Malbec Mayhem by Cathy Perkins

Author:Cathy Perkins
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: wine, mystery, chef, small town, Dysfunctional Families, contemporary romance, family relationship, financial mystery
Publisher: Red Mountain Publishing
Published: 2018-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Sunday morning

Alex folded his arms behind his head and studied his bedroom ceiling. Should he go to Mass with his mother? Would showing up at church reinforce that he was a good man, a dutiful son—the things he considered himself to be—or would it be interpreted as assuaging a guilty conscience?

“Screw it.” He flung the bedcovers aside. He was so sick of thinking in those terms.

Five minutes later, he stepped out of the shower, his mind focused on Sunday lunch. He dressed and headed for the restaurant. Generally, he served tapas, finger food and light fare for the heading-home tourist traffic, people who wanted one last chance to linger in the fall sunshine. He'd scanned the Sunday reservation book last night, however, and recognized many of his mother's friends. Older couples who would want a substantial meal at the restaurant rather than cooking for themselves. Eating out rather than gathering with their families at home.

The arrangement worked for him professionally, even if it was at odds with his personal feelings.

Sunday was all about family for the Montoya clan—immediate and extended family members included. Everyone—his brothers, sister, and their kids, as well as the aunts, uncles, cousins, and all their families—showed up. The men always watched the game—pick the season, pick the sport—on the big screen television, while the women crammed into the kitchen. The kids were everywhere.

He'd planned to invite Sofia to dinner this weekend. With the grape crisis—and her comments about taking the relationship slower—he'd changed his mind. His family could be overwhelming and she might run in the face of their expectations.

Sofia's rich Malbec grapes—both real and dream-enhanced—played into his selection for the lunch special. The hearty braised beef he'd envisioned to accompany the wine could simmer all morning while he completed prep for other menu items. He gathered ingredients and lit the burners. The rest of the simple Sunday menu didn't require much beyond the standards they kept in the cooler.

His cousins arrived, and with the ease of long practice, settled into their tasks.

His mind wandered to family as he browned the beef and transferred it to a stock pot. Holly never understood that love held the chaos together and that his mother was the axis it spun around. Some day his mother would be gone and it would be up to his generation to make the cycle continue.

Lucia might be up to the task, he considered as he chopped onions and peppers.

What he wanted—what he really, really wanted—was a woman strong enough to make the world revolve around her. Not just him—it was a given he would orbit her light when he finally found the right person—but his entire family.

Surely, that wasn't asking the universe for too much.

The rich scent of caramelizing onions soon filled the kitchen. He worked steadily, tasting and correcting seasonings, until the vat could be pushed to the back burner. The hours before lunch would give the flavors time to meld. The dish would be ever better if any remained for later.

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