“I can’t.” Robert pointed at Tommy, wiping tears from the corner of his eyes. “It’s his fault.”
“It is kind of funny,” Jessi agreed, chuckling softly.
Angel smiled and shook his head. “Do you see what I have to put up with?” he asked Amber. Then he said something in Spanish that Robert didn’t understand and returned to the kitchen. He appeared a few seconds later wearing potholders and placed Amber’s apple pie on a trivet in the middle of the table like the centerpiece.
“I took the liberty of heating up this beauty,” Angel said. “It really brings out the flavors.” He inhaled deeply, waving his hand over the pie toward his face. “I smell cinnamon and brown sugar.”
While Robert made room on his plate for a slice of pie, he noticed Amber looking around the table with a crease between her brows.
“What’s wrong?” he asked her, quietly.
“Why didn’t you tell me apple pie wasn’t a good idea? Or that Angel was a gourmet chef? My stupid mediocre American apple pie looks so out of place among all these amazing Cuban masterpieces.”
“Not at all. We love apple pie.”
Angel was currently eating a piece, and he moaned. “It’s delicious, Amber. The perfect blend of spices. Not overly sweet, and the texture of the apples give it a wonderful experience on the palate.”
“Thank you,” she answered, shyly.
“He’s serious,” Robert told her.
“Of course, I’m serious,” Angel said. “I never joke about food.”
“I got me a good one,” Robert boasted, placing his arm across the back of Amber’s chair. “She’s not only beautiful and smart, but she can bake.”
“I hear you have your master’s degree,” Tommy said to Amber. “That’s cool. I loved college. Not just the parties and playing football.” His gaze rested on Jessi for a quick second and his eyes glazed over. “Or because that’s when I met my gorgeous wife. I enjoyed learning and participating in class. You went to Princeton, right?”
Amber nodded. “Yes.”
“How was it? Princeton was one of my top three choices.”
As Amber and Tommy engaged in a lengthy conversation about colleges and academics, Robert silently ate his plate filled with rich, creamy desserts. He utilized Amber’s method of only taking small portions and managed to taste everything on the table. He didn’t even feel guilty because everything was so good.
Tommy suddenly shouted, “I’m going to get my masters degree!”
Everyone at the table looked at him in surprise.
“I’ve been struggling with trying to find something to do that I was passionate about,” Tommy continued. “Something other than music or my family, and there really wasn’t anything else that excited me. But a masters degree? Hell yeah! I don’t know why I never thought about it before. Thank you, Amber.”
“What did I do?” she asked.
“You inspired me with your ambition, and it jolted something inside me. I’m really excited!”
While Tommy went on about his future plans to further his education, Robert caught Jessi’s eye.
“I love her,” Jessi silently mouthed.
Robert nodded heartily and mouthed, “So do I,” in reply, while his heart fluttered.
Amber sat at her desk and stared at the wall calendar. The large red circle around Super Bowl Sunday stood out like a bull’s eye. The countdown to the inevitable had begun. She had resisted the urge to cross off each day as it passed but didn’t want to make it obvious. Part of her just wanted it to be over, the other wanted to continue in denied bliss. They’d get through it, she reassured herself.
The buzzer on Amber’s desk sounded and diverted her attention. She picked up the phone that connected to the reception desk. “Yes, Amy?”
“Hope is here for your lunch appointment. Shall I send her in?”
“Sure.” Amber rose and waited in the open doorway for her friend. An array of Indian spices hit her nostrils as soon as Hope was within a few feet, and she looked down at the bag in Hope’s hand. “You got takeout from Tabla?”
“I know it’s your favorite.”
