10
On Sunday morning, just as she was making espresso, Tia received a text from Leo inviting her to call him if she wanted a ride to church. Although she thought it seemed a little odd—shouldn’t he be taking Natalie to church?—she decided to give him a call.
He greeted her, then explained that Julie had texted him late last night. “She suggested you might like to visit her church this morning. She and Roland recently started attending the same church where my family goes. If you’re interested—”
“Sure,” she eagerly said. She wasn’t sure if her enthusiasm was more about church or more about Leo. Perhaps it didn’t matter. “That’d be nice.”
“Great. I asked my sister, Melinda, if she’d mind picking you up, and she said she was happy to. She’ll be there a little after 9:00.”
“Oh—okay. Thanks.”
Tia felt a sense of letdown as she took her coffee out to the back deck. At the same time she felt foolish for even reacting. What was wrong with her? She knew that Leo was engaged, so why did she allow her hopes to elevate like that—only to be plunged back down to the ground again? She gazed out toward the shimmering blue bay, soaking in the amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city on the other side. With the faint remnants of last night’s fog, the filtered light made the scene perfect for a watercolor. She momentarily considered pulling out her art kit and making an attempt, but she knew there wasn’t time. Instead, she took several photos with her phone, promising herself she would play with the painting later.
Tia wasn’t quite sure how to dress for church. Back home in Norton, she usually just wore jeans. But this was San Francisco. She decided to try out a summery dress she’d gotten on her shopping spree, topping it with her faded jean jacket since it was still cool outside.
Melinda rang the doorbell at 9:15. With her sandy hair and blue eyes, she reminded Tia of a female version of Leo. “It’s nice to meet you,” Melinda said politely as they walked down the driveway. “Leo says you’re going to be the chef on the Pacific Pearl.”
“That’s right,” Tia said as they got into the car.
“I love the idea of dinner cruises. Especially on a smaller boat. So romantic.”
“Yeah, hopefully.”
“Hopefully?”
Tia explained about Roland’s condition. “If he doesn’t pull through, I can’t imagine Julie wanting to proceed.”
“Oh, I hadn’t heard about that. I just got home from college a few days ago. I’ll be praying for him.” She stopped at an intersection. “So much going on lately . . . it’s hard to keep up.”
“Were you surprised about Leo and Natalie’s engagement?”
“Are you kidding? You could’ve knocked me over with a feather over that one.”
Tia wasn’t sure how to respond.
“I mean, sure, I realize they’ve dated off and on for, well, like forever. But I never in a million years thought they’d really get married.”
“Why not?” Okay, Tia knew this was like opening a can of emotional worms, but she couldn’t help herself.
“Well, it’s not that I don’t like Natalie. I actually do. She’s been kind of like a big sister to me. My parents like her too. In fact, they’re pretty much over the moon about the engagement. But I’m just not sure they’re right for each other. I mean, they’re such opposites.”
“They say opposites attract,” Tia pointed out.
“Yeah, I know. I’ve been telling myself that very thing. But I can’t help thinking that opposites can pull each other in opposite directions too. I’d hate to see that happen to Leo.” She chuckled. “I guess you can tell that I feel protective of my older brother.”
“What’s the age difference between you guys?”
“Leo’s six years older. It seemed like a lot growing up. But he was always so good to me. So protective. As I got older, we’ve gotten pretty close. If I have a problem, I usually go to Leo for advice.” She hit her hand on the steering wheel. “I wish he’d do that with me.”
“You think he’s got problems?” Tia knew she was fishing, but it was too late to pull back her line.
“Oh, sure, he’s got problems. Who doesn’t?”
Melinda laughed. “Well, I suppose her life looks pretty perfect to the casual observer. But although I love Nat dearly, I’m aware that she’s got challenges too.”
Tia wanted to ask what they were but already felt overly nosy.
“I’m sure you’ve noticed that she’s kind of a type A personality. Very smart and motivated and detail-oriented. She’ll be a fabulous attorney.”
“If I needed legal representation, I’d certainly consider her.”
“Maybe I’m making a mountain out of a molehill,” Melinda said as she pulled into a parking lot situated next to a handsome stone building. “Maybe they’ll be perfectly happy together.”
“Hopefully.” Tia pointed at the building. “Is that your church?”
