Page 71 of The Taste of Deceit

“No. You’re the first person I’ve told.”

She nods once.

“So it stays between us.”

“It has to.”

She reaches over and squeezes my hand.

“Then it stays between us.”

Chapter 21

Sarah

“Thank you, Sofia,” I say, hugging the three containers of leftovers against my chest as Luca and I head for the front door.

She waves a dismissive hand.

“Nonsense. You eat that. Don’t let my son touch any of it. You need more meat on those bones.”

I laugh.

Before I can protest, Luca takes the containers from me and slides his hand to my lower back.

“Alright, Ma,” he says. “We’ll see you in a few weeks.”

“Drive safely!”

“We will,” I call.

He bends toward my ear. “Keep talking to her and we’ll still be standing in this driveway tomorrow.”

I bump his arm with my shoulder.

“Stop.”

Once we’re back in the car and on the road, he laces his fingers with mine.

“Ma is going to try feeding you for the rest of her life.”

Something warm settles in my chest.

“You think I’ll be around that long?”

He looks over, one corner of his mouth lifting.

“I wasn’t aware that was negotiable.”

“I love you,” I say, squeezing his hand.

He winks at me. “Always, Baby Girl.”

As we’re getting ready for bed, my thoughts drift back to Sofia. Taking care of people seems to come as naturally to her as breathing. Luca’s told me his dad died when he was five. Carmela was just a teenager. Sofia had to navigate unimaginable grief while raising two children on her own, yet she never seems hardened by any of it. She still welcomes people with warm meals, packed leftovers, and enough love to make you feel like family before you’ve even finished dinner.

Luca comes in from the bathroom.

“Want me to grab your water?”