Page 118 of Anyone But You

“Okay, Chef Gia. What are you whipping up today?”

“Don’t worry about it, nonna. Just sit back, relax, and watch me work my magic.”

I ran to the kitchen, washed my hands twice since I’d handled Sock and Puppet, and donned my favorite apron. I disinfected the countertop before retrieving the recipe book from the pantry. I flipped through the book and beamed when I found my next challenge.

“Tell me a story, Nonna,” I insisted, separating egg whites into a copper bowl.

She smiled softly.

“You want a story, huh? Have I told you about my sister who stole my man?”

I gasped dramatically.

“Your sister did what?”

She sat on the stool beside me and proceeded to tell me how her sister was a hussy who stole her man and was now sleeping with the fishes.

I smiled and started beating the meringue for my Baked Alaska. My family was a little crazy, and sometimes a little extra, but I wouldn’t change them for the world.