She laughed.
“I’m proud of you and proud to know you. And you are going to beat Mrs. Maine and everybody else in this town!” I told her.
Gabriella wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. “Thank you, Joyce. That means the world to me.”
I hugged her back, feeling the bond between us tighten in that moment. “You’ve got this, Gabriella. You always have.”
“But promise me you won’t come to the contest tomorrow.”
“I couldn’t if I wanted to. The electrician’s coming. And if I did show up, I’d get kicked out, because I’ve got some choice words for Mrs. Maine!”
Gabriella sat up straight and looked at me down the bridge ofher nose. “Hey, I will settle this once and for all. In the test kitchen. Not the streets.”
“Not the streets,” I repeated. “Kick her behind with your Blaxican boots!”
Gabriella’s face crinkled. “What the heck?”
We both fell over in laughter at my ridiculous joke.
* * *
Saturday came faster than I expected. Gabriella stood by the door, ready to head to the contest, her excitement barely contained behind her nervous smile.
I walked over, handing her a small lunch bag with some snacks. “In case you need something between rounds,” I said with a wink. “You’re going to knock their socks off today.”
She laughed softly, taking the bag. “I hope so. Thanks, Ms. Joyce.”
I reached out, gently squeezing her hand. “Remember, you’ve worked hard for this.”
Gabriella’s eyes gleamed. “I’ll try to remember that.”
With one final hug, I watched as she walked out the door, my heart swelling with pride.
A few minutes later, the electrician pulled up in his van. Right on time. I greeted him and his assistant at the door and led them straight to the kitchen. “I’ve been waiting for this moment,” I muttered to myself, watching as they unpacked tools and got to work.
Throughout the morning, I couldn’t help but peek in from time to time. The sound of clinking tools and the hum of work gave me a sense of reassurance. This was progress. Real, tangible progress. But there was also a knot of worry building in my chest. What if something went wrong? What if the oven still wasn’tcompatible? What if there was a nest of termites behind the wall that swarmed through the house when he tried to replace the panel? I tried to push the doom-and-gloom thoughts aside, but they kept creeping back.
At one point, the electricians shut off the power. The house went quiet, still, but inside, I felt the buzz of anticipation. I paced the living room while the power was out, thinking of the bills and how it seemed like every time I turned around, this house found a new way to demand more from me. But it wasn’t just the money—it was the fear that maybe I wasn’t handling things as well as I thought. The oven was just one part of it. Could I keep everything together?
After what felt like an eternity, the power came back on. I rushed to the kitchen just in time to see the electrician testing the oven. He flipped the switch, and a low buzz filled the room as the oven sprang to life. Relief washed over me, and I realized I had been holding my breath. Soon, the oven would be back in working order, and I could see Gabriella using it again. I imagined her whipping up one of her Blaxican masterpieces, the smell of spices filling the house, the sound of her singing as she worked.
As usual, I’d gotten myself all worked up for nothing.When will I learn?
I smiled, peeking into the kitchen once more. They were close to finishing now. They checked the wiring, testing and retesting, while I stood at a distance, arms crossed, nodding to myself.
Finally, the boss called me over to inspect the work. I ran my hand along the sleek edge of the oven, no longer just a useless hunk of metal in the corner. It was ready. “This is going to make things so much easier,” I said softly, mostly to myself.
I signed the paperwork, but not without a little wince at thebill. It was steep, but necessary. Staying independent and comfortable in my own home came with a price, but it was a price I was willing to pay.
After they left, I sat down at the table with a deep breath. The sight of the bill still lingered in my mind, but I focused instead on the satisfaction of what it meant. This house, this life, was still mine.
For a moment, I let that feeling settle in: a well-deserved pride in being able to stay in my home, to handle the repairs, and to keep things moving forward on my own terms.
Chapter 27
Gabriella
It’s funny how something you’ve dreamed about for years can make you feel like you’re on the verge of throwing up the moment you’re about to step into it. I should’ve known this would happen. Even when I was a kid, when I finally got to do the thing I wanted most, that was when the panic would hit. Like, why do I even want this?
