you when we were young,” she said before turning serious. “I won’t beat anyone up, but please believe this—there is someone out there in this crazy world who’s made for you. Keep your eyes and heart open, little brother.”
He would try. But it was getting harder and harder.
* * *
P ETE AND HIS WIFE had invited Charlie, Emma, Max and Kendall over for dinner to sample what they could do in the kitchen. For the first time, Charlie was happy to have Max and Kendall as a buffer. Being alone with Emma had become more like torture instead of a thrill. He did not want to hear a single thing about Dr. Not-That-Charming. Any mention of him could send Charlie over the edge.
The O’Reillys’ house was in the Bridgeport neighborhood, home to many of the South Side Irish. Bridgeport’s claim to fame was being the home of both former Mayor Daleys. Pete’s little brick house was on a crowded street, and his neighbors were much less than a stone’s throw away. The sidewalks were wide and there were several groups of kids playing outside in the late-evening summer sun.
Max was driving Kendall’s car, leaving Charlie to share the backseat with a very sweet-smelling Emma. He cursed the designer of the perfume she was wearing; it was completely intoxicating. Happy to put some distance between himself and Miss Smells-Too-Good, Charlie jumped out of the car before Max had it in Park.
Pete greeted them from the front porch. He designated one of the older kids to watch the younger ones and told them to stay outside until the tasting was over. Once inside, he was quick to put a beer in Max’s and Charlie’s hands and offered the ladies a glass of wine. Gianna came out of the kitchen, wearing an apron smudged with flour. She had a little bit in her hair, as well.
“Charlie! So good to see you.” She kissed both his cheeks and then gave them a pinch. “Are you eating when you aren’t at the station? You look a little thin.” She turned to her husband. “Are you feeding this boy enough, Peter?”
“He eats like a horse,” Pete insisted. “The kid has hollow legs or something.”
“He feeds me good, Gianna. I promise.”
Charlie introduced everyone to Pete’s wife. She was especially attentive to Kendall. The bride was always the one people in Pete and Gianna’s business had to win over.
“This is the one you have to worry about,” Charlie said, pointing to Max. “He’s a bit of a groomzilla.”
Creases of surprise appeared on Max’s forehead. “What? I am not.”
“And here I thought he was going to say I was the difficult one,” Emma said.
Charlie ignored that statement. He wasn’t going to say anything about her. He wasn’t even going to think about the fact that she was here. Of course, that Pied Piper perfume wasn’t helping.
“Max is a restaurant manager, so he’s very particular about food. Maybe that’s what Charlie means,” Kendall said, grabbing Max’s hand and calming him down.
It didn’t work. Max was stressed. “I am not particular. That makes me sound difficult. I am not difficult.”
“You’re a little difficult,” Emma said.
“I am not!” Max protested.
Charlie had had his fun. “I’m kidding. There aren’t two easier people to work with than Kendall and Max. And I have no doubt Pete and Gianna are going to knock your socks off.”
“Good,” Pete said with a clap of his hands. “I hope you all came hungry because we have lots of things for you to try.”
He wasn’t kidding. The smells coming from the kitchen were about the only thing in the world that could steal Charlie’s attention away from Miss Smells-Too-Good. Pete led them into the dining room where there was some antipasti and hors d’oeuvres waiting.
The men didn’t hesitate to begin the tasting. Charlie had eaten a light lunch in anticipation of tonight. Emma eyed all the food on the table. He knew she was wary about hiring a friend of his. She thought he was doing Pete a favor when really it was
He would try. But it was getting harder and harder.
* * *
P ETE AND HIS WIFE had invited Charlie, Emma, Max and Kendall over for dinner to sample what they could do in the kitchen. For the first time, Charlie was happy to have Max and Kendall as a buffer. Being alone with Emma had become more like torture instead of a thrill. He did not want to hear a single thing about Dr. Not-That-Charming. Any mention of him could send Charlie over the edge.
The O’Reillys’ house was in the Bridgeport neighborhood, home to many of the South Side Irish. Bridgeport’s claim to fame was being the home of both former Mayor Daleys. Pete’s little brick house was on a crowded street, and his neighbors were much less than a stone’s throw away. The sidewalks were wide and there were several groups of kids playing outside in the late-evening summer sun.
Max was driving Kendall’s car, leaving Charlie to share the backseat with a very sweet-smelling Emma. He cursed the designer of the perfume she was wearing; it was completely intoxicating. Happy to put some distance between himself and Miss Smells-Too-Good, Charlie jumped out of the car before Max had it in Park.
Pete greeted them from the front porch. He designated one of the older kids to watch the younger ones and told them to stay outside until the tasting was over. Once inside, he was quick to put a beer in Max’s and Charlie’s hands and offered the ladies a glass of wine. Gianna came out of the kitchen, wearing an apron smudged with flour. She had a little bit in her hair, as well.
“Charlie! So good to see you.” She kissed both his cheeks and then gave them a pinch. “Are you eating when you aren’t at the station? You look a little thin.” She turned to her husband. “Are you feeding this boy enough, Peter?”
“He eats like a horse,” Pete insisted. “The kid has hollow legs or something.”
“He feeds me good, Gianna. I promise.”
Charlie introduced everyone to Pete’s wife. She was especially attentive to Kendall. The bride was always the one people in Pete and Gianna’s business had to win over.
“This is the one you have to worry about,” Charlie said, pointing to Max. “He’s a bit of a groomzilla.”
Creases of surprise appeared on Max’s forehead. “What? I am not.”
“And here I thought he was going to say I was the difficult one,” Emma said.
Charlie ignored that statement. He wasn’t going to say anything about her. He wasn’t even going to think about the fact that she was here. Of course, that Pied Piper perfume wasn’t helping.
“Max is a restaurant manager, so he’s very particular about food. Maybe that’s what Charlie means,” Kendall said, grabbing Max’s hand and calming him down.
It didn’t work. Max was stressed. “I am not particular. That makes me sound difficult. I am not difficult.”
“You’re a little difficult,” Emma said.
“I am not!” Max protested.
Charlie had had his fun. “I’m kidding. There aren’t two easier people to work with than Kendall and Max. And I have no doubt Pete and Gianna are going to knock your socks off.”
“Good,” Pete said with a clap of his hands. “I hope you all came hungry because we have lots of things for you to try.”
He wasn’t kidding. The smells coming from the kitchen were about the only thing in the world that could steal Charlie’s attention away from Miss Smells-Too-Good. Pete led them into the dining room where there was some antipasti and hors d’oeuvres waiting.
The men didn’t hesitate to begin the tasting. Charlie had eaten a light lunch in anticipation of tonight. Emma eyed all the food on the table. He knew she was wary about hiring a friend of his. She thought he was doing Pete a favor when really it was
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