“Yeah.”
“What lovely architecture.” Tia imagined doing a pen and ink drawing of it.
“Pretty sweet, huh? It was built in the 1880s.”
“I don’t think there’s anything that old in my hometown.” As they walked up to the charming building, Tia snagged some quick pictures on her phone. “I’m surprised Natalie doesn’t want to get married here.”
“I guess the sanctuary is too small.” Melinda pulled one of the big, heavy, wooden doors open, lowering her voice. “It doesn’t even seat two hundred.”
Before long they were seated on an old wooden pew directly behind Leo and Natalie, flanked by two older couples that Tia assumed might be the parents. They all looked very nice together, almost like the poster family for prosperity and perfection. Both men were going slightly gray, but both still had a full head of hair. And the women, without a trace of gray hair, both looked stylishly classic. Tia’s only consolation was this was a picture she definitely didn’t fit into. She was relieved she’d worn a dress, but with her old jean jacket, she felt slightly out of place, although Melinda looked fairly casual in her jeans and a white silk shirt.
As the music started, Tia realized that Leo’s tidily together family looked nothing like hers. It wasn’t that Tia would call the D’Amicos “messy” exactly, but they were definitely loose and laid-back and slightly noisy. As pointless as it seemed, she found comfort in this. She and Leo were from two different worlds. Meanwhile, Leo and Natalie were from the same world. Sure, they might have some blips along the way, but in the long run, they would probably be just fine.
When it was time to greet the people around them, Leo and Natalie turned around and welcomed Tia and Melinda, also taking the time to introduce Tia to the two sets of parents.
“Poor Roland has been in my prayers,” Leo’s mother told Tia. “I sent flowers and planned to go visit, but Jim said I should wait until after the surgery. I suppose that makes sense. But how is he holding up?”
Tia gave Mrs. Parker the lowdown on Roland, promising to take greetings from the Parkers when she went to see him again today. Before they could visit further, it was time to turn their attention to the pulpit.
Tia paid close attention to the sermon, and to her relief, it was good and solid and encouraging. She realized that even if some of the congregation were dressed more formally, many of them looked just as casual as she—and she thought she might even be comfortable here. Well, except for the Leo and Natalie factor. She promised herself that if she came back, she would simply find a seat well away from them.
After the service, Melinda invited Tia to go downstairs for “coffee hour.” “But don’t worry, we won’t stay an hour. We’ll just grab some cookies and joe, say hey, and go.” True to her promise, they were ready to leave after just a few minutes, but Leo stopped them.
“I know you plan to take lunch to Roland and Julie,” he told her. “Do you need a ride to the hospital?”
“I’ll just take a taxi,” she said lightly.
“That’s no good,” he said.
“Maybe I can take you,” Melinda offered. “I have something this afternoon, but when do you plan to go?”
“I promised to be there by 2:00.”
Melinda looked disappointed. “That’s not going to work for me. Sorry.”
“I’ll take you,” Leo declared.
“But I—”
“No arguing,” he told her. “I’d like to see Roland again anyway. You know, to wish him well before his surgery tomorrow.”
“Well, uh, okay.” She glanced over to where Natalie was chatting with some women her age. Probably telling them the exciting news of her recent engagement.
“I’ll come by a little past 1:00. Give us time to load things up.”
She thanked him, and then she and Melinda left. “Do you need to pick up anything at the grocery store?” Melinda asked as they got into her car. “There’s a Whole Foods nearby.”
“That’d be great,” Tia told her. “I’d planned to ride Julie’s bike, but this would be a real time-saver.”
Tia and Melinda had fun grocery shopping in Whole Foods. Melinda seemed to have a strong interest in cooking, asking lots of good questions. “Maybe you’ll let me volunteer to help on the Pacific Pearl someday,” she said as they carried the bags out to the car. “Let me work with you in the galley to see how it’s done. I think it would be fun.”
“Watch out, I might hold you to that offer.” Tia set her bag in the backseat.
“Seriously, I hope you do.”
