Page 14 of Broken Halos
“Mamma,” Archie said then blushed. “I didn’t bring him here to meet Mamma; I brought him here to feed him. He’s never had your pizza before, and we both know that’s a crime.”
“Punishable by death,” she said dramatically when he finally released his grip on her. “What is your name, beautiful boy? I’m Maria White, but most people call me Mamma or Mamma Maria.”
I slid out of the booth and stood before her, desperate to make a good impression, although I didn’t know why. Well, I knew why but knew better than to hope anything would come of this night. “Oliver Knight,” I said warmly, extending my hand.
“I’ve heard of you,” she said, hugging me instead of shaking my hand, which meant my hand got pinned awkwardly between us. I was just grateful I hadn’t grabbed her boob by accident. “You’re the pastor who organizes the basketball leagues for troubled youth each year. Those kids love you.”
“That’s me,” I said, happy she’d heard good things about me. “I’m the pastor at Grace Fellowship Church.”
“I didn’t know you and my son were friends.” She whipped her head around and pinned Archie with a no-nonsense look. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Archie opened his mouth to answer, but no words came out.
“It’s a new development, Mrs. White. We have mutual friends who introduced us.”
“Please call me Mamma or Maria,” she reminded me then looked at Archie. “Which friends?” she asked her son. “I’d like to treat them to a free pizza or calzone.”
I moaned a little when she mentioned the calzone. “Why are you starving your friends?” she asked, gesturing to me. “Sit, sit,” she instructed us. “My boy loves a calzone too. Is that what you’d like?”
“It sounds delightful, but I shouldn’t eat an entire one by myself. Do you want to share one with me?” I asked Archie.
“I’m fine with sharing,” he replied. “I usually get sausage and green peppers in mine.”
“Sound delicious to me.”
“One calzone and two side salads with creamy Parmesan dressing and breadsticks coming right up,” she said on her way back to the kitchen.
“She must not have understood you wanted to share the calzone because you aren’t very hungry.” He shook his head and smiled wryly. “Subtlety isn’t Mamma’s specialty.”
“She’s perfect the way she is,” I told him then leaned forward and dropped my voice. “I’m very hungry, Archie. I’m starving.”
“Ollie, please…” His words died, and in his eyes, I saw he didn’t want me to stop. He might tomorrow though, and I couldn’t risk feeling the sting of his rejection again, so I had to do a better job of pretending I didn’t want more than he could give.
“Relax, Archie,” I said softly. “I know your stance. I was talking about food. I wanted to split the calzone with you because I don’t need anything too heavy on my stomach before I go to bed.”
Maria returned to our table with a large glass of ice-cold milk she set down in front of Archie. “I forgot to ask what you’ll be drinking.”
“That glass of milk looks perfect.”
“Great.” Maria slid Archie’s glass across the table to me, eliciting a shocked gasp from her son. “Oh, you stop. I’ll be right back with the salads, breadsticks, and your glass of milk.”
“Thanks, Mamma.” There was a softness in his eyes and a reverence in his tone when he talked to his mother. It hit me low in the gut. There was nothing more beautiful to me than a person who loved and cherished their family.
When Archie returned his gaze to mine, I had to look away. I didn’t want him to see the naked desire I felt to belong to someone. It wouldn’t end well for whatever was blossoming between us.
“I gotta say, Ollie. I’m dying to know what makes you tick.”
“What do you mean?” I was confused because I was pretty much an open book.
“I respect your love for God and your desire to help people. Hell, I’m grateful Henry could call on you today.”
“Henry can call on me any day,” I told him. Archie narrowed his eyes as if he misunderstood my words. “Not in a romantic way.”
“But you have romantic cravings?” What the hell did he think our fooling around in the prop closet was all about?
“Romantic and sexual,” I replied because they weren’t the same thing. “Just not for Henry. Him, I want to help spiritually.”
“But with me…” he said, steering me into a confession I wasn’t ready to give him.
“I want what you’re willing to give me, Archie.” I offered a soft, friendly smile. “If all we can ever be is friends, it will be enough for me. The truth is, I’ve been disappointed by men who didn’t want the same things as me or couldn’t see past my clergy collar. Your reticence isn’t new.” It just hurt more, but that was my problem, not his.