“Thank you for inviting me to your beautiful home.”
“The pleasure is ours.” She relinquished her hold on his hand. “Dinner’s almost ready. Penny, why don’t you give our guest a house tour?”
“Sure,” Penny said, throwing her mom adon’t-you-even-try-to-do-your-meddling-thingglance. “This way.”
Daniel followed her into the family room.
“Listen,” she said, whispering. “I apologize if my mom just made you uncomfortable.”
Daniel smiled, amused. “Because I’m soguapo?”
Penny stared up at him, not sure how to respond, then gave up and let out a laugh. “I warned you about the meddling energy up here.”
“You did.”
“I promise I’ll sit Mom down and give her a stern talking-to.”
“After dinner, please,” he said, still grinning. “That casserole smells amazing and I amhungry.”
“Okay,” she said, giving up. “House tour time. This is the family room, with a nice big couch and a comfy recliner that isminewhen I’m here. In the morning, the back windows let in a lot of sunlight.”
“So basically the TV room,” Daniel said.
“And when my brothers Jorge and Ramon are here, the videogame room.”
“You’re the oldest kid, right?”
“By two years. My brothers are identical twins and live in Miami now.”
“What do they do?”
“They’re commercial pilots and just started an aircraft parts business.”
She led him out of the family room and down the main hallway. “There’s a half-bath tucked beneath the stairs and the rest of the floor is the dining room, living room, and a small study.”
“The place seems really comfortable,” he said as they walked through the rooms.
“Upstairs,” she said, “are three bedrooms and one bathroom.”
His eyebrows rose. “One bathroom for five people?”
“I know, right? The stories I could tell. Three teenagers, two grownups, one bathroom —a constant battle.”
He chuckled. “How about the in-law apartment?”
“That’s fairly new. It used to be a storage room. Mom and Dad put it in after I left for college.”
From the kitchen, Mom yelled, “Dinner’s ready!”
“On our way!” Penny yelled back.
When they got back to the kitchen, Mom was setting the casserole on top of the oven.
“That smells so good,” Daniel said.
“Thank you,” Mom said. “It’s easy to make. Ground beef, chili beans, tortilla chips, sour cream, cheddar cheese, green onion, tomatoes, and salsa.”
Dad said, “What can I get you to drink, Daniel?”
