Page 5

New York City

W OULD YOU PLEASE HAND ME the saltshaker? You didn’t add enough to the green beans.”

Lavera looked across the table at her husband, Herb, and calmly said, “I didn’t add any salt while steaming the veggies, because as you may recall, due to your high blood pressure, the doctor wants you to limit salt intake.

” She pushed a bottle of garlic powder in his direction.

“Why don’t you sprinkle some of this on for added flavor? ”

“I like garlic well enough, although it’s not the same as salt.

But I guess it’s better than nothing at all.

” Herb picked up the bottle, opened the lid, and gave it a shake.

“I suppose the next thing I know, the doctor will want me to give up eating pasta, red meat, and my favorite desserts.” He groaned. “Talk about a boring diet.”

“Try not to be so negative. When your health is at stake, you should be willing to make any helpful changes if needed.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t need some guy with a stethoscope and a tongue depressor telling me what I should or shouldn’t eat.” Herb cut into his steak, cooked medium rare, just the way he liked it, and smacked his lips. “Perfecto.”

Lavera shrugged in response. Any further comments on her part would probably fall on deaf ears. She loved this man she’d been married to for nearly twenty-six years, but he could sure be stubborn and had always made it clear that he didn’t want anyone telling him what to do.

Of course, Lavera could be the same way when it came to certain things.

“I wonder how things are going with Anthony right now. He said he would call when he and Eileen arrived at their destination,” Lavera said after putting a dollop of sour cream on her baked potato.

Herb glanced up from his plate and frowned. “And where would that be? Did he ever say exactly where they were going in such a hurry and why he had to take his full two weeks’ vacation on such short notice?”

Lavera shook her head. “He only said that Eileen wanted to go home to see her folks, and he’d agreed to drive her there.”

“Well, unless they live on the other side of the country, it shouldn’t take him two weeks to get there and back to New York.”

“Maybe they’ve already arrived at their destination, and she invited him to stay awhile.”

Herb grabbed a paper napkin from the wicker basket in the center of the table and wiped his mouth. “What for? Those two barely know each other. It’s not like the two of them are dating or anything.”

“True, but she has been working at our restaurant for nearly six months, and you know our son—he’s the friendly type, who has always seemed to care about people he knows who are hurting.”

“Yeah, alley cats included.” Herb cut another piece of steak. “I can’t tell you how often I’ve caught him feeding stray cats that hang out near the back door of our restaurant.”

“You can’t compare a nice young woman like Eileen to a hungry cat.”

“Can if I want to. I’ve never cared much for Miss Peterson and her sultry-looking eyes. Don’t think I haven’t seen the way she flirts with the male customers.”

“It hasn’t affected our business, has it?”

“Guess not, but it could have if Eileen had continued to show up late, like she did the week before she and our Anthony took off for parts unknown with little or no explanation.” Herb pounded the table with his fist, jostling the silverware. “I came real close to firing them both on the spot.”

“You couldn’t very well fire her after she’d already told us she was quitting.

” Lavera rested both elbows on the table and leaned closer to her husband.

“And since Anthony is our only son—who’s a very fine cook, I might add—firing him would not have been a smart decision.

Especially since he’d said that he would be coming back when his vacation ended. ”

“Yeah, well … that remains to be seen. I wouldn’t be surprised if that young woman ends up convincing him to stay with her, and then he’ll never come back to New York.” Herb pursed his lips. “Then I’ll never be able to retire and give him the business we’ve worked so hard to build.”

Lavera squinted her eyes as she pointed at Herb. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Why would I kid about something like that? Haven’t we talked about taking an extended trip to Italy so you could see all the places where you grew up and, at the same, visit some of your cousins?”

“Well, yes, but that was supposed to be a vacation, not a permanent move. Besides, no way could we take off and leave Anthony here to run the place by himself.”

Herb grunted. “If Connie had shown some interest in learning the restaurant business, instead of running off and marrying the first guy who came along, and Eva wasn’t in college, we’d have more family to count on.”

Lavera rolled her eyes at him. “When are you going to let that go, Herb? Shouldn’t our grown children have the right to choose their own path in life, like you and I did?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I guess so. Sure don’t have to like it, though.”

