Chapter 2: Gifts and a Recipe Book

While they’re enjoying the night, celebrating Conrad’s acceptance at top culinary schools in New York, his uncle suddenly asks him about where he’ll be staying.

“Now that you mention it, I’m planning on looking for other options besides the dorms they’re offering." Conrad answered his uncle.

“Don’t you like dorms?” His uncle asked.

“It’s not that I don’t like dorms, but I’m kind of looking for a place where there’s a kitchen so that I can practice my cooking during my free time." Conrad answered once more.

“Don’t they have kitchens in their dorms?” He asked confusingly.

“Jake, have you really gone into college or no?” Conrad’s aunt asked his husband. “You know college dorms don’t have a kitchen included in the rooms.” She said.

“Christy’s right.” Conrad’s mother said to Aunt Christy. “Christy, you have friends from work living in New York right?” She asked.

“Yeah, I do.” Aunt Christy answered confusingly.

“How about you ask them if there are open apartments appropriate for Conrad?” Conrad’s mother suggested.

“Sure thing. Anything for my favorite nephew.” Aunt Christy said as she looks at Conrad with a smile.

“Thanks, Aunt Christy, but I think I can find a good place for myself.” Conrad said shyly to his aunt. He worries that it might be a hassle for her.

“Don’t worry about it, Conrad. Just think about it as a little help from me.” Her aunt said to him. “If I manage to find anything, I’ll make sure to contact you ASAP.”

Conrad smiles at her knowing that her aunt knows him well. Her mother gives her an empty glass, along with his other adult relatives. Opens a bottle of champagne and pours every glass. Raising her champagne-filled glass, she looks at Conrad and gives out a toast for Conrad’s accomplishment.

Conrad goes out of the house with his champagne-filled glass, while everyone else is enjoying the night. He sighs as he sits down on their bench. Thinking some things while gazing up at the night sky.

His mother follows him outside and asks him if she can sit down with him. Conrad agrees and her mother sits down with him.

“Is everything okay?” She worriedly asked.

“Yeah, I am.” Conrad said sarcastically.

“It’s about your father isn’t it?” She asked as Conrad sighs. “You know your father is in a better place…”

“I know that mom, but I just want him to acknowledge me sometimes.” Conrad interrupted. “Or spend more time with me…” He said sadly.

“Look, it may be hard for you to accept, but sometimes you just have to move on or just forget about it.” She said as she holds Conrad’s shoulder.

“How come it’s hard for me to move on or forget?” He asked himself as tears start to drip from his face.

His mother hugs him as she knew he was about to cry. Conrad cries silently on her mothers’ shoulder. He feels better after minutes of crying. As he wipes his tears away, his mother tells him that he’ll be okay as she rubs Conrad’s back.

They go back inside and Conrad had more surprises from his family relatives. Aunt Christy pulls Conrad to the living room, lets him sit down on the couch, and gives him a leather bookbag. Conrad's eyes widen and were speechless as he receives the leather bookbag. Aunt Christy then asks Conrad to look at the contents of the bag. With Conrad being unsure of the contents, he looks inside the bookbag to find different stuff that can help him at culinary school. He takes every stuff out to see it better in the light. He takes out a pen and a big notebook from Uncle Jake, a new recipe book from Aunt Christy, a master cake decorating set from his younger cousin Ben, and his grandfather's old recipe book from his grandmother. Holding the old recipe book, Conrad was brought to tears as he reminisces his past joyful times with his grandfather.

"Thanks, grandma." He said as he hugs her. "I've been looking for this ever since grandpa passed away."

"I know you loved cooking and baking with your grandpa so much, that's why I asked your mother to help me find it." She said to Conrad.

"We did look every inch of their house and luckily we found it." His mother said to him. "He also left a little something for you. Look at the last page." She suggested.

Conrad opens the recipe book, flips over to the last page, and finds an envelope with his name on it. He holds up the letter, deciding whether to open it now or some other time.

"Aren't you going to open it?" His mother asked.

"I think I'll open it some other time." Conrad answered. "Grandpa did always tell me that there's a right time for everything." He continued. "Since grandpa's recipe book is here, why don't I whip up something while you guys are here." Conrad suggested to everyone.

Everyone agreed and Conrad went to the kitchen to whip up something from his grandfather's recipe book. While he's flipping through the pages, choosing what to cook, he then remembers a recipe that is infamous in the family. Choosing that, he then prepares everything needed, pits on his apron, and starts cooking.

While Conrad is cooking, his mother peeks at him and was amazed by how Conrad cooks. It's like his grandfather is guiding him every step of the way, just like old times. She then smiles, knowing that she's proud of her son.

Conrad notices her mother watching and staring at him while he cooks.

"Mom, do you need something?" Conrad asked.

"Nothing, I'm just amazed by how much your grandfather has taught you." She answered.

"Do you want to help instead?" Conrad suggested to his mother. "I know he also taught you this." He said as he hands over the recipe book to his mother.

Tears start to drip from her face after seeing an old photo of her with his father in the recipe book. She then remembers the times she cooked with him. Wiping her tears away, she puts on her apron and helps Conrad with what he's cooking.

Moments later, they finished cooking. Conrad calls everyone to gather at the dining table while he hides it under a silver dome. Before bringing it to the dining table, he asks his mother to prepare the dessert plates and forks. His mother agrees and leaves the rest to him.

Conrad's mother finishes preparing the plates and forks, and everyone is gathered at the dining table. Conrad goes to the dining room, along with the silver dome, and puts it at the middle of the table. With everyone getting excited, Conrad lifts the top of the silver dome, and they were amazed after seeing the infamous lemon meringue pie. Conrad gives everyone a slice of the pie and everyone was happy tasting the pie again. Conrad was glad after seeing their smiles while eating the pie.

"Conrad, you're such an amazing cook. Just like your grandpa." Aunt Christy praised.

"Thanks, but mom also helped me." Conrad said. "Grandpa did teach us the pie." He grinned.

"I have a question though." Conrad's grandmother said. "Can you tell me his secret behind the lemon meringue pie?" She asked. "He never did tell me his secret behind this sour yet sweet pie." She added.

"Well, if it's a secret then I think it's for the best to keep a secret." He answered. "Except for me and mom though." He grinned.

It was getting late and everyone had to go back to their homes, except for Conrad's grandmother, since she's going to live with them. Conrad hugs his Aunt Christy, Uncle Jake, and his younger cousin Ben as they said their thanks for having them as guests, and leaves the house. Conrad offers help to clean up but his mother insists that he should rest in his room as she said that she can handle it. Before he goes up to his room, he hugs his mother and tells her a good night.

As Conrad enters his room, he changes into his pajamas, brushes his teeth, and washes his face. Lying down on his bed, he reflects on tonight's events and asks himself, "What culinary school I will attend?". He then falls asleep knowing that tomorrow will be another great day.