"Ciao!" Enzo called out, setting down the brush and rushing over to give each of them breathy wine scented kisses on either cheek.
"I brought beer," Steve said.
"Ah, good. We can have it with the fish." Enzo took the packs of Budweiser and put them in the fridge. "Have some vino," he offered, reaching for two stemless wine glasses out of one of the cabinets. "Chianti, from my region."
Steve leaned against the kitchen island, accepting the glass of wine, looking out of his depth as he so often did when he was around Enzo. Kanani and Bets followed them in, lurking near the counter by the sink, picking up their abandoned glasses of wine.
"You sure know how fo' make da grinds," Kanani said appreciatively and took a sip of her wine.
Enzo flashed her a smile. It was a high compliment.
"What kine fish you get?" She asked.
"Salmon." Enzo sang along in Italian to a line of lyrics and Taylor said,
"My dad used to make this great salmon with grated parmesan on top."
"Oh, yeah?" Kanani said.
Enzo stopped singing and gave Taylor a sharp look. He shook his head with disgust. "Cheese on fish?"
Taylor laughed, her face flushed from the alcohol. "It's delicious."
"You never put cheese on fish," Enzo said, and Serene couldn't help but laugh at the disgust on his face. It was as if Taylor had said her dad used to serve salmon with a smear of shit.
"You don't," he said to Serene sternly.
"You should try it." Taylor brushed her shoulder teasingly against his, the tip of her tongue sticking out between her front teeth. Bets set her glass of wine down and rolled her eyes before walking out of the kitchen.
"Do you need help?" Serene offered.
"Do you want to make the salad?" Taylor said.
"Sure." Serene went to the fridge.
"The bathroom's around the corner," Enzo pointed, and Serene felt her face grow hot at his gentle reminder that she should wash her hands. On her way to the little half bathroom near the kitchen, Bets sidled up to her.
"I think I'm going to bail," she said quietly. "I don't think I can take a whole night with Taylor."
"Come talk to me in here." Serene gestured toward the bathroom with her hand. Once inside, Bets leaned against the closed door, glowering at the sink.
"What's up with you?" Serene asked.
Bets glared at herself in the mirror. "She's just been up to her old antics with me, and I'm not sure I have the patience for her tonight."
Serene turned on the water, lathering up her hands. "I thought you said you didn't let her get to you anymore."
"Yeah, well, she did something really fucked up the other day, and I don't think I can sit across from her at a table and pretend I'm cool."
The afternoon when Serene found Taylor at her house flashed through her thoughts. The strange way she and Darpan had acted, the implication that they'd been…" Serene shut the thought down. "Don't let her ruin your night," she said instead.
"I don't know," Bets’ mouth twisted, her words laced with uncertainty.
"Come on, stay. If Taylor gets stupid, we can all go to my place."
Bets said nothing.
"Okay?"
Finally, her friend nodded and they went back to the kitchen. Steve was telling a story. Taylor watched him, her eyes glittering with the expectation of the punch line.
"A bunch of us were at the roller rink. Julie was so stoned, she skated up to this strange dude, thinking he was her boyfriend, and linked arms with him." Both Steve and Taylor laughed at the memory. "Then the guy smiled at her and his front teeth were missing."
Taylor threw her head back, her throat muscles rippling with laughter. Enzo grinned, watching her with hooded eyes, and Steve's mouth turned up into a hard smile, but it seemed forced, like he was trying to make something okay that wasn't anymore.
47
Barbara - March 2020
"You shouldn't have to move," Barbara said to Cuppa, who placed a mug of Earl Grey tea, swirling with milk and sweetened with sugar, in front of her. "I could move into mom's office, and mom can have my room."
Erica reached over, placing a hand over Barbara's, and Cuppa tutted, slipping into one of the chairs.
"No, no, no." Cuppa said, shaking her head. "I can't have that. I love living here, but it's fine. I think it's time I move. Get my own flat." Her eyes lingered on Erica when she said this, and Barbara noticed new lines around Cuppa's mouth that hadn't been there a month ago. There were more greys in her dark hair, and it had grown out, curling over her ears. "You need to sort out your family," Cuppa added softly.
"You are part of the family," Barbara argued, and blew on her tea, taking a tiny sip. Irritation gripped at her. How could they throw Cuppa out like this? Like, like––Barbara struggled for an analogy––like she was a pet dog who might be better off with a different owner. Barbara shook her head at the ridiculous thought and her irritation blossomed into anger.
Once again, her mother was locked away in her room, not participating with the rest of the family. Sara and Jesse did not even want to come home. The other day there had been a high-strung emotional call from Tera, accusing Erica of perpetuating dysfunction. Erica had jumped in their car right then and drove to their dad’s, bundling up the kids and taking them straight home. But Jesse and Sara had become
