“Then let’s forget the whole thing.”
“No. I said I’d do it and I’m going to. Michael will get a kick out of it.”
“So will Ondine.”
“Maybe. I’ve never seen her eat anything.”
“Nobody ever sees a cook eat anything. Let’s go over the menu again. Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans—what else?”
“The lemon whip and this ollieballen thing.”
“You can use the apples in it. It’s easier than pie and it’s traditional in our family—or it was. What about something to start? Soup or fish?”
“Valerian.”
“Something simple. You can handle it.”
“You’ll help?”
“I’ll be entertaining the guests. I can’t do both. And that’s not what you said. You said you’d do the whole dinner for everybody.”
“So how many is that? Six?”
“Seven. It’ll be fun. You’ll enjoy it. Don’t forget it was your suggestion.”
“How do you get seven?”
“B.J. has a girlfriend, doesn’t he? So there’s me, you and Michael, B.J. and his guest, Jade and Michelin. Seven. The turkey is here—beans, potatoes—nothing to it. You can make the ollieballen ahead of time. Christmas Eve.”
“You have the recipe?”
“I have it.”
“What do I need?”
“Nothing special: yeast, eggs, milk, sugar, lemon, flour, raisins, apples and butter.”
“What about the lemon whip?”
“Just lemon-flavored gelatin beaten to froth and whipped cream on top. Very simple. We can have smoked fish, perhaps, to start. All that needs is parsley. The lemon whip is a light sweet for after a heavy dinner. Then coffee and brandy with the ollieballen.” Valerian spread his fingers to show how easy it was. He wanted her occupied the next few days—not sitting around in anxiety about when (or if) Michael would get there.
“Doughnuts and brandy,” she said, and shook her head.
“Margaret.”
“No, no. It’s fine. Just sounded funny that’s all.”
“They don’t have a hole in the middle.”
“Too bad,” she said. “It might inspire you.”
“I’m sorry about last night. That wasn’t why I came. I’ve been hateful and I know it. I shouldn’t have behaved that way when you found Willie up there in your closet.”
“We’ve been through all that. Forget it.”
“It worked out okay, didn’t it?”
“I suppose.”
“You should see the greenhouse now. Black magic.”
“Really?”
“Really. You should come and see. And I
“Sure. We’ll do it again sometime.”
“Soon?”
“Soon.”
“Now.”
“Now?”
“Why not?”
“It doesn’t work like that, Valerian. I mean I can’t just lie down in the middle of the afternoon.”
“I can. I can even kneel. Might need help getting back up, but I can do it.”
“No. Wait.”
“Margie. Marge.”
“WHAT KIND of dinner is that? I wouldn’t have it for lunch. Does she think she’s doing me a favor?”
