Helen Spent the Entire Day in the Kitchen. Suddenly, the Doorbell Rang—Alan’s Relatives Arrived and Gathered Around the Table.

Evelyn had spent the entire day in the kitchen. Suddenly, she heard the doorbell ring. Alans relatives had arrived and settled themselves at the table.

Wheres the meat? Alans aunt inquired sourly.

Theres the stuffed goose, right there, Evelyn answered politely with a weary smile.

The aunt stood up theatrically, pushing her chair back. Well, thats just not edible. Were going home.

Alan rose in solidarity behind his aunt. Honestly Live on your own if you cant cook! he snapped, and began stuffing his things into a duffle bag.

Evelyns hands shook as she dialled her old friend. Hello, Grace? Its Evelyn. Yes, I know the lines dreadful. Im just ringing to saywell, I wont be coming this year. Not for Christmas. Why? What for? Youll have Victor, your daughter with her whole brood And what would I be? Eating salad and then getting a cab home at triple fare? I simply cant stand sleeping in someone elses house, you know that. Ill just go to bed, thats all, she spoke into the crackling phone to Grace, her childhood friend, with whom shed spent Christmas every year since the divorce.

What? You were just about to ring me? Youre going? Where? York, to Victors auntie? Well, safe travels and enjoy yourselves. A problem? Whos coming? Sasha? Whos that? Your niece? Hello?… Oh, what do they do to the lines in this weather Host her for a few days? You know how I hate having strangers in my house But alright, Ill do it. Let her come. Oh, now the lines gone completely. With a sigh, Evelyn put the phone down, frustration pinching her brow.

She sat for a moment, weighing things up. Perhaps it was a blessing, not being alone during the holidays. She quickly gathered herselfshe ought to make a salad, at least. She herself could survive on toast, but a guest would expect more. She started boiling the vegetables and prepared the dressing, lost in thought.

When she was married to Alan, shed never spent Christmas this way. By the 23rd, a horde of his rural family would descend and the mayhem began. The kitchen would be unrecognisablesteam everywhere, the window wide open to little effect. There were aspic, pies, and endless frying. Everything thick with fat. Evelyn barely kept up, ferrying dishes, popping veg in for the salad or cleaving aspic onto the balcony. She wasnt allowed to help after the time shed made a salad with avocado.

Disgusting mush, Alans aunt had pronounced, and the entire clan solemnly agreed.

But Evelyn would fume to herself later: and their food wasnt disgusting, all drowning in mayonnaise and grease? The men would hit the table with their drinks, sampling homemade spirits. By New Years Eve, theyd barely make it to midnight.

By the 2nd, theyd leave, having consumed everything in sight. What was left for Evelyn was the utter wreck of the house, which shed clean, scrub, and polish for a week. Meanwhile, Alan would continue the celebrations in the village, returning brooding, unkempt, and full of complaintshis relatives never failing to remind him that hed married a woman who couldnt cook properly. Arguments would flare, and hed always bring up Vera, as if Evelyn had once stolen him away from her. Still, shed bite her tongue, telling herself that truth was truthshe simply wasnt raised with those fatty dishes and hunks of lard.

It was always Grace to whom she poured out her sorrows. But Grace, lively as ever, had grown tired of Evelyns moaning and hatched a plan: she forced Evelyn to call the family and set a conditionEvelyn would cook, but they had to come before New Years Eve. Grace helped with hearty, lighter snacks all day. When the relatives arrived and settled in

The aunts face fell. Wheres the meat? she moaned.

Theres the stuffed goose, right there, Evelyn replied.

What about mash? the aunt pressed on.

The aunt stood up, huffed: Youve put together a load of pigswill. Fred, take me home.

Everyone leapt from their seats, slammed coats on, and bustled out.

Alan exhaled angrily, Well, you He made as if to follow his family. Dont forget your things, Evelyn said, handing him his bag.

Live alone if you must, you old nag. I wont be on my ownIve got options, but you? Alan threw his things together and left.

