Page 141 of Something Like Hail

Darli sat across from her brother, stickingout her tongue at him. Then she turned a mischievous expression onNoah. “How old are you, anyway?”

“Twenty-four,” heanswered.

Darli raised her eyebrows. “Robbing thecradle, eh?”

Noah laughed. “Can you blame me when thebaby is so cute?”

“I’m not a baby!” Felixpouted, making him sound younger than he really was.

“You’re still a teenager,”Darli retorted, gleefully twisting the knife.

Noah shook his head and made sure his tonewas just as teasing. “If this is what sisters are like, you make meglad I’m an only child.”

Darli grinned in approval. “I know, right?You lucked out.” She addressed her brother next. “So did you. Olderguys are the hottest.”

“No talking for the rest ofthe meal,” Bianca said, reappearing with a steaming baking dishheld between two oven mitts. “I’ve heard enough out of you both tolast me a lifetime.”

Noah stood to help her, even though hecouldn’t do much aside from creating a little more room on thetable. She seemed to appreciate the gesture anyway. The scent thatgreeted his nose as he sat again made his mouth water.

“Is that tuna noodlecasserole?” he asked.

“Yup!” Felix said, beamingproudly. “I made it. With some help.”

“With a lot of help,”Bianca said as she sat. “Felix tells me it’s yourfavorite.”

“He’s right.” Now heunderstood why they’d had a conversation about their favorite mealsearlier in the week. “Should I serve?”

“No no,” Bianca said,picking up the spatula and holding it out to her son. “Plating isjust an important part of cooking as the rest.”

“Better do it right,” Darlichided. “Otherwise it’s pack-your-knives-and-go time.” She lookedat Noah and must have seen his puzzled expression because sheexplained. “Mom is crazy aboutTopChef.”

“He doesn’t know what thatis,” Felix said, standing to get a better angle on the casserole.“His parents were too religious to have a TV.”

“We had one,” Noah said.“They just never let me watch anything good on it.”

“Did you hear from themtoday?” Bianca asked, features crinkling with concern. “Iunderstand that they aren’t as accepting as they shouldbe.”

“We don’t really talkanymore,” Noah admitted.

“Do you mind me askingwhy?”

“Because he’s gay,” Darliinterjected.

“That’s no reason!” Biancasaid to her daughter. “There’s nothing you children coulddo—nothing—thatwould make me turn my back on you.” She addressed Noah again. “Ifyou think it would help, I could talk to them for you. Explain howI felt when—”

“Mom!” Felix said, sloppinga rectangle of casserole on her plate. “We’re supposed to becelebrating.”

“Of course,” Bianca said.“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Noah replied.“You’re what every parent should be. I would always be there for mykids too. If I had any.”

“You’ve got Felix,” Darlisaid. “Close enough.”

For a second, her brother seemed to considerusing the spatula like a catapult to bombard her with casserole.Instead he whispered something that sounded like, “I will have myrevenge!”

Bianca ignored this exchange to continue aconversation with Noah. “Do you mind if I ask what faith you are?Felix wasn’t sure.”

Because they hadn’t had that conversationyet. Noah wondered what most people in the Philippines believed andassumed it was an Eastern religion he knew little about, so afteradmitting that he was raised Baptist, he was surprised by herresponse.