Darknight(18)

“Well, we McAllisters never pass up an opportunity for a party, so we do Christmas, too,” I said. “And there are members of the clan who do go to church, so it’s something a little different for them.”

“Church? Really?”

I lifted my shoulders. “As Aunt Rachel likes to say, a visionary is a visionary, whether he’s Jesus, Buddha, or Mohammed. Why not celebrate his birth? It doesn’t run counter to our other beliefs, more like…alongside them.”

To my surprise, Connor actually nodded. “I kind of like that. And duck for Christmas Eve is fine, if you really want to go to the trouble. But I need to get going if I’m going to scrounge all this stuff before the gallery opens. Luckily, there’s a Bed, Bath, and Beyond in the shopping center next to Safeway, so I hope I can do it all in one stop.”

“I hope so, too.” Now I was starting to feel a little bad for making him go get all those supplies. On the other hand, it wasn’t my fault that I was stuck in his apartment with nothing to occupy myself.

He just nodded and went to the hall closet to retrieve his overcoat and scarf, then let himself out. Although I was more used to being alone in the place by now, it still felt empty and echoing without him.

Man, two days in this place and you’re already losing it, I scolded myself. Then I went into the kitchen and started pulling out the things Connor did have already, like a glass measuring cup and a set of measuring spoons, and wiping down the counter in preparation for the process of making the tamales and beans. His kitchen wasn’t large, but it was laid out well, unlike the cramped space in Aunt Rachel’s apartment. The kitchen in my big Victorian was much larger, naturally. However, since it hadn’t been updated yet, it still left a lot to be desired. This place had a much better setup for my first solo tamale flight.

I’d just have to hope I didn’t screw it up.



* * *



Connor came back about an hour later, laden with so many boxes and bags he had to make two trips up from wherever his vehicle was parked to unload it all. “And now I’ve got to get down to the gallery. It’s already past ten-thirty.”

“Sorry,” I said, and I did actually mean it. I hadn’t intended to make him late to work…and also, seeing all those supplies spread out on the kitchen counter and dining room table made me realize how much I’d asked him to buy. “I didn’t realize it would be so much.”

“It’s fine.” He didn’t smile. “I’ll leave you to it, then.” And like that, he was gone again.

I looked out at the grocery bags and the boxes with the new pans and gadgets, and took in a breath. Time to get to work.

And work it was, but I found myself enjoying it. Chopping things and stirring things and watching the clock to make sure everything is cooking more or less at the desired rate keeps you busy but doesn’t overtax the brain. By the time I had the pork roast in the dutch oven — newly purchased — and the beans in the crockpot — also new — I realized it was almost one o’clock. My stomach growled, and I wondered if Connor was going to bring me lunch the way he had before, or whether he’d decided he’d bought enough groceries that I should be able to scrounge something.

I probably could have, but he showed up a little past one with more sandwiches and an apology for running late.

“It’s been crazy busy,” he told me as he bit into the Italian sub he’d just unwrapped. “Which is good, I guess. I’ve already paid off your little shopping expedition this morning.” He paused then and lifted his head to take an appreciative sniff. “That smells good. What is it?”

“Pork roast in the oven and red chili sauce on the stovetop. Oh, and beans in the crock, but I don’t think they’ve really had time to ‘work’ yet.”

“Who knew you were so domestic?”

“I could have told you, if you’d asked.” Or if your brother had been interested in anything about me besides me being the prima, I thought. But that seemed like I was treading on dangerous ground, so I hurried to add, “My aunt always made cooking fun, so I like doing it. Now, cleaning toilets? Totally different.”

Another one of those heart-wrenching grins pulled at his mouth. “No worries there. I have a cleaning service.”

And how are you going to explain me to them? I wondered, but didn’t ask. Considering how spotless the place was when I showed up — especially for a bachelor’s apartment — I had to guess they’d been here recently and probably wouldn’t be back until after the holidays.

I only said, “Thank the Goddess!” and then took a bite out of my sandwich. He seemed to recognize that I was trying to keep the conversation light, so he ate along with me in silence until we were both done.