Page 10 of Families and Other Enemies

“Then why doesn’t she come home?” Verona demanded.

“Mom.” Max loved his mother, but he would do anything to keep Rae innocent of the tensions that marred these tentative relationships.

Yet Rae had heard the critical note in her grandmother’s voice, and put the cookie firmly on the plate. “Grandma. My mommy has solemn responsibilities and duties.”

“Oh, really?” Verona slapped basil, garlic and olive oil into the feeding tube.

In a matter-of-fact tone, Rae said, “She’s making soup for the homeless people at the Catholic church. That’s solemn, isn’t it?”

Max struggled not to grin as he watched his very Catholic mother deal with Kellen’s new mission.

Verona gathered herself enough to say, “That’s very solemn. Your mommy is doing a good thing.”

“I know!” Rae picked up another cookie, sighed heavily and put it down. “I hope she cooks good. Homeless people deserve good food, too, don’t they?”

Verona turned on her smirking son and snarled, “From now on you can make the cookies!”

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