Thanksgiving Weddings ~ Part Two

Thanksgiving morning dawned with a fresh layer of snow on the ground. We hurried with our breakfast and I made the last rounds through the house to make sure everything was spotless before we headed for church.

We decided to leave the wagon at Uncle Eli's house, that Ivan and Raymond could walk the rest of the way which would save us the embarrassment of showing up at church pulling a wagon. especially since there would be so many visitors there.

Right after the wedding ceremony we started for home instead of staying to visit with friends for a while first. It took a little longer to walk home than I had hoped and I immediately starting making lunch. David had invited LV and he would be coming at any minute. Desperate to have the kitchen smelling good from cooking I poked at the few lonely red coals remaining in the bottom of the cook stove. I sent Mahlon to the shop to gather an armful of small wood scraps in hopes I could coax the fire to burn sooner that way. I was more than a little frustrated that I had forgotten to bank the stove properly before leaving for church that morning.

LV came before I had started cooking and I breathed a sigh of relief when the fire finally started burning nicely. Going into the pantry I brought the turkey and potatoes. I was going to make mashed potatoes and fry the turkey in a pan with melted butter and flour seasoned with choice spices. I lifted the lid from the pot containing the turkey I had cooked the previous day and lifted out a few pieces. They were totally coated in aspic and I tried my best to scrape it off before putting them in the frying pan.

I felt extremely self conscious with LV sitting in the kitchen watching and it didn't help knowing that he could only stay for an hour since he had to go home and do all the chores on their dairy by himself. Getting a pack of frozen corn from the basement he told me I don't have to make a huge meal that he would be happy with just turkey and potatoes.

I put all my focus on the turkey which was fast becoming a disaster. The aspic that I had failed to remove was melting and instead of the turkey getting a nice crispy coating it was sticking to the pan and was surrounded by the most disgusting looking glop. With most of my attention fixed on trying to salvage the turkey I forgot to monitor the potatoes which gleefully burned to the bottom of the saucepan. I frantically removed the top few layers and mashed them and then turned back to the turkey which was now hopelessly stuck to the bottom of the frying pan. Trying to pry it loose a whole drumstick catapulted out of the frying pan and landed on the floor and just as fast a bad word that I hadn't said in years popped out of my mouth.

I was absolutely mortified as my brothers all looked at me with wide eyes and LV watched my cooking efforts with a slight grin. Dishing everything out into bowls I placed them on the table and sank wearily into my chair.

After a silent prayer everyone took a helping of potatoes and turkey. The potatoes were lumpy and too late I realized I had forgotten to make gravy. The turkey was even worse. The outside was slightly warm but the rest was still thoroughly cold.

After we were done eating my brothers started clearing the table while I followed LV to the basement to see him off. I thought the whole day was ruined when he paused at the door and looking into my eyes he held my hand and said, "I love you. I'll see you tonight when we go for the wedding reception."

I headed back upstairs. My heart singing. Even after being served such a disastrous meal LV said he loved me.

To be continued