Life by Committee by Haydu Corey Ann

Author:Haydu, Corey Ann
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins Publishers

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Fourteen.

If I thought the smell of garlic and Italian cooking was tempting before, it is nothing compared to the way it hits me once I’m actually in the kitchen. The onion-garlic-tomato-butter deliciousness practically knocks me over.

His mom is standing over a few pots: pasta, sauce, spitting simmering cloves of garlic. She’s heavy and her hair is the same color as Joe’s; just as thick, but wiry and knotted. She reminds me of a book Cate used to read me when I was little, Strega Nona, about an Italian pasta-making witch. Joe’s mom is totally Strega Nona. Her apron is paisley and covered with tomato remnants and oil splotches.

“Hi, Mrs. Donavetti,” I squeak out.

“Mom, this is Tabitha. My friend,” Joe says. He puts a hand on my back and pushes me toward her. I stick my hand out and she smiles and nods to the huge wooden spoons she has—one in each hand.

“So nice to meet you, Tabitha,” she says. “You’ll be joining us for dinner, I hope?”

“Smells amazing,” I say, nodding. She glows and exchanges an indecipherable look with Joe.

An hour later I know exactly what that look meant. Mrs. Donavetti hates Sasha Cotton. I know this because she talks about Sasha through the entire meal, wringing her hands and chomping so hard on her mussels and clams and al dente pasta that I think she’s going to chip a tooth.

“Joe just shouldn’t be with a girl that troubled,” she says, spinning long strands of linguini over her fork with expert ease. “You know her well?”

“Not too well,” I say.

“Not too close with her?”

“Oh, no,” I say. She smiles and nods. Right answer.

“You’re a good friend to Joe,” she says. “He needs someone like you. Grounded. Smart. Good girl.” I nod and don’t look in Joe’s direction. The conversation has gotten so strange I don’t feel able to really participate in it.

“Mom, chill,” Joe says at last, and Mrs. Donavetti shrugs and smiles my way. Like I am the girl she’s been waiting for.

“Want a little more, Tabitha?” she asks. I’m not really hungry after devouring a whole bowl of her stupendous seafood pasta, but the sauce is so spectacular and the noodles so comforting that I can’t say no.

“Yes, please.”

“Good girl,” she says, and again looks to Joe with that I told you so look. I guess Sasha never asks for seconds.

I am in Joe’s house. I am smiling at his mother. I have found the one person in the universe who prefers me to Sasha Cotton, the one person immune to her long legs and dim smile and breathy lullaby voice. I am touching elbows with Joe because we can’t hold hands, but touching elbows might be even better. My funny bone tingles with recognition: This is love.

Halfway through my seconds I duck into the bathroom and post to Life by Committee. I’m a pot boiling over, and I can’t tell Elise. I can’t tell Cate and Paul. No one I love would approve of this or give me the response I’m looking for.

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