Torin let go of his arm. “I thank ye for yer hospitalities after m’regrettable incursion ontae yer lands.” He rubbed his hands together. “I heard we were celebratin’ yer good fortune!”
Cooper shook his head, defeatedly. “No, we aren’t. My good fortune failed, it’s bad fortune all the way down?—”
I interrupted, “But we don’t need to talk about it, we need to celebrate. Cooper went on a trip and returned safely, so I made his favorite meal and… Hold that thought.”
I picked up the bottle of champagne and untwisted the wire over the cork.
Cooper ran his hand through his hair. “Is this necessary?”
I said, “Yep.” The cork popped, flying across the kitchen, disappearing behind the stove. I laughed. “Ignore it, I’ll get it in the morning — who wants champagne?”
I poured and then we all held our glasses up. I toasted, “To friends, new and old, we are excited to share this moment with our new friend, Torin, and welcome home, Coop.”
Everyone raised their glasses.
Torin asked, “Might I add one thing?”
I nodded.
“Tae the feast tae come, our gratitude that Mistress Lexi has cooked for us, it smells verra good. My mouth is waterin’. Tae our good company, good cheer, and God’s grace upon us all. May our hearts be merry and our days blessed. Slàinte!”
We all drank.
Then Torin stuck his tongue out with a grimace. “Och, I daena want tae be rude, but I think it has soured.”
I laughed. “That’s fizz, it’s supposed to be like that. It’s French, a type of sparkling wine.”
“Ah, the French will meddle in things they ought tae leave proper and plain.”
I said, “This is considered good, I paid top dollar for this bottle.”
Torin said, “If this was Castle Glume, we would send the drink back and tell the cellarer tae bring forth a new cask.”
Cooper narrowed his eyes. “You’ve never heard of Champagne before?”
Torin shook his head.
Cooper drank another sip.
Torin asked, “So ye went on a journey, Master Cooper, and twas long — where did ye go?”
Just then the timer dinged. I put on the oven mitts, picked up the pot, and drained the pasta over a colander in the sink.
No one talked while I did it, because the steam that rose made the action seem so dramatic.
Then I pulled the pan of meatballs and sauce from the oven. “Drat, I forgot the garlic bread, hold on.”
I had bought garlic butter, so I quickly brushed it onto the bread loaves and stuck them in the oven, happily remembering to turn it back on.
I put my hands on my hips and blew hair from my sweaty forehead. “Okay, sorry, go back to the conversation.”
Cooper said, “Right, yeah, you asked a question, Torin, I was in Los Angeles on a business trip.”
Torin nodded, his eyes narrowed. “And where is Lusanjleez? Tis near?”
Cooper brow drew down. “What…?”
Torin said, “Yer journey on this day, was it a long distance?”
