Breathless by Scott Prussing Page B

free and introduced her friends to her uncle.
    “Nice to meet you all,” he said, smiling warmly. “Leesa’s told us all about you.”
    “Not all about us, I hope,” Cali joked.
    “Ha! Don’t worry,” Leesa said. “Only the good stuff.”
    “Well, let’s get going,” Uncle Roger said. “My wife’s eager to meet you, too.”
    Led Zeppelin was singing about some lady who was sure all that glittered was gold as Leesa climbed into the front seat. Her friends slid into the back, with Stacie getting stuck in the middle. The car smelled deliciously of fresh-baked pie. Uncle Roger had come straight from the bakery, and three steaming pies lay across the back cargo area. Leesa recognized the aroma of cinnamon-laced baked apples and thought she detected the smell of peach as well.
    “Yum!” Caitlin said, breathing deeply of the sweet aroma. “Maybe we should have dessert first.”
    “You know what we say in the bakery business,” Uncle Roger said. “Life is short—eat dessert first. I’m not sure my wife would approve, though. She’s making pizza.”
    “Double yum,” said Caitlin.
    Saturday traffic was light, and the ride to Meriden passed quickly. Leesa led her friends into the house after Uncle Roger assured them he could handle the pies himself. Max raced to greet her as soon as she stepped through the doorway. She dropped to one knee and gave him her traditional chest-rub greeting, then introduced him to her friends, who fawned over him with equal enthusiasm. With so much attention, Max was in dog heaven.
    Finally, the girls stood up, and Leesa introduced them to her aunt, who pulled off her spattered blue and white checked apron and hugged each of them in turn.
    “It’s so nice to meet all of you,” Aunt Janet said. “I hope you’ll come often.”
    “If that pie tastes as good as it smells, Caitlin may never leave,” Cali joked.
    “There’ll be plenty to take back with you,” Aunt Janet said, laughing. “I hope you all like pizza.”
    “Are you kidding?” Stacie said. “What college kid doesn’t?”
    “Go ahead and sit,” Aunt Janet said, refastening her apron. “Dinner will be ready in a couple of minutes.”
    The girls arranged themselves around the table, Caitlin and Stacie on one side, Leesa and Cali on the other. The table was covered by an ivory tablecloth and set with sand-colored dinnerware and crystal goblets. Two tall red candles flickered in brass candlesticks a third of the way from each end. Max wasn’t allowed near the table while people were eating, so he retreated to his favorite spot in front of the fireplace. After depositing the pies in the kitchen, Uncle Roger joined his guests at the head of the table.
    Aunt Janet emerged from the kitchen carrying a big wooden salad bowl filled with tomatoes, green and red peppers, mushrooms and cucumbers on a bed of Romaine lettuce. She set the salad down in the center of the table. Leesa thought it looked delicious.
    “I don’t know if you young ladies like salad,” Aunt Janet said, “but I know Leesa does, and I’m sure your mothers will be happy I offered.”
    She disappeared back into the kitchen, returning a moment later with three flasks of homemade dressing. “Balsamic, Italian and Ranch,” she said, placing the bottles on the table. “Help yourselves.”
    Leesa dug into the salad, filling her plate, then passed the bowl to Cali, who took enough to be polite. Caitlin took about the same, while Stacie took almost as much as Leesa.
    “Pizza’s on,” Aunt Janet said, carrying a rectangular wooden cutting board covered with a steaming pizza into the dining room. The aroma of spicy tomato sauce preceded her. “It’s Hawaiian style, Leesa’s favorite. I hope you girls don’t mind ham and pineapple on your pizza.”
    “No problem,” Caitlin said. “It smells great.”
    “Eat all you want—there’s another one in the kitchen.” Aunt Janet set the pizza down next to the salad. “Is Diet Pepsi okay for everyone?