Page 25 of Wizard's Spitfire

“Yes. I was just thinking I need to head home to Chicago and visit my family.”

“Or invite your family down here to meet the Kings,” Hollywood suggests.

“This red sauce is good,” Brayden exclaims.

Gravy is smeared on one cheek and around his mouth.

“We call it gravy, Brayden,” Charlie says softly.

“I thought gravy was what you put on biscuits and taters,” he replies.

“That’s gravy too. How about you call it red gravy?”

His eyes light up. “Yes!”

“We’ll have plenty of food left to send home whatever you want,” Pops tells the boy.

Regina said their Sunday gravy is a family event, with each of them helping with portions of the finished product. The gravy contains juicy meatballs, Italian sausage, and pork. For pasta, they made spaghetti and mushroom ravioli to go with the gravy. In addition to that, there’s an antipasto platter with meats, cheeses, roasted artichokes, and eggplants, and black olives. Osso Bucco, Tacconelle with chickpeas and shrimp, beef broccoli, Sicilian roasted chicken, sauteed greens, and panzanella salad.

And much to my surprise, culurgiones. These amazing, boiled dumplings are filled then tossed in a simple tomato and basil gravy. Nonna made them every Sunday and always made me an extra batch. This time, my moan is louder. Francesca giggles.

“I helped Mamma make those. Do you like them?”

“They’re amazing. Close to my Nonna’s recipe.”

“Good thing we made extra,” Lucia chimes in.

For the next little while we talk and eat. The triplets make sure Hollywood’s kids are included. After dinner, the triplets take Ella and Brayden to their room to watch a movie. Hollywood and I help clean up and true to her word, they box and bag leftovers.

When we are done cleaning the adults go into the living room with a glass of wine. I wind up sitting on the sectional in between Pops and Charlie.

“Ma, I forgot to tell you about this interesting encounter I had at the store today. This man approached me, wanted to hire me to find his son. Said he was the governor of Indiana. Gave me his card.”

My blood goes cold. I clear my throat.

“Can I see the card?

“Let me grab it. It’s in my purse.”

Charlie hurries out of the room, coming back moments later with a card in hand. She hands it to me. It’s on expensive linen card stock.

Tyler Edwin Barnes II

Governor of Indiana

317-461-9747

[email protected]

Fuck!I sent off a quick text to Gambit.

Turd II approached Charlie

at the grocery store this morning

??

Chapter 14