Page 259 of The Italian Obsession

“Sii gentile, Nonna,” he says. Translation: Be nice, Grandma.

She rolls her eyes and flicks her tea towel at him. “You come!” she snaps at me.

Huh?

“You come help me.” She gestures to the pot of food.

“Oh.” I nod. “Of course.”

Bianca gives me a sympathetic smile. She takes an apron from the drawer and passes it to me. “Here, Olivia.”

“Thanks.”

She spins me around and helps me put it on.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Enrico says.

I widen my eyes at him. Don’t leave me with them.

He smiles and gives me a wink.

“Sii gentile, Nonna,” he says again before he disappears out to his brothers.

“Today, we make Sunday gravy with sausage and spaghetti,” Nonna announces.

I stare at her for a moment. Did I hear that right? Huh? Gravy?

Gravy and pasta? The gravy I make is brown and goes with chicken.

Oh, fucking hell. What next?

Nonna begins to explain what is in the pot in great detail while I try my hardest to take in her instructions.

She’s firing orders at me, and I’m beginning to realize that this isn’t just a kitchen. This is the army, and Nonna is the drill sergeant.

Francesca comes and stands beside me, and I take her hand in mine. “Don’t leave me here alone with her,” I mouth behind Nonna’s back.

Francesca giggles in response. I glance over to see that Bianca is smirking into her wineglass, too.

I’m glad I’m keeping everyone amused.

“Olivia… concentrate!” Nonna snaps. I step forward and take the spoon.

“Yes, Nonna,” I whisper.

Fuck me, he owes me some good sex for this.

________

It’s just after 8:00 p.m. when we walk out to the car, hand in hand.

We’ve said our goodbyes and are finally alone in the dark.

Dinner was a success, and I didn’t poison anyone. Bianca made dessert, and we sat around the table and talked. There was laughter and fun.

It was actually pretty good. I survived.

Enrico opens my door and stares at me. It’s like he has something on his mind.