Chapter 24

With the meal finally over, Danny rose and motioned to Evan. “Mother, Aunt Vera, you’ll have to excuse us. We have to leave now if we’re going to make the appointment at the tailor’s.”

Nessa waved them away and poured herself another cup of coffee from the silver urn in front of her. The aggravated look on her face didn’t bode well for pleasant conversation between the two women still seated. Danny hastened to escape with Evan close on his heels.

* * * *

When the two men made it out to Danny’s car, they both sighed in relief. Evan was the first to speak. “Um, was that typical of the meals you grew up with?”

“A lot of the time. Although things could get lively when my sisters were there. I take it your meals weren’t so formal?”

“Only if you call Campbell’s chicken noodle soup and cartoons formal.”

Danny felt a prick of envy as he envisioned cozy, relaxed mealtimes. “Your mom didn’t have a lot of money to spare, did she?”