Not only does Danny not flinch, but he also smiles at the two of them.
“Hey, Callie?” Slowski taps my arm. “I don’t suppose you’ve ever made agedashi tofu?”
Danny laughs. “And the award for the most random question ever goes to…”
“Okay, fine,” Slowski admits. “But you never know. It’s been on my mind.”
“I haven’t,” I answer. “But I do know what you’re talking about. It’s a fried tofu in a rich broth, right? I’ve had it before.”
“Yeah. It’s something my mom always makes, and I’ve had a craving. I miss her cooking. It’s one thing to go to a Japanese restaurant, but home cooking always tastes better.” The pleading sad-eyes look he shoots me is not subtle.
“So, maybe I’m you’re only shot, is what you’re saying?”
“You know, only if you want…”
“I can try. I’m not sure that I can get the broth right though.”
“But if I get my mom’s recipe?” He looks all hopeful now.
“Then, I’ll definitely give it a go.” Why I am agreeing to cook someone’s mother’s recipe is beyond me, but I’m up for the challenge.
The repulsed face Danny makes causes us all to laugh. “Oh no. Tofu? Really? Callie, didn’t you say something about hating foods pretending to be other foods? Isn’t tofu something trying to be meat?”
I giggle. “You’ll like it, if I do this right. It soaks up all the flavor from the broth.” Then, I lean in. “If you can believe it, it’s pretty sexy when it’s on point. Silken, smooth, glides over your lips…”
“You are not going to make tofu sexy. But still, we’re outta here.”
Danny graciously says good night for the both of us and leads me inside. “I’m going to shower, and I hope you’ll join me. But first?”
“First what?” There’s nothing I want more than to strip down with him.
He lifts my chin. “Call your mom.”
I sigh.
“I didn’t mean to, but I overheard part of your conversation with Paul this morning. It’s important that you talk to her.”
While I don’t want him to be right, he is. “Wait for me?”
“Always.”
So, I pick up the phone and make the call that I’ve been both wanting to make and dreading. “Hi, Mom.”
“Callie.” Her relief is palpable. “I’m happy to hear from you.”
“I should have called sooner.”
The silence between us goes on forever, it seems, but at last, she says, “I really regret our last call. I said things I shouldn’t have. You’re doing gorgeous work there.” Her words tumble out as I have never heard. “Paul showed me. The pictures of how you’re overhauling the house.” There’s a long pause, and I brace myself for how she’s going to criticize me, yet she does the opposite. “Callie, you’re a designer. What I said about the house last time was wrong.Iwas wrong. It’s all stunning.”
Praise like this is not something I’m used to hearing from her, and I really don’t know how to respond. “You think so?”
“I know so.”
There’s another long pause, and I pour a giant glass of wine.
My mom lets out a big breath. “Your brunches sound incredible.”
“They have been going well,” I admit. “But I have huge help.”
