Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Livie
Livie had the best memories of preparing holiday meals when she was young. Their housekeeper, Melissa, used to help back then. Now, it was her least favorite time. Instead of enjoying all the preparations and delicious scents of the turkey roasting and the side dishes and pies baking, her mother complained nonstop. Sometimes, she’d grumble about Betsy and Geo, but usually it was about Livie’s poor life choices.
Her mother’s mumbling didn’t bode well for her. The fake boyfriend idea had seemed like a brilliant plan when Patience suggested it in jest. Too bad Theo didn’t change her parent’s attitude much at all.
“I’ll be right back. Let me get the girls set up in the living room with a video. John should be able to manage them after that,” Betsy said as she put the breakfast dishes in the sink.
It was just Livie and her mother now. Jean was getting the boys some games to play at the table while they worked on dinner. The tension was thicker than pea soup. It wouldn’t be long before her mom let loose on her.
“What’s first on the list, Mom? Do you want me to take care of the breakfast dishes?”
Her mom stood at the large kitchen island, making up containers of the leftovers to send home with Betsy and Geo. Her father hated anything reheated, so they rarely ate them if he was joining them. The nights he worked late, Melissa used to make up a smorgasbord for the three kids. They were some of Livie’s favorite memories.
“Go ahead and load the dishwasher. I’ll need the sink to rinse the turkey. We’re already running behind.”
Livie made her way through the large French country kitchen. It was one of her favorite rooms—white oak cabinets and decorated tile backsplashes, with light gray quartz countertops. The island was the same with an extra sink for prep. It was sad only Melissa used it.
Livie rolled up her sleeves and turned on the water. Usually, Betsy got this job, but with her tied up with the twins, at least Livie could avoid her mom’s griping for a little longer. A very little bit.
“Olivia, aren’t you finished yet?”
“Yup, just cleaning the sink. Want me to get the turkey and prep it for you?” Livie asked. It didn’t matter how much she tried to help; she’d never make her mother happy. She doubted even if she gave up med school and moved back home, it would change anything. When they were younger, she wasn’t like this. Livie wondered what caused the change.
“I’ll do the turkey. I don’t trust you to clean it properly. You can pull out the beans for the boys and wash those. Then start on the bread for the stuffing.”
Livie let the remark roll off her back. It wouldn’t do any good to talk back. She supposed it was good practice for the crap she’d take as an intern.
“Okay, the girls are calm for now. What can I do?” Betsy asked as she came in, followed by Jean and the boys.
“Livie’s going to get the boys set up with the green beans and bowls. Betsy, you can get the turkey ready. Don’t forget to add the rosemary butter under the skin after you get it into the roasting pan.”
“No problem.”
“Jean, you can start on the pies. Melissa made up the dough before she left yesterday. It’s in the fridge.”
Jean had the boys wash their hands at the island, then got them set up at the table.
“I love making beans,” Jeffie exclaimed. “I’m the bestest bean maker of everyone.”
“I bet you are,” Livie replied with a smile.
“You’re too slow,” Georgie added.
“Am not.”
“Are too.”
“Enough boys or you’ll have to go watch Beauty and the Beast with the girls,” Jean said.
Livie hid her grin at the horror on the boy’s faces. She’d take that choice in a heartbeat. Anything was better than the tension-filled kitchen and waiting for her mother’s inevitable explosion.
After getting the beans washed, she added them to a large plastic bowl and grabbed two smaller ones for each of the boys. Then she grabbed the garbage and moved it between their chairs. “You ready to make some beans?”
“Yes!” they exclaimed in unison.
Livie laughed. “Good. Here are your bowls. Put the ends in the garbage can, and the good ones in your bowl. Okay?”
“We know how to do this, Aunt Livie.”
“Okay, Georgie. Sorry.”
“Don’t eat too many or there won’t be enough for the casserole,” Jean reminded them.
“Yes, Mommy.”
