Page 55 of The Sky in Summer
Now, sitting in the dining room, we enjoy my favorite part of family dinners. The lingering conversation that lasts long after the meal.
“I made individual cobblers for dessert,” Scarlett says.
“Yum. Let’s give our stomachs a break though. Maybe we can have it on the patio after the game,” Aargon says.
“I passed the recipe on to Van.” Then, turning to me, “Did you try it?”
“They didn’t come out exactly like these,” I say.
“We ate all twelve! They were as good for breakfast as they were for dessert,” Layla says with a laugh that dwindles to a half chuckle when she realizes how much she revealed.
“You cooked?” Aurora says.
“Sounds like it,” Aargon says.
I feel the eyes of the room on me. I believe my “friend” wants to melt into the floor.
I pretend to be insulted while deflecting the comment.
“What? I can cook! I’m not completely without the cooking gene.”
But nobody is under the assumption it’s my culinary skills in question. My mother and father look extremely entertained, David on alert, and Tyler kinda happy. Interesting.
“You tell em’, Uncle Van,” Teddy says laughing.
Sam coughs and says under his breath, “Icallbullshit.”
Thank God my father pulls the conversation forward.
“Listen, you got my skills in the cooking department, son. It’s the Frenchman in you.”
“Thanks a lot,” my mother teases. “Maybe it’s the chemist of the family who knows how to expertly mix ingredients.”
“Love, you are many things. An accomplished scholar and an exquisite wife and mother. But cooking is more my department.”
That starts a whole debate about the many things Aurora Lyon has made that we love. She vigorously defends her roast. Everything with this family is up for debate. Obviously, we like the sound of our own voices.
“All right. Time for a game. We don’t have Dove and Nobel with us tonight, but we have three new players, which is always fun. Did Van fill you in?” my father says to Layla and the twins.
“They know how to play. Let’s start!” I call.
Teddy and Sam pound the table. “Who the hell isthat? Who the hell isthat?”
Tyler and David need no other prompting. They join in.
Scarlett goes to get the pictures.
“Have you two ever won?” David asks Sam and Teddy.
“No. But I came in second once,” Sam says.
Without another word, the gauntlet has been laid between the teenagers. They are gunning for us and each other. Makes me smile.
Returning from wherever the pictures were, Scarlett comes into the room carrying manila envelopes.
“Your mission if you chose to accept it!” Aargon says taking his.
They are passed out to all nine participants.
