If We Never Met (Whisper Lake #5) - Barbara Freethy Page 0,82
was the way he connected to our dad. It was his escape when our mom died. The ballpark was his happy place. It's where he found himself, found a purpose to keep going. I don't know what he would do if he lost it all."
She could feel the pain of Micah's words. "I hope he won't have to face that. I want him to keep doing what he loves."
"So do I." He paused, giving her a smile. "You've been good for him. He was in a dark place after the surgery. He's like a different person now."
"His arm is getting better, so he's feeling better."
"And you've gotten him talking. He said he's told you more stuff than he's ever told anyone. How did you make that happen?"
"I have no idea," she said with a laugh. "When we first met, I felt like I was the one rambling on about everything. I'm very different from Dante. I don't lock anything away. When I'm feeling something, I tend to talk about it."
"Maybe you inspired him to talk, too."
"If I helped, I'm glad." She sipped her wine. "Tell me some Dante stories, and the more embarrassing the better."
He laughed. "Let me see??
It was almost seven when the four of them sat down together to eat. Keira felt like she'd gotten some insight into Dante: the kid, the man, the ballplayer, and the annoying older brother. She had a feeling that Dante had probably gotten similar inside information from her mom.
"This is the best lamb I've ever had," her mother said, as she tasted a bite of the well-seasoned meat.
"Thanks," Micah said. "Your kitchen was well-stocked."
"But Micah knew exactly what to do with all the herbs," she interjected. "I never really know how to use spices appropriately."
"It's trial and error," Micah said.
"I would have to agree," Dante put in. "And I've tasted a lot of Micah's errors over the years."
"Very funny," Micah drawled.
She smiled at the fond, teasing look that passed between the brothers. "Micah said he started cooking for everyone after your mom died."
"He did," Dante agreed. "We were his guinea pigs. Those early years were rough, but by the time we got to high school, he was very good."
"The DeAngelis brothers never quit, do they?" she asked.
"Never," Dante and Micah echoed together, then laughed.
"Well, I think it was smart of you to take up cooking," her mother told Micah. "Cooking is the way to a woman's heart."
"I thought it was the way to a man's heart," she countered.
Her mother shook her head. "No. Women often do all the cooking. When the man cooks, he's more likely to win her over."
She smiled at Dante. "Did you hear that?"
"I wouldn't hold your breath," he returned with a dry smile. "Any other tips, Ruth? If a man can't cook?"
"Humor. If you can laugh with someone, there's a good chance you can stay together." A smile parted her lips. "Mark and I laugh a lot. He's quite funny. He has a very sarcastic, dry sense of humor. He's very quick. I enjoy how fast he can find a joke. I really wish he'd been able to come tonight. But even if he's not here, we can enjoy the food that he dropped off and that Micah cooked so excellently."
"I'll drink to that." Keira lifted her wine glass. She really didn't want to hear any more about the amazing Mark at this moment. She clinked glasses around the table and then went back to her meal.
When Micah brought out the dessert, a tart with fresh strawberries and cream, she was even more impressed. "You really need to be in a restaurant," she told Micah. "Or get that food truck fixed. You're too good just to cook for friends and family."
"Thanks," Micah said. "Tonight gave me a chance to remember how fun it is just to make something out of a bunch of ingredients I hadn't picked out. I've gotten so bogged down with the business angle, I almost forgot how much I love to experiment with my cooking. I had a chance to slow down, look at my priorities." His gaze moved to Dante. "And what's really important to me."
Something passed between the two brothers. She couldn't read the message, but she suspected Micah was making a point about Dante and his priorities. But Dante's arm was going to make his choice, not his brain.
"Maybe it's the mountains, the beautiful lake, this nice town," Micah continued. "It has a good vibe. It opens your eyes."