chapter 15
“Only a few more hours!” cried Molly when she met up with Amanda in the cafeteria the next afternoon.
“Yeah,” said Amanda. “I can’t wait to get home!”
“What’s going on?” asked Peichi as she sat down with the twins at their favorite table.
“Aunt Livia flew in this morning, replied Molly, looking up at the big clock that hung over the cafeteria door.
“Oh, yeah!” said Peichi, brightening. “Can I meet her? She sounds cool! Boy, am I ready for our vacation break. That math test was so hard today. My brain hurts! I just want to lie around and eat turkey and—
“Watch movies,” said Shawn, digging into her chili.
“Sleep in!” giggled Elizabeth.
“Read whatever I feel like, instead of textbooks,” added Natasha.
“Cook!” said the twins at the same time.
“Aunt Livia is a really good cook,” Amanda told the friends as she picked at her green beans. “As good as Mom. And she’s gonna make lots of stuff with us.
“She was joking that Mom always makes her cook when she comes to visit,” said Molly, “but she loves to just get in the kitchen and take over. Our Thanksgiving dinner is gonna be awesome!”
“You guys, I can’t believe it’s Thanksgiving already,” said Shawn. “So much has happened since school started!”
Everyone nodded.
“Yeah,” chuckled Peichi. “Lots of changes! I wonder what’s gonna happen next!
No one said anything for a moment.
“I was wondering when you were going to bring up my e-mail,” said Molly, looking at Peichi.
Peichi turned to Molly. “We’re really gonna miss you, Molly. I don’t want to make you feel bad, but...gee, it’s gonna be totally different.”
“You guys will do just fine without me,” Molly said with a smile. She turned to Elizabeth. Elizabeth, are you sure you don’t want to join Dish and take my place?”
“I’ll think about it,” replied Elizabeth. “I like cooking and all—but I’m not sure I like it that much.”
The table got quiet again.
“No one else is gonna quit, right?” asked Amanda anxiously.
Everyone shook their heads.
“Oh, good. I don’t think I could take any more big changes right now!”
“Yay! You’re here! You’re really here! cried the twins that afternoon. They ran into the kitchen and threw themselves at Aunt Livia for major hugs. She smelled of the lavender soap she’d been using since she was a teenager. Her hair had been clipped stylishly short, and her small sapphire earrings gleamed.
Aunt Livia held Molly back at arms’ length. Her dark eyes grew wide in surprise.
“I’m here! Wow! Look at you! You’re both so big! And gorgeous!”
“Big and gorgeous, it runs in the family,” joked Mom.
“We have you, and school’s out for the break! How lucky can we get!” exclaimed Molly.
“Molly, you’ve changed!” said Aunt Livia. “I mean, I’ve seen Amanda recently, but you—you seem different!”
“Oh, boy, is she different all right,” said Amanda, rolling her eyes. “She’s changing by the hour. I’m just trying to keep up!”
“You seem different, too,” Molly teased Aunt Livia, running her hand over her hair. I see some gray hairs in your new short haircut!”
“I noticed that too, Livie,” Mom said with a laugh. She poked her sister playfully. “I didn’t think people got gray hairs living in California!”
“Doesn’t matter. Now I’ve got all my girls around me,” said Aunt Livia. “Tell me, tell me everything, and if you’re good, maybe I’ll show you a picture of my boyfriend. ”
“Boyfriend!” squealed everyone, even Mom. “Let us see it right now!”
The next morning, Molly and Amanda felt a light touch on their backs.
“Girls,” whispered a soft voice. Do you want to help me with the turkey? I’ve made you some hot chocolate.”
“Sure, Aunt Livia,” murmured Molly drowsily. “Come on, Manda, get up. It’s Thanksgiving morning!”
“What are we gonna make?” Amanda asked her aunt sleepily. “Besides turkey, I mean?”
“Come downstairs and find out, sweetheart. The turkey and I are having coffee.”
“Huh?” muttered Molly, too sleepy to get the joke.
The twins washed their faces, changed into cozy sweats, and quietly headed downstairs. It was so nice to see Aunt Livia there, knowing they’d have her all to themselves for a little while.
