Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries Box Set, Nanci Rathbun [shoe dog free ebook txt] 📗

children a lot, but he treated them with respect and was honest with them. I’d trust him with my grandkids, and that was saying a lot.

I went back into the kitchen, where Aunt Terry and Lena were peeling potatoes at the sink. “Angie,” Aunt Terry said, “Lena and I are going to make some calls on those who are sick or homebound in her parish.”

Ah, Aunt Terry, always drawing the best out of someone. “That’s such a nice thing to do, Lena. There are so many people who can’t get out anymore and welcome company. I’m sure you and Aunt Terry will brighten their days.”

Wukowski stood in the doorway with his empty beer glass, his mouth open in surprise. He walked over to the sink, set the glass down, put his hands on his mother’s shoulders and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Mama, you amaze me.”

She laughed and shooed him away. “Just like your papa. He always wanted to snuggle when I was in the kitchen working.” He picked up the glass and headed to the mudroom for a refill.

The afternoon passed quickly. The men moved from the living room to the kitchen and back again, for drinks and snacks. The children played in the den or outside. Lily, Elaine and Emma got into a discussion on romance novels. Apparently, Lily liked Old West, Elaine was partial to contemporary and Emma sighed over historicals. Aunt Terry and Lena worked together on the final meal preparations. I gave a hand as directed. The kitchen smelled of turkey, sauerkraut and marinara.

There were fifteen of us at the big dining room table and the smaller children’s table. The side dishes were all out when we sat down. Papa carried in the turkey platter and set it in the place of honor at the head of the table. When he sat, Aunt Terry said, “We have a Thanksgiving tradition in our family. We don’t say the usual grace before a meal. We each say what we’re most grateful for at this moment. Of course, anyone who finds that uncomfortable can just say ‘pass.’ Pasquale, why don’t you start?”

“I give thanks for my family, for you, Terry, and Angelina, for my grandchildren and their spouses, and for my great-grandchildren.” The thanks went around the table. Almost everyone spoke of the blessing of family.

Then it came to Bobbie. “I’m thankful for those who accept me as I am.”

Lily said, “I’m thankful for having a good mind.”

I didn’t quite know what to say when it was my turn. But heck, everyone heard our earlier declarations. “I’m grateful to have a special love in my life.”

It was his turn. All he said was, “Ditto.”

At that, a ripple of laughter went around the table. Papa carved the turkey and we ate. Lena tried the spaghetti Bolognese and said, “Mmm.” Aunt Terry took a second helping of sauerkraut and kielbasa and asked Lena for the recipe. “We’ll trade,” Lena said.

After the main meal, the women cleared the table and brought in desserts. Zabaglione, budyn, pumpkin pie. It was a merger of cultures through food, the way America ought to be, but often isn’t. I had a little of each and promised myself to get back on my running game now that the soreness was almost gone.

After we pushed back from the table, Lena started to gather the dessert dishes. I put a hand on hers. “We have another tradition, Lena. The men clean up.”

“Oh, I like that tradition.”

Lena and I settled on the couch with glasses of wine. “My family must seem strange to you.”

“No. No, it’s not that you’re strange. I’m…sometimes, I’m afraid. It’s hard for me to be where there is violence.” She looked at me. “My son, his life is about violence. I worry.”

“I understand that. I worry, too.” I held her hand for a moment. Then Angela wandered over.

“The boys are outside playing football again. Would you please play a game with me, Nonne?”

I whispered to Lena. “I’m her nonna, her grandmother. But she just asked both her grandmothers—her nonne—to play.”

“Sweet child,” Lena said. “Where are the games? I hope they’re not those video games. I can’t play those.” She and Angela went into the study to assess the board games.

For a moment, all was right in my world. Then Wukowski came into the room, wiping his hands on a dishtowel. “Angie, I just got a call from the Lieutenant. There’s a dead body on the Lakefront Trail. Sorry. I’ll take Mama home.”

“She can stay,” I said. “I can drive her home later.”

“You can ask.”

I was surprised that Lena decided to leave with Wukowski, given how excited she seemed to play games with Angela. Apparently, she wasn’t as comfortable with us as I thought, but I hoped that would come, in time.

Aunt Terry rose and bustled into the kitchen, calling that she’d pack some leftovers for them. I walked to Wukowski and nestled myself against him. “Be careful,” I said.

“I’ll call you if it doesn’t get too late.”

“Call me anyway,” I told him.

He and Lena made their good-byes and left with her canvas bag loaded with plastic containers of food. Bobbie and Lily decided to go, too.

I thanked Aunt Terry for all her work in making the meal. I kissed my kids and grandkids good-bye and reminded them of our trip to the children’s museum tomorrow. I hugged Papa and thanked him for being nice to Wukowski. He held me at arm’s length and humphed. “Did you think I would invite the man to my home and then dishonor myself by being rude to him?”

“I worried a little that you might try to intimidate him.”

“I did try,” he said. “It didn’t work.” He smiled and pulled me into his arms. “It won’t be easy, with that one. But I don’t worry that he will be bad to you. He is a man of honor.”

“He is,” I agreed.

Papa, Aunt Terry and I all trooped to my car, with enough leftovers for another meal for four