Tia tried not to think about Leo as she tied on one of Julie’s aprons and started to prepare her uncle’s favorite Italian dish, cannelloni. Of course, trying not to think about something was as good as obsessing over it. As she rolled the freshly made pasta dough into tubes, she let her mind wander. She was curious as to Natalie’s reaction to Leo’s offer to give her a ride today. Most likely, Natalie would see this as a friendly gesture of goodwill for his boss’s husband. Nothing more. But Tia wasn’t sure she’d be that generous if she were in Natalie’s shoes. Not that there was any chance of that. For starters, she couldn’t afford Natalie’s fancy shoes—she frowned down at her bare feet—and they wouldn’t look right on her anyway!
To help get her mind off Leo and what she knew could never be, she turned on the Bose player in the kitchen. She wasn’t surprised to discover a Beatles CD already in it—her uncle’s favorite. As she chopped fresh oregano, basil, onions, and mushrooms, then browned Italian sausage and mixed eggs and cheeses and cream, she cranked up the music and danced to the old tunes.
She was just grooving to “All My Loving” while chopping a lemon cucumber to go into the fabulous green salad she was creating when a sound behind her made her jump. Holding the chef’s knife like a weapon, she whipped around.
“Sorry!” Leo held his hands up like a criminal. “I rang the doorbell but no one answered. Then I knocked and—”
“How did you get in here?” she demanded, still wielding the knife.
“The key under the flowerpot.” He held up the key. “Sorry to startle you.” His serious face broke into a big grin. “Although I have to admit I enjoyed the show.”
She rolled her eyes as she laid down her knife, wiping her hands on the apron. “Just how long were you standing there?” she demanded.
“Long enough.” He laughed.
She reached for the knife again, waving it menacingly at him. “You obviously are unaware of how feisty we Italians can be. Particularly in the kitchen. And particularly when we’re being spied upon.”
“Sorry.” He held up his hands again. “Wow, something in here smells amazing.”
“It’s cannelloni,” she said in a testy tone, turning back to her salad. “And since you nearly gave me a heart attack, I’ll let you be the pack mule to get everything loaded into the car while I freshen up.”
“You look pretty fresh to me,” he said as he snatched a missed cucumber slice, popping it into his mouth.
She glared at him as she turned off the music. What would Natalie think if she could hear her fiancé talking like this? Probably nothing. Tia sighed. She was probably making it into much more than it really was.
“Sorry to come early.” He pulled up a stool at the island. “But I was in the neighborhood and figured I’d just stop by.”
“In the neighborhood?”
“Yeah. My parents live just a few blocks from here.”
“Oh. I didn’t know.” She wedged a small vase of flowers that she’d picked from the yard into a corner of the picnic basket she’d unearthed in the garage.
He gazed out the window. “But their house doesn’t have this stunning view.”
“It is pretty, isn’t it?” She paused to look out. “This morning it looked so magical with the fog sort of melting away. I took some photos on my phone.”
“Nice.” He pointed to the bag of carrots. “Mind if I have one?”
“Help yourself. I assume you weren’t at your parents for a meal then?”
He laughed. “More like a meeting.”
“A meeting?” She snapped the lid onto the salad bowl, setting it in the cooler along with several Ziploc bags of ice.
“Wedding planning.” He scowled like a six-year-old tasting brussels sprouts for the first time.
“Oh.” She returned to filling the picnic basket with place settings.
Leo went to the stove where she’d set the cannelloni and took a deep whiff. “What did you say this is called?”
“Cannelloni,” she told him.
“Looks like lasagna.”
“It’s similar. Instead of layers of pasta and sauce and cheese, it’s tubes that are filled and then baked.”
“It looks amazing.”
“Do you plan to join us for lunch at the hospital?”
“Am I invited?” he asked eagerly.
“There’s plenty.”
“Count me in.”
She added another place setting, then covered the hot cannelloni with foil, using several kitchen towels and a tablecloth to insulate it before she nestled it on top. “Why don’t you take the basket and cooler out to your Jeep?” She pointed to the key still in his hand. “And put that back where it belongs.”
“Aye-aye, Captain.”
She frowned. “I thought you were the captain.”
“Of the boat. You’re obviously the captain of the kitchen.”
As he headed out with the basket, she went to her room for a quick cleanup, exchanging her sloppy cooking outfit for a crisp white shirt and a pair of khaki capri pants. But as she was brushing her hair down from her ponytail, she couldn’t help but second-guess her invitation to Leo. Why did I do that? Clearly she was a glutton for punishment.