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Eugenia was in their flat’s kitchen, hers and Filomena, staring at the pot in front of her. Today was their one year anniversary, and she wanted to do something special. Eugenia thought she would cook for Filomena. She thought it would be nice surprise to surprise her with dinner when she gets home.
As if she was preparing for battle, Eugenia started cooking. “Okay, you got this Genie. How hard can it be?” Eugenia said as she added the butter.
When she looked back at the recipe she realized that she didn’t have enough butter, but when she went to get more, there wasn’t any left. She started to look around the kitchen to see if she could find anything else. That’s when she spotted the olive oil. She added it to the pot and left it alone while the butter melted around it.
As she waited she started to boil some water in another pot. Before the water was even boiling, Eugenia added the pasta noodles into the pot. “Okay, Genie, that wasn’t so hard! You got this.”
Eugenia was about to check on the butter and oil when she got a phone call. She went to check who it was and saw it was Thomas. She answered, “Hey Tommy.”
“Hey, Genia. What’s up?” He said through the line.
She placed her phone between her cheek and shoulder, “I’m cooking dinner for Filo.”
“Oh god,” Thomas groaned.
“What?!”
“Remember the last time you tried cooking? Mam banned you from ever entering the kitchen!”
“So?”
“So?! So?! Eugenia, there is no need to burn down your flat!”
“I will n-“ Eugenia's voice was cut out by the sound of the smoke alarm. She turned around to see that the pot with the oil was on fire.
“OH SHIT!”
“WHAT IS HAPPENING?” She heard Thomas shout through the phone.
“Nothing!” She quickly said. “Gotta go. Love you. Bye!”
“Eug-“ she hung up.
She turned back to the problem at hand. “Think Genie. Think.”
She watched in horror as the fire blazed even more. She started running around like a mad man trying to remember how to put out a grease fire. Then suddenly she heard something slam on the pot. She turns to see Filomena standing in front of the stove turning off the heat and then sees a cookie tray covering the pot. Oh .
Filo turns and stares down Eugenia, “Why are you in my kitchen?”
Eugenia scoffed, “you mean our kitchen! Both our names are on the lease!”
“That is true, but it’s still my kitchen, “she spun in a circle. “And for good reason.” Her eyes then softened, “babe?”
Eugenia sighed, “I was trying to make you fettuccine alfredo for dinner because I wanted to surprise you. I know you’re homesick so I thought I would make you Italian.”
Filomena went up to Eugenia and hugged her tightly, “That’s very sweet of you. Thank you, amore.” She pulls away and looks into Eugenia’s eyes, “But fettuccine alfredo isn’t authentic once so ever.”
“What?” Eugenia squeaked.
Filomena laughed, “No it isn’t. It was made by an Italian American man. No true Italian would make this dish.”
“Ughhh.”
“It’s the thought that counts, amore,” Filomena said, laughing.
Eugenia gave her a lopsided smile, then walked toward the stove. She took the cookie tray off the pot. “Can you still cook with brown oil?”
Filomena groaned, “that oil is unholy and we shall be throwing it out!”
“Yes, darling.”
Filomena clapped her hands together, “Now we shall make real Italian food!”
“I can help!”
“You can help me by doing the dishes! You’re not allowed near the food till it’s time to eat.” Filomena said, smiling.
“Very well,” Eugenia rolled her eyes. “But I have to taste test everything!”
“Yes, yes of course.” Filomena walked up to Eugenia and kissed her gently.
“Let’s get to cooking, honey!