Same disclaimer as in part 1.
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
part 2
Even after ten hours of uninterrupted sleep, Miles still felt tired. He shrugged it off, attributing the feeling to the fact that they'd only been home five days out of the past thirty. It would be good to
get some down time so he could finally recharge his batteries and feel like his old self again. And spending the evening with the rest of the team seemed a good way to start.
The doorbell rang and he quickly answered it, knowing it would be Natalie. Since he didn't know exactly where Frank lived, she'd volunteered to pick him up. "Hi, Nat. You're right on time," he
said, opening the door.
"Hi, Miles. You all ready to go?" Natalie asked.
"Yeah. Just let me grab my coat and gloves," the younger doctor replied. He quickly pulled them on and picked up the bottle of wine he'd bought. Ushering her outside the door, he locked it behind him.
"I've had Frank's cooking before, Miles. He could open a restaurant with the recipes he has," Natalie said as she started her car.
Miles gave her a sudden wary glance, remembering the hot sauce. "I hope it's just not as spicy as his hot sauce," he admitted.
She laughed lightly. "I think you're safe. His girls haven't acquired the taste either."
"Good."
By the time they arrived at Frank's house, Eve and Stephen were already there. Frank met them at the door saying, "Come on in and make yourselves at home. I'll get you a beer unless you want
something else."
"Beer is fine," Miles replied as he pulled off his coat. "Hey, nice apron," Frank. Color suits you."
The older man was wearing a butcher's apron saying "King of the Kitchen" and a chef's hat that read "Kiss the Cook". "Hey, don't go putting down my Christmas gifts," he protested.
"Who got them for you? Kim or the girls?" Natalie asked.
"The package said "Santa" although I strongly suspect all four of my women told him to get me that," Frank answered.
Miles headed for Frank's comfortable recliner and sank down in it. "Thanks," he said, taking the beer Stephen handed him.
"You're welcome," Stephen answered.
"Where are the girls?" Natalie asked.
"Upstairs watching a Barney DVD. We got them a small TV/DVD combo and said they had to share," Kim answered.
"So far they're working it out," Frank added. "I have a few last minute things to prepare and supper will be ready in fifteen minutes." He vanished back into the kitchen.
"He's been cooking all day and won't let me do anything," Kim confided.
"Now, I could get used to that," Eva commented.
"Well, you need to find yourself someone else because he's already taken," Kim answered, causing everybody to laugh.
Once the meal was finally ready, Frank summoned them to the table and everybody dug into enjoying the delicious food. "Be sure and save room for dessert because you're gonna love it," he told his friends.
"What is it?" Eva asked.
"Pecan pie with praline ice cream," Frank answered.
Miles was relieved to see that while the food was indeed spicy, it was nowhere being as hot as that homemade hot sauce. In fact it was just right. "Great meal," he commented.
"Definitely one of your best, Frank," Natalie added and Eva and Stephen nodded in agreement, their mouths too full to talk.
"These were my grandmother's recipes. Now that woman could cook. When I was little she did do some cooking for a small family restaurant. I loved going to see her because she always had
leftovers. In fact she taught me to cook," Frank replied.
"I met her at our wedding," Kim, added. She told me that 'A man who cooks will never go hungry and his wife will never worry',"
"And have you ever had to worry about me?" Frank asked.
"Some things I do. But never about you not eating," Kim answered. She got up from the table to see if the girls needed anything or if they had finished eating.
"Everyone okay?" Frank asked her.
"They've had enough. Keisha wants her ice cream," Kim replied.
"I'll go get it," Frank said. He looked at his guests. "Anybody ready for dessert?"
"Maybe later," Miles replied.
"I told you to leave room for dessert," Frank gently chided.
"I was but I didn't know how good a cook you were," the younger man
replied.
"I'll go get the girls their ice cream and peanut butter pie. We can have our stuff in about an hour when we're ready to eat again,' Frank replied. He headed for the kitchen.
"I don't think I'll ever to be able to eat again," Miles answered. After four days of hastily grabbed meals, he'd thoroughly enjoyed the chance to sit down and leisurely eat although he'd eaten more than he usually did. But everything he'd tried was just so good.