Chapter 21
?
No contest.
Clara
My family will be here for dinner.
So for dinner I’ve made their favorites. Eggplant casserole for Dad. Sirloin steak for Mom. Viktor’s famous mac and cheese for Brent.
A side of green beans, because everyone likes green beans.
A salad, because salads are lovely.
Two types of fresh bread, because can you really serve eggplant without an Italian loaf or steak without buttered rolls?
Crème brûlée and zucchini bread for dessert.
Also, punch.
And some deviled eggs.
Because…yum?
Okay. So I’m a little stressed.
I’ve been up since four.
Over twelve hours of cooking and baking have gone by…
My family is going to be here soon.
According to Mom’s last ETA text, I have ten minutes to panic. But I really don’t want to panic. Why am I doing this to myself? This isn’t going to go well. I already know that. Do I just want to make sure that, if it ever comes up, I can say I sincerelydid my best?
Staring at the long, long dining room table, which rests in an elegant—if cold—room and seats twenty, I know why I made the deviled eggs.
I wanted to fill this table. It’s amassivetable, and having multiple serving platters for each dish wouldn’t have done the trick quite so well without the deviled eggs.
As I place the final pitcher of punch atop the shining ebony surface, my nerves bundle.
Everything looks beautiful. Everything is piping hot, covered, awaiting.
Now I just need to survive the meal, and the next few days, because a four-hour trip up from North Carolina is rough twice in the same day, and I actually don’t know how long my family plans to stay here, and I have no clue why I’m even letting them at all.
What is wrong with me?
I really must bestupid.
“We’re here to support you,” Viktor says, startling me.
When I turn, I find my family. Mynewfamily. Everyone, from brothers, to sisters, to future sisters. They’re all here. Everyone I’ve had meals with for a month is here. To support me.
“Which family member do we like the least?” Crisis asks. “I’ll sit by them.”
Lukas settles a hand on Crisis’s shoulder. “Can we set up a kid’s table, and sit you with just the three of them?”
“Maelin can bring food from the adult table over,” Zakery offers.
