Page 4 of Winter Love

“Okay.” He nods as he munches on the popcorn. “This is good. New flavor?”

“I was trying to get a beef-stew flavor.”

“It actually does taste like beef stew.” He laughs. “And the popcorn makes it taste like the bread that goes with it.”

I chuckle. “So I should keep this flavor?”

“Hell yes. I think we need more like it. It’s like eating a home-cooked meal.”

“We need to brainstorm and come up with other meals that could be popcorned.“

“I’m in. I’m sure Pax and Lissy will want a say too. I’ll take some samples to them and see what they think.”

“Thanks.”

I go back to listing more flavors to try with the popcorn. I’ve been making them two different ways. One is to make the food, freeze it, then dehydrate it and then blitz it into a powder. The other way is to take the food, blend it and then pop the kernels in it. The second way works better with the candied versions. There’s a third way I want to try and that’s to soak the kernels in the flavor and then dry it out before popping it.

Emmanuelle

I’m still really nervous to see Lukas. I know we talk on the phone and text. But seeing him in person is my weakness. It’s harder to deny what I feel when we’re face to face.

“Are you going somewhere?” my oldest sister Amélie asks.

“Yeah, I’m headed to Wintervale.”

“To see Lukas?”

“No. I’m going because Felicity asked me to. They’re having a memorial for their parents. It’s been five years.”

“Wow. Five years already?”

I nod.

“You know we would’ve gone with you if you had told us.”

“I wasn’t planning on going. But Lissy kept asking, so I decided yesterday. And I thought it was too short notice.”

Amélie watches me.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea? What about Lukas? Does he know?”

“I don’t know if he knows. But I’m going anyway. I was there when they found out about their parents. I think I need to be there now.”

Amélie knows that I still love Lukas, in fact all my siblings know. And they’ve always said I should move there since he can’t come here. But I was moving up in my department and if I had left then? I might have had to start over….but now I wish I had.

As I continue packing, my maman comes into my room.

“Amélie says you’re headed to Wintervale,” she says smiling at me. I love listening to her french accent. It’s gotten a little lighter over the years.

I look at my maman and nod. She’s always been a big supporter of my relationship with Lukas.

“Are you reconciling?” she asks as she sits on my bed.

“You know I can’t do that, Maman. I can’t leave all of you.”

“Mon ange, you wouldn’t be leaving us. You will always be a part of us. But it’s time you start your life, I know that Lukas makes you happy.”

I sit down next to her. “But I might have to start over as a firefighter. And what if he doesn’t want me anymore?” I say softly.

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