Chapter 4: today's the day
Spencer's alarm awoke him at the most inopportune time, and he silently cursed morning. He got up, showered, decided to dress comfortably to cook, and headed downstairs to make coffee and started putting his plan into action. Soon Spencer was at a flower shop he passed everyday but had never had a reason to enter. He looked around at all the flowers and was overwhelmed. He decided to ask a young sales woman to help him. He told her he was hosting a professional dinner and needed flowers for the center of his table that would not obstruct anyone's view of each other, but might serve as a good conversation piece. He explained that his dining room was brown, and he planned on using red napkins. She was obviously amused by his details and she suggested orchids in a short glass bowl, perhaps floating on water. He agreed, paid and headed home satisfied with her arrangement.
Spencer set the table with his china, 9 seats, and left one space empty for the baby. His dining room table would comfortably seat 12, and he had never been sure why it was so appealing to him until now. Usually he sat alone at the head of the table and looked out at the emptiness. His dining room actually looked wonderful when used as it should be. He hoped Hotch would bring whatever the child would need to sit safely in a chair, and whatever utensils were appropriate. He had already resolved to puree some vegetables and maybe some chicken for the child, supposing it would be rude to assume they would bring it dinner. The flowers looked perfect in the center of the table, and he smiled when he realized at least J.J. would say so.
In the kitchen, he began to work his way backwards, starting with dessert and saving the salad for last so it would be fresh. The chicken was roasting, and the vegetables were chopped and ready to be steamed with fresh herbs. The dough for his rolls was rising, and his cheesecakes were cooling. He realized he was at a stopping point, checked the time, and seeing he had just under an hour before his guests started to arrive early, as he knew they all would, he decided to shower and get dressed. He decided on a black striped shirt and tan pants, and stopped in front of the mirror one last time before returning downstairs to give himself a pep talk. 'You can do this Spencer. This is going to be good.'
Once again, Spencer paced his entire house, attempting to assure the safety of Hotch's child, and discard anything that he didn't want to explain. He checked that his DVD's were all in alphabetical order, as well as his CD's, even though he knew they were, and put the sheet music he had used the night before away in his piano bench. He wouldn't need it, and would be embarrassed to use it if he did have to play for them tonight. He hoped his memory wouldn't fail him, as it did sometimes when he caught J.J. looking at him.
Checking his watch, he decided it was time to put the bread in the oven, and to top the cheesecakes. Methodically he rolled the dough and placed each set of three in a muffin pan. He checked the chicken, and added the vegetables to the steamer. He checked on the rice, and pulled the fruit mash he had prepared for the cheesecake out of the fridge. He worked quickly and quietly, humming along to Vivaldi playing softly through his entire house. He was busy working in the kitchen when he heard his doorbell ring, and his heart nearly jumped out of his throat in anticipation.