Page 30 of Rebel Secrets
By the time I got to the restaurant, I was a minute late, and Erin was nowhere in sight.
“Rebel!It’s nice to see you.We miss making all the food for you.Rosie’s thrilled to cook for you again.Rosie, Rebel’s here!”
Trying not to wince at the volume of his voice, I had a genuine smile.“Hey, Mr.Mike, you’re looking good.”
“It’s that Mediterranean diet everybody’s talking about.”Mike Benanti patted his round belly, his dark hair gone completely white now and barely enough to circle his head.He only stood five-foot-five, but he filled the room with his personality.If the windows were open in their home down on Steel Street, the neighbors sometimes heard him singing.Most said they actually turned off their TV to listen.“I’m Mediterranean.I eat.Guess that’s all there is to that.”
“There he is.Handsome boy.You look like you’ve lost weight while you’ve been away.Come on, let’s get you something to eat.”
When someone said “Italian grandmother,” what picture comes to mind?Rosie Benanti was what you’d get.Dark hair peppered with silver, dark eyes, round everywhere and about five foot-nothing.
Mike and Rosie had been running Paolo’s restaurant for longer than I’d been alive.Their food was amazing, and they’d even been featured on a national television show about Italian restaurants in Pennsylvania not to miss.
They’d kept the Devils players in carbs for as long as the team had been around.
“Mama Rosie, you’re as beautiful as ever.”
Her smile widened as she grabbed me around the waist and squeezed hard enough to make my bones creak.
“And you’re still a charmer.”
Mike had to be pushing eighty, but he still worked the floor every night.He knew everyone in town by name and knew everyone’s favorite dish.And Rosie ran the kitchen, though now she had their son, daughter and son-in-law in there with her.
Rosie pulled back to look me up and down.“Mike’s right.We need to get some food in you.Sit down, sweetheart, and I’ll get you some lasagna to start.”
“Thanks, but I’m meeting someone so I’m gonna wait for her.”
I think a bomb exploding might have gotten more attention.Maybe.
Mama Rosie got a big smile, and Mike patted me on the back like was a kid who’d just passed a major test with flying colors.
“It’s not a date.”
And just that fast, their faces collapsed.
“Well, that’s okay.”Mike assured me.“I’m sure you’ll find some nice girl soon.”
If my parents had said that, I’d have told them that wasn’t going to happen.But this couple ranked as honorary grandparents.There was no way I was going to tell them I wasn’t even looking.Until Rosie got a look in her eye as she glanced at Mike.
“Doesn’t your niece Dani have a daughter about Rebel’s age?I should have thought of that before.”
Mike frowned.“Which one is that?Dani with an ‘I’ or Dana with an ‘a’?”
Oh shit.This was not good.
“Guys, I’m really not?—”
“Hi!Sorry I’m late, I got caught up a new recipe I’m trying and then I realized I had to take a shower because I was covered in flour and?—”
Erin stopped talking as if she’d flipped a switch.You could practically see her brain connect with her mouth and tell it to shut.Then she realized everyone had turned to stare at her.Her cheeks flushed bright red, which made the freckles scattered across her cheeks stand out.If I tried, I could count each one, they were so distinct.Not sure I ever really noticed them before.But then why would I?We’d spent the last few years studiously avoiding each other.She made me crazy.
Right?
“Erin!”Rosie wrapped Erin in a big hug, one that Erin returned wholeheartedly and without hesitation.And as naturally as if she were family.“How are you?You look like you could use a good meal.Are you here by yourself?”
The blush on her cheeks darkened.“Um, no, actually, I’m here to meet, um, Rebel.”
The expressions on Rosie and Mike’s faces were almost comically dumbfounded.