The whistling of a boiling pot brought Evelyn back to herself. She opened the lid and was interrupted by the doorbell. Must be Sasha, she thought, and opened the door.

But standing there was a man in his forties, smiling gently. Im Alexander MichaelsonVictors nephew. Ive come as a surprise guest, but everyones off to York. Are you Evelyn?

She nodded blankly, blurting, But Grace said her niece was coming

Alexander chuckled kindly, You must have misheard with all the static.

Evelyn shook off the embarrassment. Possibly. Come in, then. No point standing on the step.

Dont worry. My train tickets for the evening of the firstthere were no earlier ones. I wont be in your way for long.

Evelyn returned to the kitchen, drained the vegetables, and set them out to cool. Alexander, grinning, called through: Planning to mark the season with just one salad?

Irritated at herself, Evelyn replied, Do you expect a full spread? With a mountain of meat and a vat of potato salad?

He laughed heartily. Not at all! I much prefer fish.

I dont have fish, and wouldnt know how to cook it properly anyway.

Dont trouble yourself, he winked, grabbing his coat. Leave it to me. Before she could protest, hed disappeared into the winter air.

Evelyn found herself laughing quietly at how ridiculous it all wasshed been expecting some shy woman, instead a brisk gentleman had arrived.

An hour and a half later, she grew anxious that Alexander had gotten lost. He was new to the city after all. But when finally there came a bright ring at the door, she dashed to open it.

Where have you been? I was starting to worry her voice faltered. There he stood, arms laden with bags, and behind him, a small Christmas tree poking out.

Why on earth? she managed, bewildered.

Setting the tree against the wall, Alexander replied, How can it be New Year without a tree?

Evelyn breathed in the pine, laughter erupting suddenly. Youre missing only one thingclementines and a bottle of bubbly.

He winked, Dont you worryIve bought them both. Now, come help with these bags. Time to prepare for the celebration.

And so they cooked side by sidedecorating the tree, prepping simple seafood dishes, giggling at mishaps as Evelyn tried her hand at shelling prawns and watching Alexander masterfully oven-bake a carp.

By midnight, the kitchen was warm with light and laughter. The sparkling wine fizzed in their glasses as they cheered: To the New Year, and new happiness! and drank it all.

After, they found themselves confiding quietly. You know, when I first married Alan, he was a different man. Or maybe I was wearing rose-tinted glassespeople see only what they want to when in love, Evelyn murmured, her eyes sad but hopeful. It turned to criticismabout how I did everything wrong, especially in the kitchen. But enough about me, tell meare you married?

Alexander sighed, Not anymore. A classic tale. I was away working, came back, and she was with someone else. Ill file for divorce when Im home. But thats enough gloom! Lets raise a toast to childhood mischief.

He regaled her with a story about gluing a chair to his school headteachers floor. She answered with the tale of getting stuck in a tree and being rescued by kindly Uncle Brian from the building across the street.

Their laughter took them all the way to morning. Evelyn yawned, and Alexander teasingly insisted she head to bed.

But the dishes

Ill see to it all, he replied, resolute.

Evelyn melted, heading to her room and falling asleep instantly.

It was Alexander who woke her softly in the grey morning. Evelyn, I have to go. Will you lock up behind me?

She sat up, disoriented. Is it really that late? You shouldve woken me sooner.

He brushed her hair back, smiling. You looked so peaceful, I couldnt bear to disturb you. But my train wont wait forever.

She walked him to the door. Thank youfor everything. For the holiday, for the company. Her sadness wavered between her words.

He hesitated on the threshold, then asked, May I come visit you? When Im free?

Evelyns eyes lit up. Doplease do

He kissed her gently, silencing her next words. Until next time, then.

She stood by the closed door for a long while, touching her lips, smiling quietly to herself. Sometimes you can know someone for a lifetime and they never show their worth. And sometimes a single night is all it takes to make you feel youve known them forever.

Yes, whatever anyone says, there is magic in the New Yeara twist of fate and, suddenly, a new love and perhaps even a new life.