Turkey for Dinner Part VI

Part VI ~

“How can you sit there and peel those onions without crying?” Cate demanded. It really wasn’t fair. Not fair? It was downright galling. All that plotting to get Eric to suffer was wasted. Cate took a step back as the pungent fumes threatened to unleash a torrent of tears from her stinging eyes.
“Same way you can eat pumpkin pie and not end up in the emergency ward,” Eric replied in a cool voice that irked Cate. “It’s all a matter of sensitivity.” Cate took another step back as Eric’s eyes met hers across the table. He looked...amused. “Glad to see you have some.”
“Auugh.” Cate gave up. She stalked back to the counter and spooned stuffing into the turkey. There was silence in the kitchen for a few minutes. Cate flipped the turkey over with a grunt and a clatter as the heavy bird hit the roasting pan.
“Need a hand?”
“Nope. Got it. You done with those onions yet?” Cate didn’t even bother to look over her shoulder to see. Instead, she grabbed the ball of kitchen twine and a heavy upholstery needle. She pulled the flaps of skin across the bulging ball of stuffing and popped the needle through the bird’s tough skin and into the tender skin between her thumb and forefinger.
“Ow! Darn it!” She hopped up and before she came down, Eric had grabbed her hand and pulled her over to sink and was running cold water over her hand, which she’d balled up into a tight fist.
“Here, let me see.”
“I’m fine. Just let go.” But she wasn’t fine. Her heart was beating ten times faster than normal and she felt a flush crawl up her neck and suffuse across her face.
Eric’s hands were warm and gentle as he pried her fingers open and wiped a drop of blood away with a paper towel. They were even gentle as he applied pressure to the wound. Cate glanced up at him and saw none of the gloating she’d expected. In fact, there was nothing in his eyes but concern. Surprised, she raised her head and looked him square in the eye. She was even more surprised to find that his lips were warm and gentle as they met hers and he pulled her close.
Cate jumped back, her hand raised to her mouth. “What are you doing?”
“Kissing it all better. What did you think I was doing?” Eric’s hand traced small circles on her back. It made her dizzy.
“I don’t know. Stop that and help me get this turkey in the oven.”

(c) by Susan Atwood 2007