Chapter Fifty-Six
When I enter the kitchen, I find my daughter at the table peeling potatoes silently, while Kurt's washing the dishes at the sink. Compared to how cheerful Gina was before they started today's cooking lesson about an hour ago, I notice the difference in her demeanor straight away. She seems rather unhappy.
"Did something happen?" I glance from one to the other, and while Gina doesn't even raise her head, Kurt shuts off the running water and turns to me.
He doesn't speak, but his meaningful look tells me I should ask my daughter instead, so I approach Gina and place my hand on her shoulder.
"What's wrong?" I inquire in a soft tone.
"Cooking isn't for me. It was the worst idea. I'm hopeless," she shrugs and I feel a bit relieved that it's only about cooking, because I began to fear something more serious went down between her and Kurt.
"I am the one who's hopeless," I chuckle, "you are only sixteen, you still have time to learn," I encourage her, squeezing her shoulder gently.
"I could give you lessons too," Kurt offers and I respond with an incredulous look.
"Nothing good would come out of that," I point out and he ends up chuckling as well.
The only one not enjoying the situation is my daughter.
"I guess you're stuck with me," she addresses Kurt with a smile and I'm actually glad she isn't going to give up on her plan, whatever made her feel so miserable before.
"I told you it takes practice, you should give it more time," he notes patiently, making me smile. I suppose Gina can be a handful, so I appreciate his attitude even more. It's only the third time they are cooking together after all, she shouldn't rush the results. Especially because it's my fault that she inherited the wrong genes.
"We have to leave in four hours, will the lunch be ready before that?" I tease them to lighten the mood, after I peek inside the oven. Something is roasting in there and judging from the smell it was worth their efforts.
"Sure," Kurt replies with a grin.
"Good luck," I pat Gina's shoulder supportively, then say a silent thank you to Kurt, who forms a kiss with his lips in return.
o-o-o
"You have your ticket?" I ask Kurt and his look suggests that it might not be the first time he hears my question.
"Yes, I do," he replies patiently nevertheless.
"Will is picking you up at six," I remind him of the schedule.
"I know," he responds, clearly this wasn't new information for him either, but I somehow felt the need to share it with him again.
"Sorry, I'm a little nervous," I admit and turn to my bag to check its content one last time, although I'm pretty sure it already has everything I might need during the evening and more.
"It's cute," he comments with a grin, trying to ease my tensed state and I appreciate his effort, even though it doesn't seem to work.
"Will you and Cary get along?" I list another one of my concerns and he shakes his head with a soft smile at my rather silly question. They are adults after all.
"You should stop worrying, everything will be okay," he reassures me and steps closer, probably assuming he could be more helpful this way.
"I hope so," I sigh and finish scamming my bag. I won't realize what's missing from it in this state anyway.
"Can't wait to see that mysterious dress," his low voice from right next to me almost gives me chills. I don't even know why I'm nervous about tonight, but if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's definitely my dress.
"I'll be wearing it just for you," I promise and let him put his hands around my waist. His closeness finally fills me with some much needed calmness.
"I also want to be the one to take it off," he points out with a grin and our eyes meet in a long glance, while I imagine him undressing me right now, instead of later. Too bad there isn't enough time for that.
"Maybe we can arrange that," I respond teasingly.
The soft kiss he places on my neck, right under my ear, holds the promise of tonight, when I'll be wearing a dress that will certainly take his breath away.
"Mom, what's taking so long?" We hear my daughter's impatient voice from the hall. I was right that our time was almost up.
"I gotta go," I excuse myself with a smile. "See you soon." My lips touch his just for a second.
"I'm counting the minutes," he replies, letting me go.
o-o-o
"How are my girls?" Alicia enters our dressing room in a cheerful mood.
The weight of the whole event doesn't show on her face at all. She feels in her element tonight and I couldn't be happier for her that everything's going according to plan. But after the hard work she's put into organizing the show, it's more like her well-deserved reward.
"Excited," I smile and I guess Gina and Millie's faces reflect the same sentiment. There's only about an hour left until our big appearance.
"I love the necklace," Millie checks herself in the mirror for the umpteenth time.
I happened to find the perfect necklace for her dress and she hasn't been able to get her eyes off it ever since I gave it to her.
"You are welcome to keep it, since you love it so much," I offer and she practically jumps in my arms, which makes Alicia and Gina chuckle.
"Thank you," she places a kiss on my cheek.
I couldn't have given it to anyone more grateful, even if it's not even a too valuable piece in my collection.
"My pleasure," I reassure her as I stroke his back gently.
"The guys are on their way," Alicia announces after checking her phone. Will must have texted her just now.
"Good, when is Cary coming?" I glance at Gina, who's busy typing on her phone.
"He's on his way too," she responds without looking at me.
"I guess I need a coffee," I announce. The rehearsal for the show already exhausted me and the day is far from being over.
"Could you get me one as well? I need to check on everyone else," Alicia begs me, not that it's necessary.
"You don't even have to ask," I reassure her and I'm already on my way to get our much needed caffeine supply.
o-o-o
I decide on a last bathroom break before I put on my dress, but when I'm about to grab the door handle the familiar voice from inside makes me stop.
"She's never been married, right? Does she even know who the father is?" I recognize the voice of Kurt's sister right away.
"There have been rumors." The other woman is harder to identify.
"If I were her, I would be very ashamed of myself. And yet she's parading around town with my brother. His wife barely died."
When it hits me that Helen is talking about me, I suddenly feel the ground spinning under me. How dare she?
"You got along well with the wife?" The other woman asks, while I already want to run away, since I've heard enough; only my legs aren't able to fulfill my wish at the moment.
"I loved her, she was the best wife, mother and sister-in-law. She and my brother were inseparable. Kurt will never love someone like that again."
I wish I had been able to run away, because this is something I would rather not have heard at all. The pain her statement caused is all too palpable already.
"Poor Diane."
The pitiful, yet sarcastic comment makes me feel even more miserable, so I'm all the more grateful that I'm finally able to distance myself from the door and run away from everything I just accidentally witnessed. Turns out I wasn't worried for nothing after all.
