Chapter 120 EPILOGUE: PART 2
Chapter 120 EPILOGUE: PART 2
Gabriel Morgan
“Hey,” I announce. “I'm taking the table and the things to the backyard.”
“Grab the plates from underneath,” my mother says without looking at me. “And the large glasses, not these small ones. Nobody drinks a little here.”
“Noted.”
Ethan smiles at me.
“I'll help in just a bit. Just let me finish this here.”
I carry the folding table to the backyard, open it near the grill, and start organizing. I go back inside, grabbing plates, glasses, and silverware, going back and forth a few times. Then I bring the chairs, dragging them across the floor.
“Gabriel, careful with that over there!” my mother yells from the kitchen.
“If I die crushed by a chair, know that it was trying to please you,” I answer, making her huff.
In the backyard, I put everything in its place, adjust the tablecloth, and check if everything is steady. My father-in-law remains there, fanning the fire.
“If this fire goes out, I give up on life.”
“Don't you dare. This meat has already gone through too much suffering.”
Finally, the kitchen door opens.
My mother emerges first, carrying a huge platter.
“Make some room!”
My mother-in-law comes right behind her with salads and side dishes, and Ethan appears last, balancing more things than he should.
“Babe, you're going to fall.”
“I am perfectly balanced,” he replies, seconds before almost tripping.
“See?”
He laughs and places the platters on the table.
“There,” he says proudly. “Our first Christmas here.”
We all sit down. The conversation begins casually—one story leads to another, loud laughter, and constant interruptions.
“Do you remember that Christmas when Gabriel tried to make French toast and burned everything?” my mother comments.
“That was a scientific experiment,” I reply. “It didn't work out, but it was educational.”
“Educational so we never leave you in the kitchen again,” she fires back.
Ethan laughs so hard he almost chokes.
“Babe, you're a domestic hazard,” he teases.
“Hey! I know how to cook very well. I only messed up that one time. And you still married me,” I retort.
“Questionable choices,” he replies, winking.
At one point, Ethan suddenly stands up.
“I'll be right back.”
A few seconds later, he returns with the camera in his hand.
“Everyone together!” he announces. “I want to capture this.”
“Right now?” my mother complains. “With my hair like this?”
“Especially like this,” Ethan replies.
We gather close, squeezed together—some still eating, others laughing even before the click.
“Smile!”
The flash goes off.
After that, we keep eating, drinking, and talking, time passing without anyone noticing. The fire dies down, the meat is running out, and the table becomes a delicious mess.
At some point, I stand up.
“Okay, okay,” I say, tapping my glass lightly. “Before someone eats the last piece without sharing, I wanted to say something.”
Everyone looks at me.
I take two steps forward… and trip over my own feet.
“Gabriel!” Ethan exclaims.
I try to balance myself, but I end up bumping into the grill.
The world goes into slow motion.
The grill tilts.
The meat flies.
And, in a tragic and absolutely absurd second, everything ends up inside the pool.
Silence.
The meat is floating.
The grill has fallen on its side.
Me standing there, looking at the scene with an embarrassed smile on my face.
“So…” I begin. “I think we overdid the doneness of the meat.”
My mother leaps to her feet.
“YOU ANIMAL! I SPENT THE WHOLE DAY COOKING JUST FOR YOU TO THROW EVERYTHING IN THE POOL?!”
“Technically… I tripped. The grill just obeyed the laws of physics.”
“LAWS OF PHYSICS, MY FOOT!” she yells, already grabbing the first thing she finds in front of her: a wooden spoon. “I'M GONNA KILL YOU!”
I take two steps back right away.
“Mom, calm down!”
She comes after me through the backyard, brandishing the spoon like a weapon.
“Come back here, you rascal!”
I run around the table, laughing nervously, while she chases me.
“THIS IS NOT FUNNY!” she screams.
“IT'S A LITTLE FUNNY!” I reply, narrowly dodging the spoon.
Everyone starts laughing at the same time. My father-in-law puts his hand over his face, laughing without being able to stop. My mother-in-law tries to keep her composure but fails completely. Ethan doubles over from laughing so hard, almost crying, leaning on the table.
“Babe…” he says between laughs. “This was officially the best Christmas of my life.”
I finally stop, panting, opening my arms in surrender.
“Okay, okay! I take the blame.”
My mother points the spoon at me, still furious.
“Just so you know, payback is coming.”
I smile, completely defeated.
“I'll be waiting.”
THE END