My mother stopped stirring and glanced at my father, clearly confused, before the memory must have returned—then she burst into laughter. “That’s right! Oh my gosh, I forgot all about that. And you still ate them, Gus.”
“Dad, you ate runny mashed potatoes?” David asked, wrinkling his nose.
My father poured some milk into the potatoes, then started to add pepper as he answered my brother. “Hell yes, I did. I was head over heels in love with the woman. We’d just gotten married, and it was her first time making them. Besides, I just told myself it was potato soup.”
Everyone started to laugh, and a warm feeling moved through me. Seeing Vivianne sitting here among some of the people I loved made my heart swell in my chest.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Vivianne asked.
“You’re a guest, you just sit there and enjoy yourself,” Mom said.
“Trust me, Nellie’s the type of host who won’t let you do anything. I should know, I’ve known her nearly my entire life,” Liz mock complained.
Vivianne smiled. “That’s so nice. I take it you both grew up here in River Falls?”
“We did,” Nellie replied, before popping an olive into her mouth. “Our mothers were best friends. We were thrown together from the time we were born. They even used to dress us up in matching outfits and take our pictures.”
“I think that’s amazing. What a wonderful gift that is, to have a lifelong friend like that,” Vivianne said wistfully.
Liz nodded. “You’ll get to meet my daughter while you’re here, Vivianne. She goes to the same school as you and the boys.”
“Really?” she asked. “What year is she in?”
“She’s a senior this year as well.”
Vivianne turned and looked at me. “Have I met her?”
I smiled. “Yeah. Liz’s daughter is Mary, you met her at that poker party we had a couple months ago.”
Vivianne’s eyes went wide. “Oh my gosh! I adored Mary!”
“David, Ladd, please set the dining room table. Dinner’s ready,” Mom said.
I kissed Vivianne on the cheek before standing. Looking at Liz, I asked, “Would you mind showing Viv where the dining room is?”
Liz stood. “Not at all. Let’s go, Vivianne. They won’t let us help with anything, believe me.”
Vivianne looked at my mother and asked, “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
Liz linked her arm with Vivianne, and they soon slipped out of the kitchen.
“I know we’ve already met Vivianne, but I have to say, I like her,” my father said as I walked up behind David and waited for him to hand me the plates.
Smiling, I replied, “I’m glad, because I do as well.”
“She’s beautiful, and so polite. I’m glad she decided to join us for Christmas.”
David handed me the plates before he started grabbing silverware. “She fits in already. Did you see the way Liz whisked her away?”
We all laughed as my mom handed David a basket of bread.
“If you’ll put that on the table as well,” Mom said, before turning to my father. “Gus, will you get the salad and all the fixings? I’ll take the meatloaf out and let it rest while I get the mashed potatoes into a bowl.”
Dad kissed my mother on the cheek. “Will do, sweetheart.”
Once all the food was on the dining room table, my father motioned for everyone to hold hands as he led a quick prayer of thanks.
