Page 26 of The Enemy's Daughter

She leaned against her door, smiling at him. How could she not? He had to be the sweetest guy she had ever met. “There’s no way you’re human.”

Moving out of the way, she let him enter, and closed the door behind him.

“I’m not human?”

“You know? Being all sweet and charming. It’s a little unnerving.”

“I’m all about unnerving you, babe.”

She closed the door and put her hands into her the pockets of her jeans.

“I see you’re wearing your cute glasses,” he said.

Bella pushed them up her nose. “I wear glasses, and sometimes contacts. Crying today, I had no choice but to change. They hurt my eyes, and they felt like they were bleeding.” Walking past him toward the kitchen, she took down a couple of glasses waiting for him to open up the bottle of wine. “This is really thoughtful of you.”

“I wasn’t going to leave you alone. Not a chance.”

“Again, you’re sweet.”

He opened the wine and poured them both a generous glassful. She took a sip and tasted the delicate grapes and citrus.

“This is nice.”

“Good. I like good wine. Can’t have a good meal without good wine.”

“I usually just take water or a soda.” She took another sip of the wine. The taste really was exquisite.

“Did you cook the food?” he asked.

“Yes. Everything I eat is home-cooked unless I go to a restaurant or a café. My mom was a firm believer in home cooking. She grew up on it, and I remember her always being in the kitchen, you know?”

“No, I couldn’t have imagined.”

“Your parents didn’t believe in being around the table?”

“No. We usually went out to dinner. My parents weren’t interested in being part of a family. If your father is wealthy, why didn’t she hire a cook or something like that?”

Bella smiled. “That’s what a lot of people have asked me. She loved to cook, and was a down to earth kind of woman. Money didn’t mean anything to her. She saw it as ugly, with how it affected everyone. From when I was young, she always drilled into me how to appreciate everything I have. Hard work is nothing to be shunned but embraced. It’s why I love working at the veterinary practice, and why my father doesn’t mind me having a career like this. Wow, and I’m probably boring you.”

“Not at all.” He took a sip of wine. “It’s refreshing to hear of a woman not afraid of hard work.”

She chuckled. “I’ve also inherited my mom’s keenness to cook. I love it, and when I’m cooking I feel like I’m closer to her, you know?”

“I can imagine.”

Bella placed her glass on the counter, and went to her small collection of books to pull out a large notebook. “This was hers. She wrote notes about everything.” Handing him the book, she picked up her wine. This was the first time that she had shared any part of her mother with anyone.

He opened it up. “From my mother, to me, now to my darling daughter, and to her daughter.” He read out the first words that had been printed in the center of the first page. “She wrote that?”

“Yes. She wanted to create something where this book, and all others bound to that get handed down to the daughters who love to cook.” She sipped her wine as he flicked through the pages.

“Notes on pizza, and toppings. There’s problems, and solutions. This is like a piece of family history.”

When he got to the back, she tensed up.

“The handwriting has changed. Is this yours?” he asked.

“Yeah. Mom told me that every cook should make notes on what they cook, and find ways to improve, and make something be as good as it can be. You know?”

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