Again.
âHey, Elizabeth.â
Just the sound of Jeffreyâs voice made her smile. âYes, Jeffrey?â
âDo you think if you could fly, that painting your house would be fun?â
Elizabeth grinned and ruffled his short, enviably thick hair. âHas anyone ever told you that you have a very original mind?â
âWeird, more like it.â Deena looked to her golden sister, who nodded confirmation.
âNo kidding.â
âKidsâ¦â Megan spoke absently, cutting pie, as if sheâd said the word so many times that K-I-D-S had become a meaningless four-letter assortment. âThis piece is yours, Elizabeth.â
âOh boy.â Elizabeth accepted the plate. âI love banana-cream pie. Canât remember the last one I had.â
âVera? Pie?â
âNo, thank you. Iâm trying to remember where I put my waist.â
âWhat kind of food did you eat before you married the chef guy?â Lolly held out her hand for a plate, obviously used to being next in line.
âWeâre not married.â
Meganâs smooth serving motion faltered. Veraâs eyes darted from Elizabeth to her daughter-in-law and back. Lolly and Deena exchanged wide-eyed looks of fascination.
Uh-oh . âSo, umâ¦I grew up with my mother and Polish grandmother in Milwaukee.â
âThatâs in Wisconsin, right?â
âNo, Deena, Florida .â Lolly rolled her eyes.
âMilwaukee, Florida!â Jeffrey burst out laughing. âHow about Milwaukee, France ?â
âNo, Milwaukee, Africa. â Lolly giggled, losing several years along with the sneer.
âMilwaukee, Jupiter! â
âYes, Deena, Wisconsin. This piece is for you.â Megan transferred a third perfect piece of pie to the center of another white plate.
âMmm, the pie is fabulous, thank you, Megan.â
âWell. Youâre welcome.â Compliments seemed to surprise her. Because she never got any or because she didnât think what sheâd done deserved them?
âI had Polish friends before they moved away from Comfort, oh, I guess twenty years ago now.â Vera stuck her fork in Lollyâs pie and snuck away a bite. âGood sausage.â
âA lot of good sausage. And sauerkraut, and cabbage. Thatâs what my grandma made anyway. My mom was as bad a cook as I am. Overdone meat, watery soups, charred cookiesâ¦When I moved to Boston we lived on sandwiches and cheap takeout. Thatâs why this is so good. Plain food done really well.â
âI guess weâre plain people.â Vera was looking steadily at Megan now.
Elizabeth sighed. Sheâd done it again. âI didnât meanââ
âWhen did you leave home?â Lolly asked.
âSeventeen.â
âReally?â Deenaâs eyes widened. âYou didnât finish high school?â
âI left the day after graduation. I have an August birthday.â
âYou mustâve totally wanted out of there.â Lolly looked wistful.
âMy then-boyfriend Alan was leaving town for Boston. I went with him. We lived in a horrid basement in a great neighborââ
âAnother piece anyone? Vera? Deena?â
Elizabeth glanced at Megan in surprise.
âYou were living in sin.â Vera spoke quietly. âAround here thatâs not done.â
Elizabeth let out a blast of laughter, then realized that was probably not the best reaction, though she couldnât tell if Vera was condemning her or explaining Meganâs interruption. âUm, wow. Yes. I guess we were. I didnât think about it that way, Iâm sorry if I offended anyone.â
âItâs okay, Elizabeth. Jeffrey, you look ready for more.â Megan held out a hand toward Jeffrey, who passed his plate.
âYes please, Mom, thank you, Mom.â
âFine by me, I wasnât born yesterday.â Vera raided Jeffreyâs plate with her thieving
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