She giggles. “Just kidding.”
The bench press just fits by the inner door and if I push the treadmill to the outer door, I can make it work. While she crosses her arms, I demonstrate how you can squeeze past the handle and out into the stairwell.
“Whatever. As long as you stop pacing. Ready for dinner?”
“Depends. What did you have in mind?”
She smirks. “Green eggs and ham.”
“What happened to the black ones?”
“They went moldy.”
“Good to know.” Straddling the bench, I walk back into our apartment.
Chapter Fifteen
Sam
Aunt Marion has insisted I dress for Zoom this morning as well as show up on time. In my humble opinion, changing out of my PJ’s is ridiculous. I understand my cousins can help their clients trim their hair but I am pretty sure no one needs lessons in shampooing.
I would never admit it to her, but I miss hanging out with the bingo crowd and hearing their latest news. Damn, it’s been three weeks and no one has a clue how long this quarantine is going to last.
Catrina chows down on kibble then curls up on the sunny window ledge. Upstairs, Suds sleeps in. He’s not yet one hundred percent but thank God, every day he seems stronger.
I make coffee and start the Zoom meeting a few minutes before nine.
Mrs. Murphy, the baker, is up first. “I heard from Father O’Connell’s assistant, that someone in our parish was married secretly up near New Paltz. He thinks the woman was pregnant.”
“Who wants to cut first?” Rose tries to redirect the conversation but her mom sees the play and hones in on the juicy bit of gossip.
“When did this take place?”
“Last summer.” Mia-the-moron butts in.
Smiling, I grit my teeth. My parents will have a cow if they find out their big fat Italian wedding is not my first.
My aunt’s brows raise. “Do you know who it was?”
I glare into the monitor, willing her to keep silent. Rose, sensing trouble, covers her sister’s mouth but it’s too late. My younger cousin is one of those few who can’t tell the difference between a real lie and a social lie. She confesses to them all.
“I promised I wouldn’t tell.” Mia shrugs at me through the monitor.
Oh my God, like sharks around chum, Mrs. Murphy, Marion, and now Mrs. Ruggerio open their mouths and eye Mia.
“Was it someone we know?” My dad’s sister narrows her gaze and her oldest daughter tries for a Hail Mary of a save.
“Mia, check downstairs. I hear Joey calling. Maybe it’s the cute delivery guy.”
“Okay. Be right back.” When her sister leaves her square, Rose raises a brow for my eyes only.
Holy shit, that was close. I throw out new bait, hoping to muddy the waters. “Mrs. Nardo is back together with her husband.”
“Only because he’s quarantined with no one else to screw.” My older cousin laughs.
I would love to share how Mrs. Nardo put a hit out on him last year but I’m sure Frankie wouldn’t appreciate the publicity.
Mia slips back into view. “Joey wasn’t calling. Where were we with Sam’s wedding?”
