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“Hello.” I figure calling out will be the best place to start.
“In the kitchen. Go straight.” I follow his voice, my sneakers slap against the white marble floor, the only sound in the otherwise silent hallway. A lot of this bottom floor is open, I crane my neck to peek in each room. All empty. “We’re getting lunch ready.”
We’re? Who else is here? I continue in the direction of Griff’s voice and enter the kitchen and stop still. “Auntie Angel?”
Yeah, my mother is a cock blocker. She gave me no notice she was coming, showing up at ten this morning. I have to now rethink what I’m going to do with Katrina now. I have no idea how long she plans on staying. I love my mother but I have my plans and she’s screwing them up.
I told her Katrina is visiting while Max is out of town. Yes, I sent him to London to take over business there for now, getting him out of the way. Somehow, I’m going to have to get Katrina alone and make sure she doesn’t say anything to mom.
“Milk. I need milk, Griffin. Full if you have it. Even better cream.” She’s finishing making fresh pasta, setting a big pot in the sink to fill with water. She puts one hand on her silk clad hip, the other is on the sink, watching the pot fill with water.
“Sorry, Mom. Don’t have either. Two percent is the best you’re going to get.” I get up from my chair at the table, move to the refrigerator and take the milk out. My heart thuds as I try to control my emotions and my heart rate. Mom has this uncanny ability to know my emotions and when I’m upset.
I’m definitely upset right now. Not angry upset, in a good way upset. A good way to me anyway. I think calm and wait for Katrina to find her way here. She’s moving slow that’s for sure.
Mom sighs as if she’s being put upon. “If the macaroni and cheese isn’t any good it’s on you.”
“Mom.” I laugh, “this isn’t a five star or Michelin star restaurant. You know I’m not picky.”
She draws a fast breath in on an outraged gasp. “Not picky? Are you saying there’s something wrong with my cooking?”
I lean over and kiss her on the top of her short, brown curls. For being sixty she’s a very attractive woman. I wish she could have found someone to love after my father died. Theirs was not a love match. It was one of those arranged marriages. One with two strong mafia families joining forces. I think my father had put her through so much she has no interest in any man. She lives part time in Milan and part time here in Bay City.
“You know I love your cooking. And Katrina does as well. She’ll be so happy to see you.” I glance to the kitchen doorway wondering how long it’s going to take her and she sticks her head in.
“Here she is Mom.”
“Katrina, darling girl. So, happy you’re here.” She throws her arms wide to gather Katrina close, and give the younger woman a tight, bone cracking hug.
“Oh, Auntie Angelina. I’m so glad you’re here. It’ll make being here so much better.” I can hear the tears in her voice. It only makes me feel slightly bad. I know she’s young, not that young. I hope she hasn’t been with that many young men, if she has I’ll teach her the real joys of sex. Not the fumblings of young, teenage boys. I’ll teach her the joys of a real man.
“Do you want to help me with lunch? Griffin doesn’t have anything I can really use. I’m making due.” She waves her arms around, talking with them like she always does when she’s excited. And she’s pretty excited. She does pick the pot up out of the sink to put on the stove.
“You know I will always love to cook with you. You’re the best cook. You’re the one who got me interested in cooking. I had a hard time trying to decide whether I should make cooking my career. I never seem to have time anymore.” Katrina keeps one arm around mom’s waist, her head rests on her shoulder.
Mom kisses Kat on her cheek, takes her arms from her, going back to her cooking and stirs the steaming pot of water, salting it. She starts giving Kat instructions and I leave them to it knowing I’ll just get in their way. All I can do is hope Kat doesn’t say anything to her. It’ll just cause more problems for me but it doesn’t matter. Kat will be mine no matter what.
Several hours later, good food, laughter and glasses of fine wine and I’m back in my home office. Even if I took a few hours off for Katrina and mom I still have to work. We not only have offices all over the country, we have offices all over the world. London and Toronto are only two businesses in other countries. We’re thinking of opening one in Berlin, that’s why Max is in London. He’ll also go to Berlin when he gets enough information and figures.
A tentative knock at the door of my office and I call, “come in.” I’m sure it’s Katrina. Mom would just barge in. She doesn’t care if I’m working.
The door slightly opens and Katrina sticks her head in. “Can I talk with you.”
I lean back in my chair, relaxing as I wait, my hands steepled on my stomach, “sure, come in.” I wonder why she’s here.
She walks in, her steps tentative, her hands twist in nervousness. “Can we talk?”
“Come. Sit. Sit. What do you want to talk about? Is everything all right? Do you need anything?”
“Um. I just want to talk with you about…um. Us. You know.” She ignores me and stands nervous, her tone low and unsure. She lifts a hand to her hair and tucks a few strands behind one ear in an apprehensive motion.
“Enjoy yourself while Mom is here. I know you like being around her.” I want her to become more comfortable around me. If that means taking it slow. I’ll take it slow. Especially with my mother here. I definitely don’t want her knowing my plans with Katrina. She’d be horrified and disappointed in me, I’m sure.
“Spend time with my mother. Keep her company. I know you really like cooking with her. I didn’t know you were thinking of maybe making that your career. Maybe you should still look into that while she’s here.”
“She doesn’t know what your plans with me are?” Her left hand lifts and her fingers tug at the skin on her throat. She does this when she doesn’t know what she’s doing. It’s something she’s always done, even as a little girl.
“No. I’m not sure what my plans are.” That’s a lie, I can’t do anything while Mom is here. If she leaves for any length of time, my plans might change. “Enjoy your time with my mother. As you know I sent your father away and he’ll be watched carefully. I hope he will have learned his lesson.”