“Oh! The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is about to start,” said Molly. She turned on the tiny TV that Mom kept on the counter.
Aunt Livia brightened. Right! You know, your mom and I went to that a few times with our friends when we were teenagers. But the best part was the night before the parade—you used to be able to watch the balloons getting inflated!
“So what’s on the menu? Amanda asked.
“We’ll have oyster stew to start with,” Aunt Livia told the girls. “We’ll make that later. You’ll love it.”
“I’ll bet Matthew won’t,” giggled Molly
“Sure he will! And well make a nice fig and sausage stuffing for the turkey. Your mom and I bought everything we need.”
“That’s different,” stated Molly. “Mom usually makes stuffing without meat.”
“Can we have broccoli with cheese sauce tonight? Please?” asked Amanda.
“Sure! Okay let’s get started on the piecrust,” said Aunt Livia. “I had a terrific apple-cranberry pie in a restaurant recently and I’m dying to make one!”
“We already made the piecrust. Aunt Livia,” Molly said proudly. “I’ll get it out of the freezer!”
“Mmm. I can’t wait to taste your piecrust.”
“I’ll make the cranberry sauce,” offered Amanda. “That’s easy. And then we can chill it in the fridge all day.”
“Now,” said Aunt Livia, “Molly, let’s start frying this sweet Italian sausage for the stuffing. I’ll chop the onion, okay?”
“Oh, good,” said Molly, relieved. “It’s just too early for me to think about chopping an onion!”
“Mmmm, said Amanda contentedly as she began to cook the cranberries. ”Thanksgiving is the most delicious holiday!”
Hours later, the big house was full of great smells: the roasting turkey, which the twins took turns basting every twenty minutes...the fresh-baked apple-cranberry pie that cooled on the counter...Mom’s homemade dinner rolls, keeping warm by the stove.
In the family room, the TV was on all day. The parade was over, and now it was time for football! Dad and Matthew wandered back and forth between the kitchen and the family room, helping and watching the big game at the same time—though Matthew did more snacking than helping.
The twins took their time setting the table after Mom covered it with her best lace tablecloth, the one that Nana had brought from Italy. They made it sparkle with china dishes, crystal goblets, and gleaming silverware.
Everyone dressed up a bit—even Matthew. Amazingly, he’d put a clip-on tie on his good shirt—without any special request from Mom!
“It’s Livia,” whispered Mom to the twins. “He did that for her!”
Aunt Livia was still in her jeans, humming and making the oyster stew.
The twins and Mom stayed in the kitchen with her as she drained the oysters and added them to the chopped celery and onion that was cooking fragrantly on the stove. “I’ll cook these oysters slowly until the edges curl slightly,” she said. “...Now we add the boiling milk and heavy cream ... the Worcestershire sauce...and now the Tabasco sauce! Okay! I’m going to put on a dress and some lipstick. Now heat that until the oysters are fully curled, girls. Add a little salt, and then it’s time to garnish it with Molly’s chopped chives—and eat it!”
The family sat down at the high-backed chairs in the dining room. The turkey was carved and Mom had dimmed the lights of the chandelier. Another Thanksgiving dinner was about to begin.
Everyone looked expectantly at Dad—it was time for him to say grace. All bowed their heads as Dad gave thanks for family from far away, the wonderful food, this special day...
And then it was time for the clinking of glasses, and “Pass the mashed potatoes, please,” and watching Mom and Aunt Livia laugh girlishly together.
Molly paused as she watched the happy scene before her. The faces of her family glowed in the candlelight as they shared dish after dish with each other. I have so much to be thankful for, she thought. I wish every kid had what I had!
And then she got goose bumps...because something was dawning on her. An idea. Ho—a decision. It was something big and exciting and a little bit scary because it seemed so...real.
That’s it! I’m going to make helping kids my career when I grow up. I can’t wait!
“Molls? Do you want some gravy?” Amanda asked softly, as if she knew she was interrupting her sister’s thoughts. “Here.”
Molly took the gravy boat and smiled at her twin.
I may change a lot, and so will Manda. But we’ll always be close, just like Mom and Aunt Livia. And no matter what, well make big, yummy Thanksgiving dinners together, every year with our fimilies. ‘Cause some things should never change!
