Page 57 of With Us

Lou patted Rachelle’s bottom as she walked by on her way to the kitchen. “She loves to cook. Most of the time I think she could put some of those fussy TV chefs out of business. Other times, though…”

“I heard that!” Rachelle called from the kitchen, making Lou laugh as he winked at me.

Lou sat at the head of the table, Theo on one side and Rachelle’s empty seat on the other. I sat next to Theo with Julie on my other side and Tina across from me.

I’m surrounded by the people I feel most comfortable with.

Rachelle reached in next to me, setting an orange and red layered drink on the table. “Theo said you weren’t a wine fan, but I figured you could use a boost to get you through the night with these crazies.”

“Thank you, that looks awesome.” I took a tentative sip before a bigger one. “It’s delicious.”

“Blood orange Italian soda, grenadine, and cherry vodka. We tried them on a cruise last year, and they were delicious.”

“Don’t let her fool you,” Lou said. “We tried them, and then we had more of them. A lot more. And then one of us got in trouble for heckling the lounge singer, and now we’re banned from that cruise line.”

With a disgruntled huff, Rachelle rolled her eyes. “It’s no loss. Those drinks were the only good thing that cruise had to offer.” She looked at me, her expression serious. “We’re not old school, but even I believe you shouldneversing the classics unless you can pull them off. And thissinger,” she sneered, adding finger quotes, “shouldn’t have even been able to speak Sinatra’s name, let alone try to sing his songs.”

“I used to borrow theGuys and Dollssoundtrack from the library at least once a month and listen to it constantly the whole time I had it.” Despite my inner voice telling me I sounded like an idiot, I admitted, “I think I still know all the words.”

Rachelle smiled, laughing. “See? Yougetit then.”

“I’m an awful singer, though, so I used to just mouth the words.”

She squeezed my shoulder. “For your own fun, you should always sing out loud and proud. Just not a smarmy stereotype on a stage.”

Everyone began passing dishes of mashed potatoes, okra, and creamed spinach back and forth, piling it onto plates with the chicken and biscuits. As I started eating, catching bits and pieces of Theo and Lou’s Sox discussion, I counted twenty-seven people at dinner again. It was loud and boisterous, but not as overwhelming.

Once everyone had their food, Rachelle sat up slightly and looked down the table. “I almost forgot,” she said, more to herself than anyone as she stood and headed back into the kitchen. I heard her talking to someone, but couldn’t hear much over the noise of the room.

Lou looked over and grinned as he stood, stepping away from the table.

Theo stood too, grabbing my hand so I’d follow. “Dahlia, this is Matt and Celia, my godparents and Luc’s parents.”

I smiled at the couple who were around Lou and Rachelle’s age, accepting their outstretched hands. “Nice to meet you both.”

“I’ve heard so much about you,” Celia said, her tawny eyes twinkling. “Well, you and the banana chocolate chip muffins that I’ve yet to replicate.”

Luc entered the room, already eating a still steaming biscuit. “What’re you talking about?” His voice was teasing as he added, “My food sense was tingling.”

I elbowed Theo as Luc’s mom answered. “The muffins I can’t get right.”

“The last batch was close, though.” After shaking Theo’s hand, Luc hugged me and kissed my cheek. “I’ll offer a reward if you can get your hands on that recipe. I mentioned them to Ma once, and she’s like a woman possessed now.”

“Once?” she asked.

“Okay, more than once,” he admitted. “I’m still not the one making a recipe a day.”

She shrugged as she moved into the room. “It’s a challenge now.”

Looking at Luc, I kept my face neutral. “We’re supposed to get a new flavor tomorrow.”

I had his attention immediately. “What kind?”

“They’re a bit bizarre, even for you.”

“You’re enjoying this torment, aren’t you?” He turned to Theo. “Your girlfriend is evil.”

Theo just shrugged, but his dimples and eyes showed his amusement.

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