Page 75 of XOXO, Valentina

Joey raised an eyebrow at her. “Does he have on his apron?”

“Go find out.” She nodded her chin at the kitchen, her dark eyes dancing in the low light.

“I’ll be right back,” Joey said as he slipped out of the booth.

Angela waited until Joey disappeared into the kitchen before leaning her hands on the table. “Can I sit for a minute? Rest my tired bones?”

I nodded, although there was nothing tired looking about Angela. She had energy zinging off her in waves. From her warm smile to her curling hair, she exuded vibrancy—another thing she had in common with her son. It was obvious where Joey had gotten his charm and effervescence.

“I’m glad I have a minute with you,” I said. “I want to apologize for taking time away from your visit with your son.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, then smiled. “Thank you for that. I do wish he would come home more,” she said, leaning her elbows on the table. “We barely see him anymore.”

As a mother, I certainly understood. The prospect of Shane going away to college in a few short years was already weighing heavily on my mind. What if he moved to a foreign country and only came back for brief visits? What if his brief visit was monopolized by some hussy eight years older than him, someone who would have sex on a public beach? I shuddered at the thought.

“You must be looking forward to him being home all summer,” I said.

Her face lit up. “Yes! We are all so excited to have him back.”

“Your son is a wonderful teacher,” I said. “The children adore him.” They weren’t the only ones. Everyone at PES loved Joey.

Angela scrutinized me, but smiled again. She and Joey had that in common. They seemed to smile naturally and radiate happiness. “Maybe you will make him happy,” she said. “Do you like children, Gabriella?”

I raised my glass and sipped while I stalled for time. What a loaded question. And not at all random. The sly fox had to have sent Joey to the kitchen on purpose so she could quiz me.

“I work at an elementary school,” I said, setting down my glass. “I love children.”

“Do you want children of your own?”

I leveled her with an intense stare of my own. “I have a son,” I said.

“You are a mother!” she exclaimed. “That is wonderful. So you understand how much I love my son, and how much I want him to be happy.” Her gaze darted toward the kitchen, and she leaned across the table to whisper, “You are the first woman he’s ever brought here. He must be serious about you.”

My eyes went wide, and I stuffed a piece of bread into my mouth. I swallowed without chewing and choked.

Angela was on her feet instantly, patting me on the back. “Goodness,” she said. “You have to chew.”

I gulped down a sip of water as Joey came back to the table and slid into the booth beside me. “He had on his apron,” he said, showing me the picture he’d taken on his phone.

Joey’s father was a thinner version of him, with dark hair graying at the temples. He wore an apron with sunglass-wearing lobsters, and a huge smile stretched his mouth.

“I better get back to the kitchen,” Angela said. “But I will stop by with dessert.”

Joey said something to his mother in Spanish, and they both laughed. They looked so much alike that it made my chest ache. “It was wonderful to meet you,” Angela said to me. “Remember to chew.”

When she was gone, Joey leaned back against the booth and stretched his arm across my shoulders.

“What happened?” he asked. “You were tense when I came back from the kitchen. I shouldn’t have left you alone with my mother.”

“Your mother’s English is very good,” I said, leaning against his side. He felt so solid and warm. I wanted to melt into him.

“What did she say?” He lifted his wineglass and drank.

“Let’s just say I get the feeling that she wants you to settle down and give her grandchildren.”

His eyes met mine, and he set his glass down with a thump. “Doesn’t she have enough of those already?”

“Apparently not.”

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