Page 16 of Wizard's Spitfire

Wizard

SHE NODS. IF I HADN’Talready decided to look into her scumbag ex, the look on her face clinched it.

“Knowing that any of my daughters know makes it worse. I have a feeling when I know the full story, I’m going to want to throttle him. Not that I don’t want to most days.”

“Was your ex responsible for your tires?”

“Yes. He bought the girls a decent used car. Asshat promised them a new one. Likely spent it on his latest chippie.”

I nearly spit out the drink of iced tea I’d just taken.

“Chippie?”

“It’s an oldie but a goodie, Pops would say.”

“I like him. I think Hollywood’s already adopted him.”

She nods again. “He has. His kids are already calling him Pops. Ma already promised to teach them how to make gravy like a real Italian. Invited them to Sunday dinner. You should come too. Unless being stared at by my sixteen-year-old daughter is too weird.”

“I’d love to come. What time should I be there and what can I bring?”

“We’ll eat at six, but Ma will have a million snacks made, so come after one. We’ll be home from church by then. Bring your appetite. She’ll cook for days.”

“My Nona is the same way. Anytime any of us visit her, she cooks for days and sends us home with a box of leftovers.”

“Do you have siblings?”

I shake my head. “No, I’m an only child, but both my parents come from large families. I have dozens of cousins.”

“That must have been fun growing up.”

“It was. Holidays were always controlled chaos. But it was a lot of fun.”

“Papa has two brothers. They live in New Jersey but visit at least once a year to see Pops. He’s their dad. Ma is an only child like me. Her parents, my grandparents, live in Palermo.”

Our first course arrives. We continue to talk in between bites as the food arrives. I notice Charlie stops after her second glass of wine. I ask the server to cork the bottle. I’ll send it with Tully.

“How long has Pops lived with you?”

“Since Nonnina died. I was six. He can take care of himself, but the heart just went out of him when she died. He’s still not the carefree Pops I remember as a girl. They were so in love. It was like watching a romance movie happen in real time. He’d bring her a gift every day. A flower, perhaps a feather or beautiful stone. Maybe pints of berries he’d get scratched up picking.”

“Did they live in Louisiana?”

“No, they had a farm in New Jersey. Most people just think of the city and forget some of Jersey is farm country. My uncles still run the farm.”

“Do you and the girls get there often?”

“Not really. Even before the divorce, money was tight. I thought we were strapped for cash so JR could pay off his schoolloans. Turns out it all went into an offshore account. I guess he knew his cheating would catch up one day.”

She suddenly straightens. Her brow furrows. Charlie reaches out and places her hand on my arm.

“I’m sorry. I know this isn’t an actual date or anything, but you don’t want to hear about my ex.”

“First, I want you to know you can talk about your ex anytime. You need someone to vent to outside your house. I’m happy to be that. Second, who says this isn’t an actual date?”

Chapter 8

Charlie

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