She hid a smile behind her open hand. Whatever choices their grown children made, like it or not, Herb would have to learn to accept it, because it was all a part of life.

Belleville

After supper that evening, Rosa’s mother brought out two pies she’d made earlier in the day and placed them on the dining room table.

One was chocolate, and the other was banana cream, which she placed in front of Rosa.

“It’s not a birthday cake, but I’m happy to be able to serve you a special dessert in celebration of your birthday today, in addition to your miracle homecoming this evening.

” Her smile stretched wide. “Those are certainly good reasons to celebrate, jah?”

“Thank you, Mom. The pies look delicious, and I can’t wait to try a piece of the banana cream.” Rosa looked at Anthony. “How about you? Which flavor might be your favorite?”

Susan sat on the other side of the table with her arms folded.

They’re a married couple, for goodness’ sake.

Why wouldn’t my sister know what kind of pie her husband likes?

That seems kind of odd to me. She shifted on her unyielding wooden chair.

I wonder how long these two have known each other.

I don’t recall either of them saying anything about when they started going out or even mentioning what day they’d gotten married.

It aggravated Susan that Rosa and her good-looking husband had shown up here unannounced—and on Rosa’s birthday, no less.

And what really irritated Susan was that Mom had welcomed them both with open arms. And not nearly enough questions.

Susan figured if it had been her who’d been missing all that time and she’d returned unexpectedly, her welcome would have been meager at best. Rosa needed to pay for the way she’d upset the whole family by running off.

So rather than eating a piece of pie, Susan sat quietly, thinking things through.

I know something that might get a rise out of my sister. Jah, think I’ll see if a little unexpected news will rain on her parade.

“Guess who’s getting married soon?” Susan directed her question to Rosa.

“I have no idea,” her sister responded after taking a bite of banana cream pie.

“Your best friend, Ada, and her groom-to-be is none other than your ex-boyfriend, Ephraim. Now, isn’t that a big surprise?”

Rosa gave a sharp intake of breath. “Are you sure about that?” It didn’t seem possible that while she’d been gone, Ada and Ephraim could have developed a serious relationship that led to their marriage.

She remembered how Ephraim used to insist that he would never love anyone but her.

Did he still feel any love for her? Had he picked Ada as a second choice?

Would he feel differently if he knew that Rosa was back home now?

With her enthusiasm over the pie all but gone, Rosa toyed with the napkin by her plate. Even if Ephraim did still have feelings for me, or I for him, it’s too late for us now. I’m here with a pretend husband and Ephraim’s on the brink of marrying my best friend.

During the years she and Ephraim had gone out, Rosa had never suspected that Ada might have become interested in him, although Rosa did recall several occasions when her friend had commented that Rosa was lucky to have a boyfriend who loved her so much.

Rosa hadn’t thought much about it at the time, but now she found herself wondering if Ada might have been envious because she wished Ephraim had chosen to court her instead of Rosa.

Well, it doesn’t matter now, she told herself. If I had wanted to marry Ephraim, I shouldn’t have run off. I should have stayed here, joined the church, and married him.

“So do you think you’ll go to the wedding?”

Susan’s unexpected question drove Rosa’s thoughts aside, and she pressed her spine firmly against the back of her chair. “Of course not. I wasn’t invited.”

“I’m sure you would have been if you hadn’t run off, and I’m almost certain that if Ada and Ephraim knew you were here, they would want you to be present at their wedding.” With her shoulders pushed back, Susan looked directly at Rosa.

Rosa shook her head. “It would be rude to show up unexpectedly, without an invitation, and I’m sure the bride and groom would not like it.”

“Well, don’t you think you should at least tell them you’re here? Maybe even give them the opportunity to let you know about their upcoming wedding?”

“Susan, please stop pressuring your sister with questions and allow her to make her own decisions.”

Rosa was glad when their mother spoke up. She was stressed out enough and didn’t need Susan giving her the third degree about this—or anything else, for that matter.

“Your mamm’s right,” Dad put in, much to Rosa’s surprise. “It’s her choice whether she wants to attend the wedding, and you need to mind your own business.”

“Fine, then!” Susan pushed her chair aside and stormed out of the room.