, throwing a tablet in and starting the cycle.
“We’re going to head off. Elliot.” Arthur’s clear voice cuts across the room.
Elliot walks over to his father. “I’ll walk you out, then.” While the family all embrace each other and say goodbye, I keep my distance knowing I’m not welcome. I fill the sink with hot soapy water, and begin to scrub the baking tray the turkey was cooked in, a welcome distraction. Being caught up in the task at hand I don’t notice Maggie standing beside me. “Angela, I’m sorry if I seemed rude earlier. You need to know it’s not personal. I just don’t want to see my son hurt.” I’m gob smacked, I don’t know what to say, so I just nod. I pull my hands out of the soapy water and wipe them on the tea towel I have placed beside the sink.
“I love your son for who he is Maggie. It wouldn’t matter to me if he made ten thousand dollars a year or ten million dollars a year. He obviously feels the same way about me which is why he asked me to marry him. I just can’t believe that you would think that someone would be with him just for how much money he has in the bank instead of how much of a wonderful person he is.” She just looks at me, no response. Good, I’ve said my piece. She can think about it.
She opens her mouth and closes it again before speaking, obviously chewing on what I have just told her. “He is happy, the happiest I have ever seen him. Don’t hurt him, Angela,” and without giving me time to respond, she turns away and returns to her family. Elliot looks up to me silently asking me what happened, I just smile then return to scrubbing the baking tray.
When Elliot returns from seeing off his parents, I can tell his demeanor has changed. They have said something else to him, something he didn’t like. No doubt about me. “Beth, can we talk for a minute?” Beth excuses herself from her children and walks over to her brother. They hold their heads close together whispering things in each other’s ears. After five or so minutes they break apart. Just as they do, Nikki tells everyone quite loudly that she is tired, and it’s decided that they will head off, too.
Having finished the washing up, I walk over to join everyone as they are saying goodbye. Beth wraps me in her arms and gives me a hug. “Let’s have lunch soon,” she says.
Not knowing when soon is, I nod. “Sounds great.” I bend down so I’m at eye level with Nikki and Jack and give them both a hug, promising them I will see them again soon. David gives me a wave and they are out the door.
I grab a garbage bag from the kitchen and wander over to the mountain of wrapping paper, I pick up piece after piece, disposing of it in the bag.
“Well that was interesting.”
I jump at Elliot’s voice, not expecting it. I turn to face him. “Your parents hate me.” he closes the gap between us in three steps.
“No one could ever hate you Angie. They are just shocked.”
I shrug. “Well, they weren’t the only ones to be shocked with a proposal today.” I hold up my left hand and wiggle my fingers in front of him.
He grabs my hand and kisses each of my knuckles and then my love heart diamond. “And you said yes!” He pulls me closer and cuddles me. “You have made me so happy, baby.” I smile. He makes me happy, too.
When he releases me, it feels too soon. “Let’s tidy up so I can get you to bed.”
I raise my eyebrows, “Bed?” I ask. As he places a handful of paper in the bag, he looks at me.
“I want to hold and kiss my bride-to-be for the next few hours.” I know I’m blushing before he even says so. I quickly pick up the remaining items and place the bag of rubbish next to the French doors.
“Your room or mine?” I ask.
He grins like the cat that got the cream. “Oh baby, we aren’t going to either. We’re going to our bedroom.” He takes my hand and leads me upstairs.
