Mirepoix (A Recipe Of Love Book 1) (17 page)

Now we’re about five minutes from Joe’s mom’s house and I can feel mild anxiety swirling in my gut. I really hope Joe is right about his mom loving me. I know how important she is to him after everything he has told me about her. His dad decided that he wanted nothing to do with being a father and split when he was still a baby. His mom worked hard to support them both but never remarried which Joe thinks he is to blame for somehow. He feels like his mom gave up her entire life for him and he needs to prove that the sacrifice was worth it. I’m reasonably sure that his mom doesn’t care if he was a short-order cook at a diner or a world famous chef but not knowing her I can’t say for certain.

I’m looking out the window at the passing trees as we drive down the winding road.
Why would they plant the trees so close to the road?
It just
seems like a bad idea! The branches of the trees look like arms reaching out, trying to touch the truck.  Now I have the mental image of the trees coming to life and playing with the cars like
they’re toys, like that’s going to help me relax! As we pull past the wooded area, I realize there’s no guard rail to keep someone from driving into the yards!
Would it still be considered a yard when it’s measured in acres?

“First, why are the trees planted so close to the roads? Second, why don’t they have something up to keep people from driving into their yards?” I ask Joe absently while I stare out the window at all the open. It seems like there’s too much of it. If I hear a single banjo, I will haunt Joe for the rest of his days! I hear Joe’s laughter spontaneously erupt behind me, thankfully I know he’s likely not laughing at me in a mocking way just at my randomness.

“Pixie, the trees weren’t planted like that, the road was cut between the trees. The trees were here first. Some people do have fences up for their main yards, but without one if someone accidentally drove into the field, they could just pull back out.” He answers calmly but I can tell he’s still fighting his laughter. I narrow my eyes at him as I turn his words over in my head, determining his truthfulness before getting caught up on one.

“I don’t like your use of accidentally in that sentence. It implies people might intentionally drive into their yard. Why would you intentionally drive into your yard?” I’m leaning on the door but fully turned to face him, such is my incredulousness.

“Field parties and off roading. Most of the farmers drive into their fields from by their barns or driveways and do in fact have fences but they’re more to keep the animals in than drivers out.”

“Wait…. Why would you have a party in a field? There’s no sound system, or dance floor, or…” I’m interrupted by the hysterical laughter from Joe “Will you stop laughing at me! I know I’m being ridiculous but you have to admit it’s weird!” I look at Lindsay to see she’s wide eyed and nodding her head in agreement with me.

“I can’t wait to bring you back in the summer. We’ll make a massive bonfire and I’ll introduce you to the fun you can have at a field party just relaxing with your friends. I’ll load the back of the truck up and we can lay in it and watch the stars.” He reaches over and threads his fingers through mine, hearing the happiness in his voice I’m struck by two things simultaneously. He plans on us still being together this summer and I’m willing to risk death by… whatever creepy things can be found in a field to make him smile like he is right now. He is completely at ease with a relaxed lazy grin curving his lips.

“Just make sure you bring cattle prod or whatever the shock thingy is for any cows that might try to join us.” Lindsay looks around at the fields we’re passing. She has a serious issue with the cows. I’m not sure if now she’ll refuse to eat beef because she’s scared of them or eat more in revenge, I’m almost positive my beef budget just doubled at the least.

I’m distracted from my worrisome thoughts of increasing my meat budget and the trees coming to life as we turn onto a gravel drive that snakes its way up to a cute little ranch house. I don’t know that I’ve ever actually seen one in my life so I’m pretty sure that’s what this is. It’s one story and looks extremely wide to me. As we pull in a stunning brunette opens the door and walks out on the porch, I can instantly see where Joe gets his looks from. She is all country casual in jeans and button-down shirt in a gingham pattern. I know as soon as we get back to the city I am going to have to find some gingham fabric to play with. Logically I know based on Joe’s age of 33 that she has to be in her 50’s but she looks like she could pass as his sister.

The truck comes to a halt as I think how well Joe will age if he takes after his mom. I need to find out if she follows some specific skin regime, her skin is flawless and glowing in the early morning light, not to mention her gorgeous flowing hair that shines.

