"Sitting on the counter next to your frosting and cake knives."
"And the wine-"
"Chilled and ready to go. The only thing you need to do is whatever you need to."
Elle went through her list in her mind to make sure she was ready to host her first family dinner.
"Do you think I made enough meat?" she asked.
Thor wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. "Elle. You have been taking cooking lessons with my father for two months. You took baking lessons from Melli for three months. All to make this one meal. You had the table set a week ago. Everything is ready. And remember, it's our family. It doesn't have to be perfect."
"But I want it to be perfect. It's the first time I've hosted a family dinner."
"And that's why no matter what you do, everyone will love it. Because they love you, and they want you to be happy. Except for maybe Fenrir, he doesn't care what anyone thinks about anything."
Thor kissed her head and swatted her on the rear. "Go put on that sexy new dress my mother made."
Her heart pattered thinking about the dress. "It really is beautiful."
"It should be, it's like your jewelry, one of a kind. Now go, before I have to come up and help you shower." He winked at her.
"If you did that, dinner would be late."
"We could always reschedule for tomorrow."
She pushed away from him. "No. I've done too much work."
"Then you'd better hurry, they'll be here in thirty minutes."
"Thirty? I told you to tell me when I had an hour left." She rushed toward the door.
"I did," he called. "But you couldn't hear me over the music."
Elle shook her head and jogged to the winding metal stairs. She had to hurry.
Dinner around the Oseberg ship table had gone more beautifully than Elle imagined. There had been enough food for everyone, and they'd all praised her new cooking skills. As she brought out the delicate three-tier cake for everyone to enjoy, Thor got to his feet and tapped a fork against his wine glass.
A hush fell over the group.
"Thank you all for coming to our first family dinner. And a special thank you to Elle for all her hard work, not just in putting this together for us, but for putting up with us as well."
Several chuckles sounded around the table.
"And as Elle has now spent months putting up with me, I think I've convinced her to stick around." Thor set down his glass and walked to Elle.
He touched her cheek, and every inch of Elle's body warmed. He kissed her and lowered to one knee.
Elle's skin flushed.
He pulled a black velvet box from his pocket and held it out to her.
Elle's heart beat so fast she was sure she would pass out. Around the table, everyone from Odin and Frigg to Val and Heimdall smiled at her. The intimidating faces of Tyr, and Hel smiled in their own way. Even Fenrir appeared less hostile than normal.
Elle opened the box, and inside sat an intricately woven band of Celtic knots entwined with hearts. And at the center of each heart sat a brilliant red ruby.
Elle's chest squeezed.
"The work isn't as refined as what you are able to do, but I did make it myself. Of course, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr helped pick the stones from your stash."
