Page 10 of Savoring Christmas
“What if I poison them?” Logan asked.
Mia shook her head, chuckling. “No one’s getting poisoned on my watch.”
When the noodles were done, she drained them into a strainer in one of the industrial sized sinks and instructed her class to come get some to add to their sauce. “I’m going to invite the kids in.”
She walked out to the cafeteria to find the children. They must have heard her coming because they were looking a little too innocent sitting at one of the tables.
“Hi there,” Mia said. “You guys hungry? We have spaghetti.”
Before they could answer, their mother entered the room, clearly finished for the evening as she had on her coat. Mia repeated her offer. “Hi again. I’m Mia. We have a ton of food. Would you and the kids like to eat with us?”
“We shouldn’t intrude.”
“Nonsense. We have more than enough,” Mia said. “I’m Italian. So no one goes home hungry.”
“Please, Mom?” the oldest of them asked.
“Yes, I suppose it would be all right.” The woman turned back to Mia. “I’m Patty McDonald. And these are my children.” She introduced the oldest, a girl, as Molly, who appeared to be around ten. The middle child was a boy named Benji. The smallest was Daisy, who promptly told Mia that she was five and went to kindergarten.
“It’s great to meet you all,” Mia said. “Let’s eat, shall we?”
The children needed no convincing. They slipped into the kitchen like shy kittens, eyes wide and hopeful. Mia fixed them each a small plate of pasta, the rich tomato sauce glossy under the fluorescent lights. Reese quietly helped distribute forks, her movements gentle and unhurried.
Logan brought over napkins, crouching to pass them to the youngest. When the little girl smiled up at him, he winked at her. This was a man from a large family. Nothing about this would bother him. For some odd reason, that made Mia’s chest warm.
Once everyone had their plates filled, Mia led the way into the cafeteria where they settled into one big table. Like a family. “Cooking’s only half the joy. Sharing is the other half. Sit. Eat. Tell me what you think.”
They settled in—Abby beside Reese, Thelma and Harold next to each other at one end, Kris across from them, Patty and her children grouped near Mia. Logan slid into the chair across from her, looking way too large at the low table. And way too handsome. Mia found herself thinking of Cannoli, how her dog would have been under this table hoping for scraps if she were here. Maybe she would bring her next time. Cannoli was not used to evenings alone.
The kids dug in first, their quiet exclamations of“Mmm”making everyone smile. Daisy twirled her spaghetti with serious concentration, sauce dotting her cheek. Benji devoured his in three enormous bites before Mia slid him a second helping. Molly ate more slowly, her eyes darting around the table as though she wasn’t sure if seconds were allowed.
“They’re wonderful eaters,” Reese said. “My sister’s kids are super picky.”
Patty gave an embarrassed little shrug. “They’re just hungry. We don’t—” She stopped herself, but the unfinished sentence hung in the air.
“This wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be,” Abby said quickly, perhaps to save them all from an awkward moment. “I think I could make this for my family.”
Thelma dabbed her mouth. “I might actually make this for myself at home. Maybe a whole batch I could eat several nights in a row.”
“Yes, and you can choose whatever kind of pasta you like,” Mia said. “Or even make a pizza or a meatball sandwich.”
Harold nodded. “I was thinking the same thing, Thelma. But maybe we should have dinner together sometime? Less leftovers.”
“Oh, well, that would be lovely.” Thelma’s cheeks flushed pink. “It would be nice to sit down with someone instead of watching television by myself.”
“Exactly,” Harold said.
“I cannot wait to surprise my wife,” Kris said. “She’s going to think an alien’s taken over my body.”
Laughter rippled around the table.
As they ate, Mia found herself relaxing more than she had in months. The hum of conversation, the warmth of people enjoying food together reminded her of the joy she’d felt every night she ate with her staff before the restaurant opened.
Across the table, Logan had his head bent, listening to Daisy tell him about her Christmas wish list. “We all want a puppy, but Mom says pets are too expensive.”
“They can be,” Logan said.
“That’s the truth,” Mia said, exchanging a humorous glance with Abby.