“Come on baby, I promise she doesn’t bite” Joe teases as he rounds the truck to help Lindsay and then me down. Seriously, I’m going to have to have him install fold down steps or something for me in the future. I freeze when I realize where my thoughts have gone, this means I’m willing to ride with Joe in his oversized truck frequently enough to use the steps.
      

“You need to get some fold down steps or something for me so you don’t have to pick me up and down every time we use the truck.” I decide just blurting out my inane thought would be the best way to tell him I am okay with riding in his truck. It’s his turn to freeze and turn to stone, incidentally still holding me aloft, as he realizes the significance of what I’m saying.

“Nah, I think I like you needing me to pick you up and carrying you around.” He growls as he pulls me in close to him and nuzzles my neck. I hug his neck and rejoice in feeling his arms move to wrap around me now hugging me while I hang in the air. I kick my feet when he starts tickling my neck with his face scruff, trying to get down. He finally releases me turning me to face his mom who has walked down to join us at the truck while he was torturing me.

Joe lets me go to pull his mom in for a tight hug and I’m slightly overcome at the sight. Joe’s mom is taller than me at around 5’9” but still only tall enough that her head rests on Joe’s shoulder as they both hold each other. With nothing but this hug I know how much they love each other and miss each other, it’s in the comfortable but loving way they’re embracing. I am struck by envy at the sight and grab for Lindsay’s hand. I know she must be having feels watching the reunion in front of us since her family history is even worse than mine.

Joe murmurs something in his mom’s ear as they separate, he reaches out for me and pulls me and incidentally Lindsay closer since she’s still holding my hand. Joe looks down at our hands and smiles gently at the site before sliding his hand along my back.

“Mom, this is Frankie and her hetero life-mate Lindsay. This is my mom, Maria.” I gasp at the way he introduces Lindsay before I start giggling, I can tell by how my hand is shaking that Lindsay is as well. Maria is smiling at us, either Joe explained how close we are or she also has a best friend whose importance transcends the definition. I’m hoping for her sake it’s the latter, everyone deserves to have a friend like that. I let go of Lindsay’s hands as Maria gently hugs me, the scent of vanilla wraps around me just as comforting as her embrace. After she lets me go she wins my eternal love by hugging Lindsay just as gently, the longing and pain on my friends face has my eyes stinging with tears. She pulls back and sees the look on Lindsay’s face and instead of saying something that might make the moving moment awkward she just runs her hand over Lindsay’s bright cap of fiery hair.

“What do you think I would look like with my hair looking like a sunset guys?” She quietly jokes with a small smile curving her lips. Yep, it’s official I love Joe’s mom. I want to have her babies. Since that’s scientifically impossible maybe she’ll settle for grandkids.
Whoa! Holy shit!
My mind really just went there, and shockingly I’m not nearly as scared and freaked out by the thought as I think I should be. Definitely something to discuss with Lindsay over a bottle of wine. I look up and watch Joe chuckle, either at the idea of his mom with hair like Lindsay’s or Lindsay’s baffled reaction to the casual affection his mom is showing her. I’m 90% sure the feeling that shoots through my lower stomach is my ovaries high fiving each other.

“I think you would be beautiful, Mom.” Joe answers breaking the moment as he lets go of me to grab the bags from the backseat before leading us all into his Mom’s house. 

As we sat down to dinner that night I was sure of three things. One, I loved Joe. Two, I adored Maria. Three, Maria apparently thought we ate like truckers that just quit a hunger strike. 
In addition to a massive turkey I count no less than ten sides, ranging from mashed potatoes and homemade cranberry sauce to golden cornbread, all simply made and prepared but they look delicious
.  We settle in at the small table after filling our plates with the food that’s covering almost all the counter space when it strikes me how small the table is and what it must mean.

