International Rescue: The Next Phase


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Re: Playing with Fire [message #488 is a reply to message #487] Mon, 23 July 2012 21:15 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
artisticrainey is currently offline  artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
Field Commander
Switzerland
Friday, October 19, 2068, 11:35 a.m., Tracy Island

I need some coffee, Jeff thought as he reached over to press the button that would connect him with the kitchen. He waited a minute for a response, then remembered that Kyrano wasn't available to bring him the coffee he wanted. He frowned a little, then huffed a small, self-deprecating laugh and rose to fetch the drink for himself. "This work can wait for a few minutes. I've gotten lazy in my old age," he murmured, shaking his head.

As he started down the stairs, he noticed the door to the classroom was open. Lisa was sitting with Alex at his computer station. Both had headphones on, and Alex was saying something in Spanish.

"That's good, Alex, but remember to roll your Rs," she instructed. The Spanish lesson continued as Jeff moved out of earshot.

Kyrano's in Paris, Dianne's in Wellington, Lisa's doing the schooling, so that means... Mother must be in the kitchen on her own. And it's nearly lunchtime. No wonder I got no response.

He entered the kitchen from the dining room, and headed for the coffee pot. He filled a cup, then glanced over at the stove. His eyes widened, and his coffee was forgotten as he watched his mother trying to manhandle a very large stock pot over to the sink.

"Ma, let me get that!" he said, striding to her and grabbing oven mitts before taking the weighty pot off her hands.

"Land's sakes, Jeff! Thank you!" she said, running the back of her hand over her forehead and pushing a stray lock of hair into place. "Just dump it into the colander for me."

"Right." Jeff followed her instructions and carefully dumped the pot full of pasta into the metal colander. Hot water splashed up on all sides at first, and he quickly angled his body back to avoid it. Steam rose; he turned his face away while still trying to keep an eye on the pasta as it poured into the strainer. Finally, the pot was emptied, and Jeff returned it to the stove.

"That was heavier than I thought it was," Emily admitted as she rinsed the pasta with hot water to keep it separated. "Usually Lisa handles that for me, but she's busy right now." She added a buttery mix of herbs to the pasta and tossed it expertly while it was still in the strainer. Looking around, she sighed. "The sauce is nearly ready, but there's still so much to do."

"What can I help with, Ma?" Jeff asked, glancing around the kitchen himself.

"The children will set the table, but the plates need to be counted and set out for them," she said. "I think the Italian bread is almost ready to be pulled from the oven; I still need to mix up some garlic butter..." She gave him a weary smile. "Why don't you get the plates out, dear? It would be a big help."

"All right, Ma." He stopped to kiss her head. "Let me know if there's anything else I can do."

As he counted out the plates for lunch and set them on the sideboard, Jeff began to think. There are so many times when we have a situation like this, or when the crew comes home in the middle of the night and needs a snack. He glanced toward the kitchen. Face it, Tracy, she's not getting any younger, and neither are Kyrano or Lisa. They do so much around here; maybe it's time to bring in someone else. Someone younger and stronger, who can deal with the early mornings and late nights.

Placing a stack of saucers on the sideboard, he paused and nodded. Of course, I'll need to discuss this with Kyrano, Lisa and Mother before looking for that help. The hard part will be convincing them -- especially Ma - that they actually need the help.

Posted by Tikatu on April 8, 2008

Dom plainclothes heartbeat Luke plainclothes

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