“Uncle Benny.”
I pick up the little rat and smooch my lips against his soft ear. “You reading already? You’re way too little to be reading, E. You’re like a teeny tiny baby.”
Ethan curls his upper lip, playing along with the game he never gets tired of. “Not a baby,” he growls. “I’m a big boy.”
“Yes, you are.” I set him on his feet, and he takes my hand and pulls me toward the counter, where my mother looks worried.
“Benny.” She opens her arms, but instead, I open mine and fold my mother against my chest. In her stacked heels, she’s still ridiculously short, but her highly sprayed dome of auburn hair just tickles my chin when I lean down close to kiss the top of her head.
“Ma.” I give her a squeeze, then nod at the front counter. “Where’s Chloe?”
My eldest brother Franco’s wife Chloe owns the bookstore café and normally runs the place with some part-time help. Especially unpaid part-time help like my ma. We all love it. Lucia never worked outside the home, but now she helps care for her grandbabies or her kids’ businesses. She’s so involved in our day-to-day lives, she doesn’t have time for anything that’s just hers. Except for my dad. And he’s the reason I’m meeting her here for coffee.
“I told Chloe you were on your way. She ran back to grab some peanut butter crisps to go with your coffee.” Ma blots under her eyes with her fingertips, careful not to poke her eyeballs with her long, perfectly manicured nails. The color of the day is navy, and little glittery gems are glued to the polish, which perfectly matches Ma’s gem-studded jeans, silver boots, and navy top.
I scan the bookstore, looking for anyone else who may be listening. Ethan’s back in the children’s reading nook, plastic trucks and board books scattered on the colorful braided rug.
“Gracie working?” I ask, nodding at my nephew.
“Not yet.” Ma points at her watch. “I’ve got Ethan until we pick up the big kids from school.”
Gracie works at the tattoo shop just a couple of storefronts down from the bookstore. She’s probably enjoying a few minutes of alone time while her husband’s kids from his first marriage are in school and her toddler Ethan is here with my mother. My brother-in-law is an early bird, so he’s probably been at work since seven.
I rub my face, realizing the hell I’m going to pay when I get to the restaurant. But this is where I need to be.
“Benny.” Chloe comes bustling from the back room, a white paper bag and two large coffees in her hands. She drops everything on the counter, then comes around to give me a kiss hello. We’re a touchy-feely family, and even though Chloe’s one of the newest members, she’s taken to our smooches and hugs like she was born to be a Bianchi.
“Hey, kiddo.” I give her a quick squeeze. “How’s my dickhead brother?”
A sudden slap against my bicep reminds me Ma is standing right there. “Benny. Language.”
I chuckle and shake my head in apology. “Sorry, Ma.” Then to Chloe, I say, “How is my d-head brother?”
Ma snorts and gives me another good whack while Chloe just flushes pink. She’s used to the way we play in this family. I grab the white paper bag of peanut butter crisps, and she slides one of the coffees across the counter toward me. “So, should I mention any of this to Franco?” she asks, sounding concerned.
I look to Ma. “What do you think? Is this family-meeting material, or are you just venting until Pops gets home?”
My mom sniffles and blinks her heavily made-up eyes. “Let’s just keep this between the three of us for now,” she says. “I’mhoping your father tells me everything when he’s home, and then we can all put this worry behind us.”
My mouth goes dry as I think about the alternative. I’m so used to my parents being there whenever I need them—and even more often when I don’t need them. We used to do weekly Sunday dinners, but now that all of my siblings have kids and spouses of their own, Sunday dinners have become monthly events, not weekly.
I miss the old days when we ate together every week, just me, Ma, Pops, Gracie, Franco, and Vito around the table. But things change. Families expand. Kids are born, and our parents…well, they grow older. Whether we’re ready for it or not.
I clear my throat, pushing away the emotions before I start blubbering like one of the kids. I grab the coffee and the bag, lean down to kiss Ma goodbye, and nod at Chloe. “Text or call me, Ma,” I say before I leave.
She nods at me, the sadness in her eyes and the dragging down of the corners of her lips nearly breaking my heart into pieces.
After I leave the bookstore, I walk up to The Body Shop and peek in the window. I know it’s closed. It’s too early for them to be open, but there’s something about knowing that my sister will be here in a couple hours that brings me comfort. Everywhere I go in town, there are reminders of my family. The garage where Franco works. The fire station that’s Vito’s second home.
Some people grow up wanting to leave the place they were born, but not me. Star Falls is my home. Always has been. Always will be.
That’s why I opened my own restaurant, even though I had plenty of offers after culinary school. This is what I want to do, where I want to be.
It’s just a shame that things change.
It’s not enough anymore to make the best kale ravioli in town. I need to up my game at the restaurant.
I’m drowning in paperwork, but who has time to get organized when we’re open seven days a week?