I may have lost my family, two times in fact, but I always had a massive extended family made up of friends. My own dining room table sits six before I put the leaves in that makes it able to seat twelve, I need to have a huge table just to fit all the friends that might randomly show up any time we’re celebrating. Case in point on my birthday it was a very good thing that Lindsay warned Joe to make enough to feed twelve, we had random friends stop by throughout the evening. Even if they didn’t eat, they stopped by and had a drink and hung out for a bit just to make sure I knew they were thinking of me on my birthday. Even crabby Mrs. D who lived across the street, and always told me she was lighting candles for me, stopped by and wished me a happy birthday. It may have been after accusing me of being a drug dealer or hooker due to the freaks coming in and out of the building but she still did!

This little table barely held the four of us with our overflowing plates and the centerpiece of flowers we brought as a hostess gift. While Joe and Maria were obviously very close to each other, they didn’t have a big extended family, it was just them. Maria may have friends of her own and just went to their house but I know Joe only had his coworkers who were more acquaintances than anything else. Luckily for him I came with an entire crew of misfits, not to mention all the older generation that kept an eye out for me. I had no doubt once they figured out what Joe meant to me they would essentially adopt him and possibly find a way to
award him a trophy or medal.  I was shocked out of my thoughts as I absently tried some of the mashed potatoes mounded on my plate.

“Joe, you need to close your restaurant and bring your Mom up to redo your menu. I need to have these mashed potatoes on demand whenever I need them. I don’t even care what other comfort food she can make unless it’s mac and cheese…. Yeah, I think mac and cheese might trump this if it anywhere near as good.” I state as I shovel more of the creamy delicious potatoes in my mouth.

“My mac and cheese is even better, I add chunk crab meat to it.” Maria smiles at me in pleasure. I decide to try some of the other sides I have piled on my plate and I experience a mouthgasm. I try to bite it back but a porn star worthy moan slips out as I sample everything.

“Yep. Old menu gone, new Maria menu in!” I wave my fork at Joe and then back to Maria. “Except I like the new menu he’s been implementing so maybe find a way to combine them. There’s all sorts of weird fusion restaurants everywhere, you can have Italian Americana comfort foods!” I tilt my head to the side and think over how to make this happen because I am completely serious, these mashed potatoes are that good. We could even get comfort foods from other cuisines, German food had some really good ones that would work. An entire place with just comfort foods would be amazing
and quirky enough I think it would work. 

I realize everyone is staring at me when I finally tune back into the table from my fantasy restaurant filled with the type of basic simple food I love. I feel a quick burst of anxiety until I look up into Joe’s face, and he is grinning so big his cheeks must hurt, I see Maria is smiling with tears in her eyes and her hand on Joe’s forearm.

“Son, I’m glad you finally found someone for me to pass the recipes on to.” Maria states softly into the silence before rising to her feet, she bends and kisses his head before coming to me and doing the same. She brushes a hand over Lindsay’s shoulder before turning and walking into the kitchen. I’m worried that I might have upset her despite what she says until she returns with a glistening pecan pie and a big smile on her face. I glance over and Lindsay and see her attention is fixed on the confection coming our way.

“Maria, what do we need to do to convince you to come home with us? We are not above bribery and or kidnapping.” Joe and Maria start laughing thinking I’m just joking, I look over at Lindsay and when our eyes meet, I can tell she’s having the same thoughts I am. I start mentally cataloging all the single guys around her age we know, maybe we can set her up with one of them and create a love connection that will get her to move closer.
Maybe if I give her a grandbaby, she will move up and make me yummy food again.
Goddamn it, when I get back I really need to make an appointment to see a specialist, something has to be wrong with me. I absently wonder if a baby aspirin will cure baby fever.

21

Joe

“Why is it everything goes tits up after we close for a holiday?” I growl to my sous chef Mario as we are rushing to get orders out. Every single time we close for a holiday I swear we have double the amount of customers as we normally do when we reopen. Saturdays are already one of our busiest nights of the week but it’s like people panic that were going out of business and they need to rush in and get their favorite dishes before we do. I know logically it’s probably because they are in town visiting family or have family visiting them and are sick of cooking. I also know it’s good for the business and keeping the books solidly in the black but I could have used an easy night following the early morning drive.