“Do you want to know the trick?”
I nodded, “Sure.”
I sauté the garlic and herbs in a small fry pan,” Mamma explained. “Then I braise the meat in the same olive oil, add everything to the pot, and voila.”
“I’ll remember that for when I cook for Ethan. He loves your food.”
“If you ever want to learn a few of his favorites, let me know in advance. You’ll come here and we’ll cook and drink wine.”
“Deal,” I said, feeling so at home that I wanted to cry, basking in the love. But somehow, I kept it together for the rest of the meal.
I left right after with a big hug from Mamma. “You remember, Jude. Whatever you need, you call,si?”
“Si,” I replied dutifully, mimicking her Italian for yes.
Frank walked me to the front door, holding it open while I balanced the meal packed up for Ethan. “Thank you, Frank. Between Ethan and you, I somehow hit the jackpot.”
“Take care of Ethan and that’s all the thanks I need. He’s a good man and it seems like he’s good for you.”
I walked into the apartment minutes before Ethan arrived, boots clunking onto the tiled floor in the foyer. As he turned the corner into the kitchen, he was stripping out of his long-sleeved work shirt, which he tossed into the basket he kept in the laundry room. The first time he’d done that he explained that he didn’t want to be at the table smelling of engine grease.
“How’s my favorite Irishman tonight?” he asked, giving me a kiss on the cheek., then turning on the water to wash his hands. He followed the aromas rising from the casserole when I lifted the top to inhale the goodness. “I’m sure it tastes as good as it smells, right?”
“The meat is so succulent, it melts in your mouth,” I confirmed as I took a dinner plate from the cabinet. As I ladled a good helping onto his plate, I said, “Mamma said she’d teach me how to make your favorites.”
Ethan grabbed a fork and knife and took the plate from me. “What did you say?”
“Are you kidding? I said yes.” I opened the refrigerator and selected an IPA. “Want one?”
“Sure,” he said and then his green eyes turned the color of moss. “Then sit and tell me what prompted you to see her,Tesoro. I know it wasn’t just a visit if you called Frank first.”
I put the bottle of beer in front of him and said, “I went to see Bishop Sanchez today.” Ethan had just put a forkful of meat in his mouth so I had a chance to say, “I knew you’d want to be with me but I felt I had to face him alone. I need to build my core of inner strength, which is dreadfully low.”
“I understand,” he said on a nod. “But I still would’ve liked the opportunity to argue with you, preferably in bed.”
“Ethan, this is serious,” I said and even the thought of being in bed with him didn’t lessen the disappointment. “But I know what you were trying to do.”
“What happened, Jude?”
“He denied my petition.”
Ethan put down his fork and pushed back his chair to crouch at my side. “I’m so sorry, Jude. I know how much you craved having closure.” Taking my face in his palms, he pressed his lips to mine in a chaste kiss. “Was it mainly because you hooked up with me?”
He took his seat again and I said, “That wasn’t the only reason. Abandoning my post, and as a result deserting the congregation, leaving them without a leader, also stoked his anger. He brought it up a couple of times.”
“How did he treat you?”
I picked up the beer and asked, “May I?”
“Go ahead,” he said, with a quirky smile.
“I know what you’re thinking,” I teased, not able to concentrate solely on the bishop and instead, leaned in toward the man who loved me.
“Is that so?”
In answer I licked the rim of the bottle, then took a long pull, feeling my Adam’s apple bobbing. “Mm, good.”
“My slutty baby wants to play later,” he said, not taking his eyes off my mouth…or my throat.
