Lee Jordan & Emilia Spinnet 15th October | Pasta Festival Lee stops by Emilia's booth to enjoy some pasta
RATING: PG | Warnings: None
In Lee’s line of work, Thursdays were good days. Ideas for future shows were already pitched, most of the work was done and now it was putting on final touches before recording. On Thursdays, Lee and the team could afford to relax a little. Nothing said relax like good food, and with that, Lee had his eye on pasta. Just so happens that there was a pasta festival being held in Twirl Park, and he thought no better way than to treat himself a little pasta for lunch.
As he walked around through the different booths, a bright grin appeared across his face when he happened to notice a familiar Spinnet. Lee thought of them recently, offering his friendship the best way he could. He continued to smile as he approached her. “Well hey there, strange.” He clapped his hands together and looked around. “I’m told I can find the best pasta right here, by one amazing chef.”
Emilia managed a bright smile for Lee, tilting her head playfully as she pretended to think. “If you had to be told, Mr. Jordan, I’m not sure I think much of your palette,” she teased him. In all honesty, it was the lightest she’d felt in weeks now, doing what she loved while teasing a man she liked to think was a good friend, even if she was maybe only half teasing him.
Lee shrugged and gave her a grin. “Maybe you just aren’t feeding me enough.” When an open stool became available he sat himself down. “So what are we having today?” He studied her for a moment, to see how she was doing. She looked like she was doing okay, he made a mental note to ask, but saying something right out the gate didn’t seem like a great idea. She was smiling, so that was definitely a good sign.
“If that’s true, I’m going to have to fix it.” Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes all the way, but she was smiling. It was easier, having something else to focus on. Enough to keep her from dwelling on her darker thoughts, at least for a little while.
Rather than verbally answering the question, she set a plate of Spaghetti alle vongole in front of him. “See what you think of this,” she said, watching closely to see his reaction to the first bite.
“I like that plan.” The Spinnet family certainly knew their way around a good meal. He was certain that if he wasn’t staying in shape, Emilia’s meals would certainly make him go up a few sizes.
Almost on cue, his stomach growled at the sight of the spaghetti plate. It was almost hard to imagine something tasting just as good or better than it smelled. He wasted no time, and even remembered the proper way to eat spaghetti and made sure to grab the spoon with his other hand. The flavor was incredible, his eyes closed with satisfaction and couldn’t help but let out a “Mmm.” It was a meal you would certainly want to take your time with to enjoy each flavor. After a brief moment he smiled back to Emilia. “This is incredible!”
Emilia beamed at the compliment. As confident as she was in her own culinary skills, it always warmed her to hear that someone loved something she’d made. Part of her joy in cooking came from seeing the way people reacted to each dish, watching that enjoyment on their faces as they savored each bite. She liked to think of it as her way of making life a little better in those moments, of bringing people joy with the things she made.
Still smiling, she passed him a glass of wine to wash it down with. “Yeah?” she asked. “I’m really glad you think so.” She was aware that the compliment from Lee may have meant just a bit more than it might have from almost anyone else.
“Definitely.” Lee nodded. His stomach turned slightly but not because of the food. It would be polite to ask how she was doing, right? Or would it be a bad idea to bring it up now? When Fred had died they were all miserable, it wasn’t difficult to lean on each other or to understand how the other person was feeling. While Lee did have an inkling of understanding, he still struggled with the awkwardness on how to approach.
“It’s good to see you out.” Lee decided to say. “I’m sure it can’t be easy.”
Emilia’s smile faltered slightly for a second when Lee said that, but she shrugged and put it back in place. “No, it’s good,” she said. “It’s better to stay busy.” That’s what she’d been trying to do since Elle’s death. If she kept busy, she didn’t have to think about it so much. She hadn’t really meant to admit to that and she kind of hoped Lee wouldn’t notice. “I mean, this is what I love doing. I’m really glad I could be a part of it.”
Lee had hoped he didn’t press any buttons, and really this wasn’t the right time or place. “You’re right, and you are the best.” He let out a laugh in hopes it would lift her spirits. “Have you had many people stop by?”
A compliment was always a good way to lift one’s spirits and Emilia smiled again. “Yeah, we’ve been pretty busy,” she admitted. It was good for distractions, but good for business, too, that they’re had so many people. Rocco was back at the bistro, managing things here while she worked the festival, but this was a good way to drive more traffic toward their joint venture. “And how many bowls of pasta have you eaten so far?” she half-teased.
“You wound me.” Lee replied. “You didn’t think I would come straight to your booth first? Am I that horrible of a friend?” He certainly didn’t mind playing along with the teasing, not that what he said was a lie. Emilia’s booth was his first stop.
“To be honest, you might be my only one. I doubt the others are as good as yours and I can fill up on pasta quickly.”
“I think you have that much of a weakness for pasta!” she teased back. Her eyes were dancing with amusement, but she lit up at the compliment to her own cooking. As confident as she was that hers was among the best booth at the festival, it was always nice to hear, especially from someone whose opinion mattered so much to her.