The chapter most of you have been waiting for!
Chapter Fourteen
Thanksgiving
Part One
Stretching, Ellie staggered into the kitchenette. She had just returned from her leisure walk, feeling much more relaxed and ready to start on the Thanksgiving Dinner. She stopped dead in her tracks as her eyes fell on Grant's well-toned backside. He was oblivious to her entrance, busy stirring contents in three different pots. And he was humming. Stifling a giggle, she bit her lower lip. Who would have guessed Alan's a hummer?
Grant lifted a spoon to his face, sniffing the contents before timidly taking a taste. His nose curled up repulsively. "What the hell," he muttered to him self, switching off the gas pilot. He reached up into the cabinet above the stove and withdrew a spice. Looking at it oddly, he seemed to ponder his next move before shrugging and dumping a heaping full into the pan. After mixing the spice thoroughly, he hesitantly tried the food again. "Ahg!" He dropped the spoon in the pot as he rushed over to the sink. He stuck his head under the faucet and cranked the water pressure full blast.
Ellie couldn't contain her self. She let loose a powerful laugh that nearly doubled her over. "What…are you…doing?" She managed to whiz between fits of laughter.
From his bent-over, titled-head position, Grant eyed her with a mixture of irritation and amusement. When the revolting taste in his mouth subsided, he switched the faucet off and wiped his dripping face with the back of his hand. "Nothing." He ambled over to the stove and glared down at the pot of mystery. "I used to make this all the time. I just don't understand what's wrong with it."
Ellie shook her head and strolled over, peering down into the pot. "Well, I can tell you what's wrong with it."
"What?"
She poked the mush with the spoon. "It's alive."
Grant pressed his lips together and resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "It's gourmet, Ellie."
"Gourmet? Since when do you cook gourmet? Actually, since when do you cook anything resembling food at all?"
Grant sighed with a chuckle, his smile contagious. "I hardly cook anything, let alone gourmet. Yet, I did pick up a few recipes over the years of my bachelorhood. I couldn't live on microwave dinners and fast food if I ever wanted to impress a woman."
"Ok…so what is this…stuff?"
"It's called Mee Goreng. It's fried noodles with prawns, egg, meats, and hot sauce. Anyway, I believe it is an Indian dish. Not Native American. I mean from India or some country out that way. I don't know." He eyed the dish as though he were about to discipline it.
"You continue to amaze me, Alan." Ellie handed him the spoon. She reached around him to open the oven and peer inside. "Wow, that's a nice looking turkey."
Alan stared at her with a teasing grin. "Do you always state the obvious?"
"Well, I wouldn't have to if you could realize it yourself."
"Of course I realized it. I made the blasted thing. Now go sit down. The rest of dinner is almost ready and it's delicious." He swatted her gently on the behind with a towel and she yelped at the unsuspected intrusion. "Quit hovering, woman."
She tossed him a mock angry glare from over her shoulder, but did his bidding willingly. She plopped down onto the nearest chair and rolled her eyes up at him. "So now what, Alan? You choke me to death with your cooking?"
Grant barked out a laugh. "Oh, just you wait and see, Ellie." He placed a plate and utensils in front of her. "I may not have the skills of a chef, but I can manage a few dishes just fine." He set the rest of the table before sitting down opposite of her. "You know, Ellie, you're lucky I find you so amorously infuriating."
"You're lucky I find you so charmingly infuriating."
He smiled at her then, began dishing out her meal.
Ellie graciously accepted the food. "What do you usually do for the holidays, Alan?"
"I stay here."
"I know that, but…you stay here doing what? Does family ever visit you? Your siblings? Your parents?" She took a bite of her mashed potatoes and was pleased to find it smooth and creamy instead of the chunkiness she had been expecting.
"Well…" he turned quiet. "They're very busy. Adam and Adrian go to my mum's house with their children. And I…I stay here and take care of things." He tapped his unused fork against her plate. "What about you, Ellie? What's your family like?"
"Well, I have two older brothers. I guess that's why I'm out here. I grew up playing with GI Joes and dinosaurs other than dolls. My oldest brother, Jacob, is a contractor in his own business. He has a wife, Nancy, and three kids. My other brother, Ray, is a drifter. He was married once, but…you know."
Grant leaned forward. "No, I don't know. I speculate she either left, they divorced, or she…passed away."
"She couldn't handle his life style, so she divorced him and jumped into the arms of the next available man: Ray's best friend. Talk about drama." She tried her turkey and moaned in pleasure. "Mmm, Alan, this is so incredible." She licked her lips. "Anyway, my parents still live in the same house I grew up in Chicago. It's nice to go back every now and then."
"I'm sure it is," he said softly before sticking his spoon of cranberry sauce into his mouth.
"Alan…when is the last time you saw your family?"
He began choking, his eyes watering. He coughed violently until he was able to swallow the chunk of sauce that had crammed his throat. He took a long swing of his milk. "Wow…I…sorry about that." He pounded his chest a few times to dislodge the tightness residing there. "I haven't seen most of them since…since Lisa's funeral. My sister did come out here to visit a few times in the following years, but I always managed to be busy the weeks she came to see me."
Ellie reached across the table, covering his hand with hers. "I'm so sorry, Alan."
He forced a smile. "Hey, it's not your fault. It's just the rotation of life. You are born to eventually die and I guess Lisa was meant to go sooner than most of us." He glanced away, peering out the window. "Sometimes I just wish my clock had stopped with hers, but then…" he gazed at Ellie with his heart shining through his eyes. "Then I remember that I have to live. For her. She loved and cherished life so much it would be a disgrace to her memory if I allowed myself to wither away. Besides, there are reasons to live: for her memory, for my work, and…"
"And what?" Ellie asked tenderly.
"For you."
A tear leaked from her eye, and she got up from the table, walking over to him. She cupped his face and gazed at him passionately before leaning down and covering his mouth with hers. The kiss was hot yet sent shock waves of shivers up her spine. She moaned hungrily and licked his lips. His mouth parted and their tongues swept along each other's gums and teeth. Unable to stand on her buckling knees, Ellie straddled Alan on the chair. He tangled his hands in her hair, drawing her closure.
Filled with desire, Alan stood up and hoisted Ellie up, her ankles linking together against his behind. Never breaking their kiss, Alan carried her into his bedroom.
End Chapter Fourteen
Well…they're finally together!! Reviews are always welcome!!