I Made You're Favorite

Early Covid Quarantine. Spring 2020

Topanga sighed as she read the email from her boss at Brown & Elliott. Was it really worth reading all of this case law when the courts wouldn't be open for some time? On the other hand, she couldn't slack off on her job, either.

She began studying the material.

"And that's when Winston Churchill – " said Cory's voice from the background.

"Dad, I can't hear what my science teacher said!" Auggie said at the very same time. "It's bad enough that we can't do any science experiments since quarantine started, but now I can't hear her talk, either."

Topanga shook her head. Having both her husband and son participating on Google classroom was harder than they'd expected. "Cory, why don't you take your computer into our room?" she said rationally.

Cory huffed but he got up and left the living room. Auggie settled down to listen to his science teacher. And Topanga returned to her case law.

About ten minutes later, Riley wandered out to the living room. "Mom, are you sure I can't go to Maya's? Her mother made cherry pie, using the bakery recipe."

Topanga put aside her case law again, a part of her wondering why her oldest was home. They had moved Riley and Maya into the dorms at NYU last fall. But of course, that was before everything shut down, including universities. "Riley, we've been through this, already. In order for quarantine to be effective, everyone has to stay home unless absolutely necessary. Going to your friend's house because you want cherry pie isn't necessary."

Riley huffed and glared at Topanga, as if she were enforcing a prison sentence. In some ways, Topanga felt as if she was. She longed for the days when she could face off against opponents in court instead of just preparing for cases that may not even be tried until two or three years from now. Or even simply sharing a latte and a laugh with Katy at the bakery.

Why must she always be the rational one in this family? What happened to the days when she could make everything okay by putting lipstick on her face and reciting poetry?

But today, Topanga needed to read the case law.

She was just getting into the important part, when Cory came running out of their bedroom. "I can't get these kids to pay attention to me! They don't want to talk to a head on a screen, and there's no way to teach interactively, which used to be the cornerstone of my teaching."

Topanga snapped.

"I can't do this anymore," she said, getting up. "My boss told me I had to read all this case law to be ready for when the courts do finally open up, but everyone in this family thinks I can solve all their problems." She shook her head. "Well, I've had enough. Of all of you!"

She grabbed a mask and left the apartment.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Eventually finding herself at the supermarket, Topanga picked up basic groceries like coffee, milk, and oatmeal. She sighed, reminding herself that she was lucky that none of her family had gotten sick yet, especially living in a city like New York.

Of course she would apologize for what she said, but Cory would appreciate his favorite meal even more. She picked up some mashed potatoes and gravy. And perhaps she'd make Riley a cherry pie, too, she thought as she added cherries to the cart.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

When Topanga returned, Cory wasn't in the living room or kitchen, and neither was Riley. Auggie sat on the couch, watching tv. Topanga was disappointed, but she knew the smell of mashed potatoes and gravy on the stove would entice her husband out sooner or later.

Sure enough, Cory came wandering into the kitchen. "I smelled gravy," he said, sniffing the air.

"With mashed potatoes," Topanga said, pointing at the pot of boiling potatoes with a grin. "I made your favorite. I'm sorry about what I said this afternoon. I'm really glad I still have you guys. Not everyone is lucky as we are."

Cory nodded. "This is a stressful situation, Topie," he said as he hugged her. "Even for a steady person like you." When he released her, his nose went directly to the mashed potatoes and gravy.

"Get out of the way, Cory," Topanga said, but she was grinning. Her husband appreciated the gesture just as much as she'd hoped he would. "I bought ingredients for cherry pie, too, because Riley had asked about it earlier. Do you think she'll understand the apology, too?"

Cory picked up his nose from the steaming pots. "Definitely." With that, he gave her that smile that Topanga had adored since the sixth grade.