“Hi, munchkin,” Mom croons, slinging a hand towel over her shoulder as she walks out of the kitchen. “Come give Gamma a hug and kiss.”
Aria runs across the room and flings herself at Mom. I don’t know why Theo asked me to watch her, not that I’m complaining, when we all know Mom would jump at any opportunity to spend time with her granddaughter.
“Are you here to watch movies with us, Gamma?” Aria asks after she pulls back. “Me and Luca are going to watch Willy Wonka.”
Anytime Aria’s at my house we watch the older classic kid movies.
Mom smiles down at her, pushing back
the bangs that’ve fallen into her eyes. “Not tonight, munchkin. Your Pa is taking me out on a date tonight.”
I raise my brows at the eager look in her eyes. Mom’s always been the type to refuse eating out, even on the rare occasions we could afford to. She said her family would always have a healthy home-cooked meal on the table each night. Her lip curled with disdain when she thought of a stranger cooking for her family. Cooking was something she enjoyed doing. It was just another way she showed us her love.
“Your father can be very persuasive,” she says with a shrug and a twinkle in her eye.
My lip curls. I know the persuasive ways she’s referring to. Mom and Dad have always been touchy. Not in an inappropriate way in front of us kids, but there’s been plenty of times when Dad would walk up behind her and peck the back of her neck while we were at the table doing homework. The walls were thin in our house, so Mom’s giggles carried from their bedroom into mine and Theo’s. Luckily, they were quieter when they did… other things.
I shudder at the thought of what those “other things” are.
Mom laughs, knowing exactly where my mind went.
“Anyway.” She looks back down to Aria, “I stopped by to put on the spaghetti for your uncle.” She pinches one of her cheeks. “And to see my beautiful Aria for a few minutes.”
I put Goodie’s cage down on the coffee table then go to the kitchen and throw the ice cream in the freezer. “You got time to watch her while I grab a quick shower?”
“Sure, honey. You go right ahead. Aria can show me her latest drawing.”
I leave the two at the small kitchen table, Aria jabbering away about some new friend she made at school, and walk down the short hallway to my bedroom.
Ten minutes later, I’m back in the living room just in time to see Mom setting a bowl of noodles and sauce on the table in front of Aria. She kisses the top of her head, then turns and grabs another plate piled high with spaghetti from the counter, setting it down on the table along with a plate of garlic bread.
“Mom, you didn’t have to make me a plate. I’m thirty-two. I think I can manage.”
She scoffs, as if I’ve lost my mind.
“You’ve worked all day, Luca. If I’m here after you’ve worked all day and there’s food, you best bet I’ll be making your plate. Now, sit. I’ve got to get running or your dad will come hunt me down.”
Now I give her a look that says she’s lost her mind.
“I’ll walk you out. Then I’ll come eat.”
Knowing it’s pointless to argue, because there’s no way I’m letting my mom walk to her car by herself after dark in this neighborhood, she bends to place another kiss to the top of Aria’s head.
“You tell your dad to bring you by this weekend, okay, Aria?”
After slurping a noodle into her mouth, Aria nods. “Okay, Gamma. Love you.”
“Love you too, sweetie.”
She grabs her purse off the couch and leads the way to her car. I pull open Mom’s door and she throws her purse to the passenger seat before turning back to me.
“Are you closing down the shop on Thanksgiving?” she asks.
“Would you let me keep it open?”
Her eyes sparkle as she laughs. “As long as you don’t mind the shop being invaded with food and family, then sure, you can keep it open.”
I prop my hand on the top of her car. “Then why even ask?”