Chapter 5

In the Kitchen

Her grandmother’s kitchen had not changed since Lisa was a child. It was lined with wooden cabinets, painted bright yellow. The counter was made of stone. Lisa remembered it as white, but it was gray now.

In the middle was an island with stools around it. On two perched her aunts: Deena and Susan. They were the “girls”—the two youngest of the four children and the last two still alive.

“Welcome, welcome darling. You look wonderful. Put your bag on the floor and have some tea with us,” said Deena.

Lisa’s aunt Deena was small and round. Her cheeks were extra large because she was always smiling. She had only recently retired as an elementary teacher. Her students loved her so much they sent her Christmas cards years later.

“I’ve got to run my hand under water. I got a splinter from Ari’s boxes!” said Lisa.

Lisa saw Deena look at Susan, who frowned.

“Where’s Anya?” Susan sounded sharp. Susan taught high school. She never got cards.

Lisa turned her back as she went to the sink. “You know how it is with kids. They make their own plans.”

Lisa thought it was easier to lie by telling part of the truth.

“Do you think there’s some tweezers here?”

The aunts went over the list of who had arrived and who was still coming. They talked about the menu. Tonight they would have something easy: steaks, a pasta salad. Tomorrow would be the big feast. Everyone was making or bringing something. The aunts brought filo dough to roll the spinach pastries called bureki.

“I’ll do the jam in the morning,” said Lisa.

“Oh, the jam, darling. Are we doing the jam this year?”

“Yes! I brought the jars. Ari’s picked the fruit. I’ve told everyone to make sure they are here by nine to do the prep. We’ll clear the kitchen by lunchtime.”

“I hope Anya will make it. She’s so good at organizing the little ones.”

“Well, they’re all getting bigger now.”

“Okay, honey.” Deena seemed happy. “You’ve got the back room.”

Susan gave her a high school teacher’s look: I know you are hiding something.

“Check the sheets are still okay before you put them on the bed. Give them a good shake. I’m afraid we’ve got mice. We should all be in the hotel like your brother. This house is so old and dry, one spark and whoosh. Like Ari says—” Susan’s instructions were interrupted.

“Ari!” Lisa put down her mug. She opened her mouth, but Deena jumped in.

“Let’s not start that now.”

Lisa drained the last of her tea. “Where’s Pappou?”

“Pappou’s in the living room. The nurse is with him.”