“That things will get better?”
I nodded my head. “And they are, aren’t they?”
“Oh yeah!”
I saw Renee dabbing her eyes with a napkin.
Before Sammi could say anything further, I served her a pancake and a slice of bacon. And that four year old virtually inhaled her pancake.
After breakfast I had Sammi putting stuff away in my refrigerator while Renee and I cleared the table and began washing the dishes.
“Mr. Petey, can I help wash?” Sammi asked.
“Sure thing Sammi. Let me get you a chair then you can help mom.”
I slid a chair over next to Renee so that Sammi could stand on it.
“Be careful now. Don’t want you falling off.”
“I’ll be careful.” Sammi replied as she took the washed dishes, rinsed them and put them in the dishrack to drip dry.
“Hey, you’re pretty good at that.” I complimented her.
Sammi smiled back, “Of course! I’m ‘perienced.” Renee laughed and gave Sammi a kiss on her cheek.
After we finished cleaning up the kitchen, I took the turkey out of the refrigerator and began prepping it.
“Any preferences on how you like your turkey?”
“Cooked!” yelled Sammi.
And Renee laughed, “Yes, cooked, definitely cooked.” As she walked over to me and hugged me.
Sammi’s eyes got all big and a smile plastered across her face just before she ran over and hugged me also.
Made me smile and hug them back. I gave Renee a quick peck on her lips. She smiled, grabbed my face and brought our lips together for a long kiss. Made Sammi gasp and smile. Big smile.
We finished prepping the turkey with a mix of fine herbs, rock salt, cracked pepper and butter. Slathering the bird with the mixture before we popped it into the over where it would roast for the next six or seven hours. Low and slow was the instruction that my mom had given me years ago. Low and slow.
While the turkey was in the oven, I suggested to Renee that we take Sammi and check out the Christmas decorations that had been put up in the downtown area. Our town always make a big effort to spruce up the downtown area this time of year. Sammi was bubbling with excitement as we jumped into my car.
A short twenty minute drive later and we were cruising the downtown area. The street lights had all been decorated with garlands. And the trees that lined the streets were all lite up with lights. Since the downtown area also doubled as one of our shopping areas, a lot of the stores had also made a huge effort to decorate their store fronts.
“The last time I drove through here I was so depressed,” Renee commented softly.
“Totally understandable.”
She smiled and reached over for my hand. “Thanks Petey. You have been my rock for so many reasons.”
I smiled and squeezed her hand. “Well, I have to admit to having more than a passing interest in both of you.”
“Oh?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“And?” she asked.
“Well, you and Sammi are my neighbors.”
“And?”
“And you are really beautiful and Sammi’s a real delight.”
Renee blushed.
“And I admire your efforts to try to make it on your own.”
She looked away and whispered, “it’s been so hard.”
I gave her hand another squeeze. She turned to me and smiled.
wpDiscuz