Page 31 of Fly's Path

“Let’s get cooking.”

***

Talking and cooking with Viola are the most relaxing things I’ve done in ages. It’s like one of those dream days when Grammie was happy in the kitchen teaching me to cook.

Those days were rare…but they are some of the best memories I have.

Viola dumps some flour into her bowl and slides it over to me. “So what do you do other than run?”

“Work. I’m basically boring. If I wasn’t visiting a friend, I’m a stick-in-the-mud.”

She laughs. “I doubt that.”

The door to the kitchen slams open, and a teenage boy rushes in. “Nonna, I’m starving.”

Watching a woman flip like a switch is wild. Viola’s smile changes right to a doting grandmother in the blink of an eye. “We can’t have that. What would you like to eat, Daire?”

The boy doesn’t even blink twice that there is a stranger in his kitchen. He walks straight over to hug his grandmother.

He looks nothing like her. From his copper locks to his pale white skin, it’s hard to believe they’re related at all.

“I’m going to eat at Milia’s, so maybe something light. Just to tide me over.” He steps back. “Maybe a sandwich.”

That’s light?

“Coming right up. Do you want some fried eggs on the sandwich?”

Daire considers it for a long moment. “Maybe. And lots of cheese.”

“Why don’t you go make a bag of snacks for the two of you to have later?” Viola places a frying pan on the massive stove. It’s one of those fancy ones with a billion burners, a grill top, and colorful knobs.

“Good idea.” He walks over to the drawer by where I’m standing and stops to look me up and down, not in the stranger danger way, more like hello beautiful. “Are you new around here?”

“Daire, meet my friend Sheridan. She’s coming with me today to visit your brother.”

“Ohhh.” The boy nods. “Makes sense. Does this mean she can cook?”

“I don’t know. Why don’t you come back in an hour and try some of my blondies.” Why did I say that? Like I care if a kid thinks I can’t cook.

“Can’t. But you can save me one. The amount you’re making, Gabe won’t be able to eat them all.”

“These are bribes for the nursing staff. Your brother could hardly eat this many.”

Daire reaches across the bar for two apples and bananas from a massive bowl of fruit. “Eh, he could if he tried.”

No way could a boy eat all this. Though based on Daire’s light snack before breakfast…I wouldn’t doubt Gabe would give it a good try.

A few minutes and a full bag later, Daire nabs his sandwich and kisses his grandmother. “Thanks, Nonna. See you at dinner.”

Viola walks over to the pressure cooker that just finished and opens the top, releasing the most delightful scent of chicken soup. “Now to grind it up.”

“What?”

“You haven’t had pastina before, have you?”

Never heard of it, let alone eaten it. “Nope.”

“Just wait. You’re in for a treat.” She gets an immersion blender out of the closet.