Cadence of Cranberries - Valerie Comer Page 0,39
front of him. “How big a problem is this? And is there a solution?” Besides breaking up, but that wasn’t an option. He’d just discovered Winnie like she was the other half of his heart. Everything seemed so right between them.
“I don’t know, Charlie.” Winnie rubbed her temples. “Let’s give it a few days. Come for Christmas as we talked about. The kids are expecting you for that. And then we’ll see what happens when Dominic and Katri are home next week. We’ll talk, and I’m sure they’ll understand.”
He felt banished, even though they weren’t usually seeing each other every day, anyway. “We’ll pray. I’m sure God’s got it.”
But hadn’t God had plenty of time to deal with Michael’s pain already?
Chapter Fifteen
Marietta’s house buzzed on Christmas Eve as Winnie set her dish of steamed mussels with the other seafood on the large kitchen island. She’d thought about inviting Charlie to this family gathering, but then she’d remembered the clan rule they’d established for the next generation about no boyfriends or girlfriends unless there was a ring. The policy had been created when Al’s nephew Basil thought to bring whomever he was dating at the time, and it had never been the same girl for long.
Basil had fled to Seattle after his drunk driving conviction two and a half years ago and had sometimes caught a ride back to Spokane with Dominic for family events since then. Now, with his driver’s license restored, Basil had cut ties with his much younger cousin. His mom, Grace, mourned that her son didn’t plan to be home for Christmas this year. He served at Seattle’s elite Fireweed restaurant and was scheduled to work straight through the holidays.
Someday Winnie planned to delve into what made that particular young man tick. He was thirty-two and, aside from finally keeping a job, showed no signs of settling down.
“Hey, Winnie.” Grace rounded the island, shifted her eight-month-old granddaughter to one hip, and gave Winnie a side-hug. “I thought I saw you come in. How are things?”
Winnie pushed unsettling feelings aside and offered Al’s sister-in-law a smile as little Lillian reached for her. “I’m well, though missing Dominic. You know how it is, when our boys can’t be home for a family holiday.”
“Aw, Lillian loves her great-auntie. Are you still doing the babysitting Wednesday mornings for Kass’s cooking class at the community center?”
Winnie nodded as she scrunched her nose into Lillian’s sweet neck, and the baby giggled. “I enjoy the little ones. And, since my own kids don’t seem in any hurry to make me a grandmother, it gives me a baby fix.”
“But Dominic’s engaged now.” Grace smiled. “And he and my Alex are getting married only a couple of weeks apart, so maybe we’ll get some more little ones in the next year or two.”
Not likely to happen for a while longer, not with how much Katri enjoyed nursing. The young couple might wish to become established in their new careers here before starting a family. Alex and Marley, though... Winnie could totally see a quick pregnancy as an option. “Maybe. I guess we’ll see.”
Grace leaned closer, her eyes twinkling. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about Katri’s dad. Is there more going on than helping out your kids with wedding planning?”
“Maybe?” Winnie jiggled Lillian.
“Well, at least he can afford whatever his daughter dreams up, from what I’ve heard.”
“I guess. He’s always asking Katri if she really wants the cheaper option. I try not to let it bother me — it’s between the two of them.” And Dominic, but he deferred to his bride like most young men would do.
“But you like him, right?”
“What’s not to like?” If Grace was looking for a heart-to-heart, Winnie wasn’t in the mood. Everything in her felt so unsettled and, while she liked Grace just fine, the other woman was a good decade older than she was. They’d done fine as two of Marietta’s five daughters-in-law, but they hadn’t spent a lot of time together outside of family events. Even fewer since Al’s death.
“I’m happy for you.” Grace’s voice was warm, quiet.
Two of Marco’s three boys tore into the kitchen and ran to Grace, wrapping their arms around her hips. “Nonna! There you are! Bisnonna says it’s time to put Baby Jesus in the manger, but everyone needs to be there.” The youngest, Arie, leaned back and looked up at Grace. “Can I do it? Please?”
She tugged both boys tight for a quick hug. “That’s up to Bisnonna.”
“But I never get to.