Leonardo (Romancing the Weavers #5) - Kit Morgan Page 0,27
know.” They both laughed.
Parthena continued to work. “You could let this slow-cook on the stove, seeing as we made it early.”
“I’ll do that. Are you going to head back to Mel and Clinton’s now?”
“I can wait for my parents and walk with them.”
“Your mother is at Bella’s and your father went to see Arlan at his place.”
“We’re just spread all over, aren’t we?”
“Seems so. Is Savannah at Mel’s with Leo?”
Parthena poured the mix into a saucepan and put the mixing bowl and spoon in the dry sink. “Leo went home to let Bella know he was having supper at Mel’s.”
“That’s nice. He can spend more time with Savannah that way.”
Parthena’s heart sank so she shut her eyes and tried to will the sensation away. What was it – disappointment? Jealousy? Sadness? Maybe all three.
“Are you sure there’s nothing you want to talk about?”
Her heart dropped further at the old woman’s words. If only Grandma were here, or even Aunt Sadie … no, her aunt would be a bad choice. Great-Aunt Irene? She might be cranky, but she was almost as wise as Grandma.
“Is there anything else you can show me … I mean, do for the gravy?” Ma giggled.
Parthena took a deep breath and turned. “No, just let it heat slowly and stir it every few minutes. That way you won’t have to reheat it later.” She took the kettle off the stove, replaced it with the saucepan, then poured hot water into the bowl to wash it.
“Thank you for making it, child. It’ll be our little secret.”
Parthena winked at her and cleaned the bowl, took it outside to dump the water … and almost tossed it on Leo! “Oh! I’m so sorry!”
He looked at his shirt, as if she’d doused him anyway. “No harm done.” He glanced at the ground a foot away where the water had landed, just missing his pants.
“Sorry,” she said again.
He held up a hand. “It’s all right. Did you make Nonna her gravy?”
She smiled. “Did I give her the recipe, you mean?”
“Well, Bella was wondering …”
“I wrote nothing down,” she stated.
“Really?” He headed for the porch steps, opened the door and waved her inside. “Oh, well. It does smell good.”
“That’s because it is good,” Ma said as she licked a spoon.
“You’re incorrigible, Nonna,” he teased.
“I have my moments, I admit.” Ma had another taste, then headed for the hallway. “You might want to round up your folks soon,” she said before she disappeared around the corner.
Leo looked at Parthena. Unable to help herself, she smiled back. “My mother is with your sister, unless she went someplace else on the farm. Father is at Arlan and Samijo’s.”
“Your mother wasn’t at the house. Maybe she went to Charity and Benjamin’s.”
“I’ll check there first.” She took the spoon Ma left behind and gave the pot a stir. Satisfied, she set it on the worktable and went to the hutch.
“Are you going to have some coffee?”
She hadn’t thought of coffee, or of anything except getting away from him. He was too close, too … there. Even across the room she could sense his presence. What would it be like at Clinton’s later?
He joined her and pulled two saucers and cups from the hutch. “Would you like some cream and sugar?”
She nodded and kept her mouth shut, afraid that if she started talking to him she wouldn’t be able to stop. She loved the sound of his voice, his accent, the way he seemed to look into her soul every time their eyes met. She hadn’t noticed it before – or had it just begun? The first time was in the woods when she turned Nutmeg around and their legs brushed together – she felt a jolt of something … no, no, no! She couldn’t let this happen!
Leo poured them each a cup of coffee and brought them to the table. “I’ll fetch some cream.” He pushed the sugar bowl toward her, then went into a small room near the dry sink, probably the larder.
She took a deep breath, trying to get control of herself. Her heart was racing and she was beginning to sweat. Hot coffee would only make them worse.
“Here you are.” He set the creamer on the table.
Parthena sat, added cream and sugar to her coffee, stirred it with the spoon he offered and took a sip, hoping the hot brew would help her get a grip. What would everyone think if they found out she was growing sweet on Leo Cucinotta? She looked up from