I groaned as I sat on the sofa. “Mom, Katerina will take over. It will be a Greek festival when she is done planning it.”
Silence.
Nothing.
Not even the sound of her breathing. Then, finally, she spoke.
“Is that so?”
Oh. Shit.
“We will plan something for there at home. Nic and I can fly out and—”
“No no. Let’s do this. I think it will be more . . . interesting.”
“For who?” I asked chewing on my thumbnail.
She laughed so evil I had to pull the phone away to make sure I still had my mother on the line.
“Don’t worry, Gabi. I’m positive I can hold my own next to Katerina. Besides, everyone knows what they say about Greek food.”
I held my breath. Dear God no. Please no.
“It’s just Italian food, but without the flavor.”
Relaxing back against the couch, I sighed.
“I’m not going to talk you out of this, am I?” I asked with nothing but defeat in my voice.
My mother laughed. “Enjoy your honeymoon! Talk soon.”
And just like that, she was gone. Probably dialing Katerina’s number right then. I covered my face with my hands and groaned. “This is not going to end well.”
Dropping my hands to my sides, I turned to see Nic walking in. He sat on the couch and said, “She let me go. Said your mom was calling.”
He looked at me. “You know what this means, don’t you?”
I nodded. “Food wars.”
With a slow smile, he fist pumped. “Yes!”
Sitting up, I looked at him like he had two heads. “Are you crazy? You want our moms to compete?”
Now it was his turn to look at me like I was crazy. “You’re kidding, right? Italian food, made by your mother. Have you tasted her food?”
Laughing, I nodded. Nic and I had flown back to New Jersey a couple months ago so I could properly introduce him to the family. He never left my mother’s kitchen.
“Yes, but you know your mother won’t let you take a bite of Italian food.”
He brushed me off with a gruff laugh. “I’m not worried.” Standing, he pulled out his phone again.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Texting your mom. I’m going to see if she’ll make that pasta with artichoke in it.”
I watched him walk out onto the balcony as he typed away on his phone.
Shaking my head, I leaned back against the couch.
“This ought to be interesting,” I mumbled.
IT WAS THE beginning of October and the weather in Colorado Springs was perfect for Kilyn’s baby shower.
I’d gotten to Thano and Kilyn’s house early this morning to do some last-minute baking. Kilyn had given me the house key and told me to come anytime. The house had been quiet until I heard Kira up and running around.
Kilyn walked into the kitchen and smiled. Her hand rested on her very pregnant belly.
“Hey, how are you feeling?” I asked with a wide grin.
“Like a beached whale. I am so regretting pushing the shower off this close to my due date.”
“It doesn’t bother me any and I’m sure it won’t the guests. You’re the one who is about to pop out a baby.”
She rolled her eyes. “He is all over the place this morning.”
Kilyn and Thano had decided not to tell anyone the sex of the baby. It was their little secret to hold on to and I totally got it. Each day Kilyn would either call the baby ‘he’ or ‘she’. She alternated. It was kind of evil how it threw Katerina off each time. But I also knew Kilyn got her kicks from driving Katerina insane.
“Who has a baby shower two weeks before her due date?”
I laughed. “A mom who is busy.”
She chuckled. “I finished my last house design yesterday. I’m off for ten weeks. It’s going to feel like heaven.”
“I bet,” I replied.
“Tea?” Kilyn asked as she filled a kettle up.
“Sure.”
Turning back to my work, I started back up at frosting the oat flapjacks.
“Oh. My. God. Is that apple cake?”
Peeking over to the table with more desserts on it, I grinned. “Yep.”
“Where is the custard sauce? I remember my grandmother making a custard sauce!”
Laughing, I pointed to the refrigerator. “It’s in there.”
Kilyn was soon dipping her finger into the custard sauce and moaning in delight.
“What’s going on in here?” Thano asked as he walked in with Kira in his arms. She gasped as her little eyes looked at the kitchen island filled with different desserts.
“Your wife is getting a little frisky with the custard sauce.”
Thano laughed as he put Kira down. “So, where are all the whiskey cakes? Don’t the Irish put booze in almost everything?”
I chuckled. “Pretty much. I’ve got some barmbrack sliced up on that plate. It’s like a fruit cake, but ten times better. The fruit is soaked in Irish whiskey and tea, so be sure to cover it up when you’re done.”
Thano reached in and took a piece out. He practically melted on the spot when he put it in his mouth. “Damn, that’s moist.”