After watching the boys for a moment, Livie pulled two loves of sour dough bread out of the bread box. “Just the two loaves, right?” Livie asked. With her mother, it was always better to double-check.
“Yes.” her mom huffed. Her patience seemed to dwindle by the moment.
Livie and Jean exchanged glances, and Jean shrugged. They were working on opposite sides of the island as Jean rolled out the pie crusts and Livie cut up the bread for the stuffing.
“How’s school going?” Jean asked. She was the only one who ever did.
“It’s been crazy busy. Between school and work, the semester has flown. I have finals when I go back.”
“And Theo too, right?” Her mother called from the sink, where she supervised Betsy’s turkey prep.
“Yes, and Theo.”
“He seems very nice,” Jean said.
“He’s dreamy, and patient with me and my schedule. It helps that he’s got a very intense job that keeps him tied up.”
Jean nodded. “What happens after you’re done with school? Do you have an internship or something?”
“Yeah. I have to match with a hospital. I’m hoping to stay in Virginia, but I’ll take what I can get.”
“What about Theo?” Betsy asked.
“What about him? We’re dating, not getting married. He knows how important this is for me.”
“You’re not getting any younger. If you wait too long, you won’t be able to get pregnant. I can’t believe you’d dump your dream boyfriend to go wherever.” Her mom griped.
Livie sighed. It was the same conversation every time she came home. Her mother would never understand. “Yes, I would have to. You go where you’re offered an opening. It’s very competitive and not everyone matches, err, gets chosen.”
“What happens if you don’t get chosen?”
It wasn’t something Livie even considered. She’d been working her butt off to keep at the top of her class. Not matching wasn’t an option. “I will be.”
“I’m sure you will,” Jean said.
Geo must be different with his wife than with anyone else. She was too kind and caring—he didn’t deserve her.
“I’m hoping my roommate, Patience, and I end up matching with the same hospital. It’s a long shot, but her parents are doctors too and they said they’d try to help.”
“That’s great. I’m sure it would be a relief to have someone you know when you’re in that high pressure environment,” Jean said.
Livie nodded. Jean got it. Why couldn’t the rest of them? “Exactly. Although, if we stay in Virginia, Theo will help too when I’m not working forty-eight-hour shifts or sleeping.”
“Just like Grey’s Anatomy, huh?” Betsy said.
“Somewhat, probably.”
“I don’t understand why you want to put yourself through that, when you could be home with your family. We always need more hands. This is your family legacy.” Her mother put the turkey in the bottom oven, then turned with her hands on her hips. “You’re lucky your family has so much. All you do is take it for granted.”
“I don’t, Mom. It’s not in my blood like it is all of you. I’m sorry. I wish you could understand. Maybe it would be best if I didn’t come home anymore,” Livie said, unable to hide her frustration or the tears threatening to fall. It would probably be best if she stayed away.
“No, Aunt Livie. We’d miss you.” Georgie jumped off his chair and ran to her, throwing his arms around her waist. “We love you.”
“It’s okay, George. She’s not leaving.” Jean led him back to the table and reassured him.
There was nothing else to say, though. Livie had reached her limit. Even bringing a boyfriend home hadn’t made a difference. “The bread is ready. Betsy can make the stuffing. I’ll be back, maybe. I’m sure you’ll be able to get everything done without ungrateful me in the way.”
“Olivia June Anderson, don’t you dare walk out of here.” Her mother looked like she was going to have a tantrum. Her cheeks were flushed and her fists clenched.
Livie didn’t know where her bravery was coming from, but if she didn’t get out of the kitchen soon, she’d say something she couldn’t take back.
She glanced at the boys, then at Jean, and mouthed, “Sorry.” Hopefully, the kids wouldn’t be too upset. The temptation to pack up and leave was strong, but Theo was still out with her dad and Geo. Instead, she went upstairs, grabbed a sweatshirt, then went outside to text Patience.