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After Mila and Chloe finished their pizzas, which received rave reviews from the girls, Lucy asked, “Hey, Zara, would it be okay to give these two a quick bath? I grabbed some spare pjs from Mom and Dad’s so they’ll be ready for bed when Elissa wants to take them home.” Lucy brought the girls’ plates into the kitchen, smiling at Ally as she took them from her.
“Sure, of course.” Zara, having just started chopping dates for sticky toffee pudding, put the knife down, ready to take Lucy and the girls to the bathroom.
“I can show her where it is.”
“Great, thanks.”
I felt the sweetness of her smile down to my bones and had to stop myself from sighing.I’m not sure I like the direction this is heading, I thought to myself as I led Lucy and the girls down the hall.
“Things are going well with Zara, then?” Lucy asked, putting the plug in the bath, turning on the tap and checking the water temperature.
Kneeling down to help Mila take off her sweater, I shot my sister a glance. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” She eyed me innocently.
“Fish.”
“Well excuse me for asking.” She flicked her blonde ponytail back over her shoulder, miffed in the way only a sister could be.
I sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“Okay, sorry.” This time the apology was real. “But it looks like you’re getting pretty serious about her, aren’t you?”
I hesitated, but couldn’t deny the truth that was slowly dawning on me. I nodded slowly.
“He really likes her! They’re always kissing, aren’t they, Mil?” Chloe sat down in the tub, looking to her sister for confirmation. Mila nodded. “They look like this.” She made some grotesque movements with her face that had Lucy roaring with laughter and me splashing water on her.
“I think I hear a car pulling up. I’m going to leave the monsters to you.” I went to open the door to my parents and Elissa, who promptly handed Xavier to me, explaining she desperately needed the bathroom. I pointed toward the hallway. “Lucy’s down there, she’s got the girls in the tub.”
“Thanks!” she called over her shoulder as she hurried down the hall.
I led my parents to the kitchen. Zara stopped unpacking the pasta machine to greet them, receiving a warm kiss from my mom and a friendly hug from Dad.
“There are some pretty amazing smells coming out of this kitchen.” Ellen moved around to the other side of the counter, watching while Zara and Ally assembled the pasta machine, took the pasta dough out of the bowl, sliced it into portions and rolled them out. I handed Xavier to Gabe and organized more drinks for everyone.
“How did the little guy do today, Ellen?” Gabe blew a big raspberry on Xavier’s cheek, making the baby chuckle delightedly.
“Great. Got the all clear.”
“Excellent news! Hear that, little man? No more treatments for you.” Gabe gave Xavier a tickle, resulting in more gorgeous baby chuckles.
An expectant hush fell over the group as Zara and Ally started threading the pasta through the machine with expert ease, laying out the sheets on the counter, changing the roller settings and running the sheets through again, until they got steadily longer and thinner.
“What’s this you’re sprinkling them with? It doesn’t look like flour.” Ellen was fascinated by the whole procedure.
“No, it’s semolina. Flour would make it stick. Would you like to have a try?”
“Ooh, yes please!”
I watched as Zara showed my mom how to thread the pasta through the machine, turning the roller as Ally caught the sheet as it came through the other end. I lived for these sorts of nights, I thought to myself. My family around me, everyone healthy and happy. And now here was Zara in the center of it all, looking exactly like she belonged there. Sensing me watching her, she looked over, giving a shy smile before turning her attention back to my mother. My heart swelled.
It took no time at all to make the garlic pizzas and cannelloni and get them into the oven. Zara grabbed her glass of wine and moved over to where I was standing. I pulled her against me and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “All good?” She smiled, nodding before slipping her arm around my waist and resting her head companionably on my shoulder. It was such a simple gesture, but for some reason I felt ridiculously moved by it. I seriously needed to get a handle on all of this, I thought to myself. I was in extreme danger of letting my feelings go too far and was on the very edge of falling in love. Fuck. I shouldn’t be feeling these feelings. That wasn’t part of the deal.
Zara leaned back to look at me, a question in her eyes. “Everything okay?”
My heart lurched. She was doing for me exactly what I always did for her because she sensed my tension. “Yeah, of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” I deflected. “I’m just looking forward to everyone getting out of here, so I can have you all to myself.” Well, at least I was honest about that.
I didn’t get my wish until after eleven o’clock, and even then, it was only thanks to Lucy resolutely dragging Ellen out the door. “I think you might have started something with my mom.” Zara looked at me inquiringly, grinning when I answered, “The pasta making.”
