Fighting for Us: An Enemies-to-Lovers Holiday Romance (Heart of Hope) by Ajme Williams

Author:Ajme Williams [Williams, Ajme]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-12-11T16:00:00+00:00

19

DJ

I picked up the beef mixed with Nonna’s special ingredients and rolled it between the palms of my hands just like she did.

"That's a little too much meat, DJ." She reached over and pinched a small chunk of meat off the meatball. I started rolling again.

"That's right. You’re a natural. Play your cards right and I'll teach you how to make ribollita."

"Matteo might get jealous from all the time you're spending with me."

"No, he won’t. You are like a brother to him just like you're a grandson to me."

I wondered if he was part of the intervention, I was sure someone in my family, probably my mother or maybe Maisie, had orchestrated it. I wanted to be annoyed at it because I was tired of them being disappointed in me and trying to make me be someone I couldn't be anymore. But at the moment I had to concede that I was enjoying making meatballs with Nonna.

Still, I had to know. "So who sent you over? My mom or Maisie."

Nonna didn't miss a beat as she picked up another hunk of meat and rolled it between her hands. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"First, my mom shows up to take me on a picnic and Petra Newberry happens to be jogging by. And then you show up at my door. It seems very suspicious."

"Why would it be suspicious that your mother loves you, or that your old friends care for you or that I want to teach you how to make meatballs?" She didn't sound offended but behind the words there was censure.

"I guess you're right."

"Of course, I'm right. Put that one in the pan and roll another one."

"Yes, ma'am."

Once all the meatballs were ready, we cooked them, and then feasted on a few before she packed up her things, leaving the meatballs, of course, and headed out the door.

As we got to the door, I bent over to give her a hug even though my back pinched slightly at how far I had to bend. "Thank you, Mrs., —"

"Nonna."

"Nonna. This was very kind of you. I really enjoyed myself."

She reached up and took my face between her wrinkly fingers. "Cooking has a way of calming the soul, DJ. You're creating and then you're able to savor that creation. There's so much of that in life that you're missing. But you can get some of that back in your kitchen." She tapped the side of my face.

That was a first. Everyone else had been telling me to seek counseling but Nonna thought the answer was cooking.

After she left, I went to the kitchen and started to reach for a beer and then changed my mind. Instead, I went to the cabinet pulling out a glass and filling it with water. Then with another stack of meatballs, I went to sit on my couch to watch TV.

As I was skipping through the channels deciding what to watch, a British baking show came on. I set the remote down and as

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