“I’m good. Dinner smells good.” I told her as I walked inside of the house with Sabrina attached to me. My mother was the one with the Spanish heritage and I had her eyes and hair. She was feisty where I was a bit more easygoing though I didn’t know where that came from. Dad was always worrying about his companies. My brother looked like him while Sabrina looked just like Mom and had her spirit. She made my favorite spaghetti and I could smell fresh bread from the kitchen.
“I’m sure that you appreciate home cooked meals. I imagine that the cafeteria isn’t the best food.” I laughed and nodded.
“You imagine it properly though I can’t say they don’t offer a variety. There are a few good restaurants nearby, but I can’t cook anything in the dorm room. I miss it.” We walked into the huge kitchen where I saw sauce simmering on the stove along with a pot of boiling water for the pasta. Mom made her own, giving in to dad’s Italian heritage. There were two loaves of bread cooling on the counter and a large salad that looked just tossed.
“Did I hear you say that you’re getting an apartment after graduation? Why not stay here in your old room and save some money?” She gave me a concerned look, and I realized they had a say in my next place to live, at least until I started working.
“It’s not like I have anything lined up yet. I was just thinking aloud.” I walked to the fridge and pulled out a La Croix, cracking it open and taking a sip. “Violet is planning on moving back to Texas, anyway. Her dad isn’t doing well, and she wants to be closer to him.” The very thought made me sad. Violet had asked me to come with her and start over there, but I knew that my family would hate the idea. I also didn’t want to leave Sterling.
Sterling. I took a bigger sip of the drink and thought about the night before. There was so much heat and attraction between us that it was overwhelming to me. In addition to the friendship that we’d started again, it could be so perfect. He liked having me in his bed in the morning but admitted that it wasn’t his thing.
What was I supposed to think about that?
I’d chosen to just walk away. I needed to think about graduation and what happened next.
“Rosalind?” I blinked and looked up at my dad. “Are you with us here?”
“Just thinking,” I replied with a shy smile as I walked over to hug him. He was a hardworking man that supported his family well. I appreciated that, but I wish that he’d been around more when I was growing up. There were a few family trips that we’d taken but he was always out doing business. Sabrina and Paul had him around more, though not much. Mom just had the money now to have hired help for mostly everything in her life.
“How’s the car running?” He asked as I pulled away.
“It’s great.” I didn’t ask for something so nice, but it was a deal through a friend of his. “I don’t drive it too much as I’m just sticking around the campus. Everything is so close.”
“I wanted you to have the best for these trips. He gave me a hell of a deal on it. It’s a safe, sturdy car.” He looked me over and I forced a smile to my face.
“Thank you. It’s a great car.” I glanced over to see Paul walk in, typing on his phone. “Hey, Paul. How are you?”
“Rosie. It is Sunday already?” He asked as Dad frowned at him.
“At least pretend that you’re happy to see your sister, Paul.” Mom told him with her mild accent as I laughed. He was twelve. He didn’t care about any of us. Dad went with him to watch something in the living room and I helped her finish dinner. We put the pasta and thick, meaty sauce into a large bowl with a serving spoon. I carried that to the long, cherry wood table and set it at the end that we sat at while Sabrina carried the sliced bread on a plate. Mom followed with the salad and returned to get the wine for her and Dad. I joined Sabrina and Paul in pouring glasses of milk, setting the can by my plate as well.
Dad asked a lot about school over the meal and what my plans were. They weren’t thrilled with my choice in majors, but he was hoping that I’d get a steady job at a well-known paper if Mom didn’t have me married off first. I answered his questions carefully, not wanting to start a big discussion. I just wanted to eat and relax with my family.