Page 118 of Inferno

“Of course I remember.” That was the night they’d shared their first kiss, which he’d been reliving in his mind ever since.

“When I told you that I’d stopped playing the violin, you encouraged me to pick it back up again. You told me, and I quote, ‘If you’re good at it, and it’s something you enjoy doing, you shouldn’t give it up.’ After that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about what you’d said. So I went to my dad and told him I wanted to start playing the violin again, and he couldn’t have been happier.” Smiling softly, Taylor reached over and laid her small hand over Manning’s. “Thank you.”

Manning swallowed tightly, his insides melting. “You’re welcome,” he whispered.

As they gazed at each other, he turned his hand over and linked his fingers through hers.

A minute passed while he worked up the nerve to ask one burning question: “Are you still going out with Henry?”

Taylor hesitated,thenshook her head. “No.”

“No?”

“No.”

A huge wave of relief swept through Manning. Trying to play it cool, he said casually, “So what happened?”

Taylor grimaced. “I broke up with him.”

This just keeps getting better and better.“Why’d you do that?”

She shrugged, glancing away. “He was too…too…”

“Clingy?” Manning offered. “Possessive?”

She laughed ruefully. “Yes, to both. But he was really nice and thoughtful,” she hastened to add. “And he played the clarinet well.”

Manning nodded. “He just wasn’t right for you.”

Her eyes met his.“Exactly.”

Manning couldn’t keep from smiling.

“Come on,” he said, taking her hand and standing up.

“Where are we going?”

“I want you to meet Mama Wolf.”

He took her inside the house and led her toward the noisy kitchen.

His parents’ good friends, Kelvin and Roxanne Wimbush, had stopped by to visit the family before they left for the cabin. Also present were the Campbells, an older couple who’d become like doting godparents to Manning and his brothers.

While all the men were downstairs watching basketball, the women had congregated in the kitchen and were laughing and chattering animatedly as they put the finishing touches on dinner.

When Manning and Taylor appeared in the doorway, a hushed silence swept over the kitchen. Mom beamed with pleasure as Manning went around the room and introduced Taylor to Grandma Kirkland, Aunt Winnie, Aunt Georgina, Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Wimbush, and his twin cousins Maya and Zora—named after Maya Angelou and Zora Neale Hurston.

When he came to Mama Wolf, Taylor smiled shyly and stepped forward with her hand outstretched. “Hello, Mrs. Wolf.”

“Hey, baby.” Mama Wolf clasped both of Taylor’s hands between hers and gave her one of those warm, welcoming smiles that always made people feel like she’d known them from birth. “You can call me Mama Wolf.”

Taylor couldn’t have looked more honored than if she’d just been granted permission to call the Queen of England by her first name. Manning half expected her to bow and curtsy to his great-grandmother.

Taylor said earnestly, “I had the pleasure of eating some of your pound cake, and it was the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted. I told Manning I’d tell you that if I ever got the chance to meet you.”

Mama Wolf beamed with delight. “Why, thank you so much, baby. I’m glad you enjoyed the cake.” She winked at Manning. “I like her already.”

Everyone laughed.