She comes into view, her brow furrowed. “That smells incredible.”
I don’t even hide my grin. “Ready to try some?”
She nods.
I prepare two bowls and set them on the kitchen table. I bring over the rolls I bought to have with it.
“Thank you,” she says. “You know, I wasn’t envisioning such a nice cabin when I was insisting on the quick-frozen meals.”
“Do you ever cook for yourself? Or do you live off prepared food?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I’ve made spaghetti before, but I really don’t know how to cook. But you seem to.”
“Yeah, my mom taught Maria and me how to cook. It was important to her that we both were self-sufficient.”
“Does your mom live in New York?”
I pick up my spoon and stir the chili to cool it down. “No, she passed away several years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
I guess Maria never told her about that or about the fact that I lived with her for a couple of years while she gother life back on track. Maria didn’t have anyone else. Our father died in a car accident ten years ago. It had been hard on Mom. And on us. Maybe that’s why Mom didn’t tell us about her cancer until the very end.
I still get angry that I didn’t realize it sooner. She lost weight, and when I asked, she said it was due to stress from work and that she would be fine. But she wasn’t fine. And I believe her death was why Maria started using drugs. By the time I was able to come home again on leave, Maria was out of control. I didn’t have a choice about leaving the service. Maria needed me.
Savvy places her hand on mine. “Hey, I’m sorry I brought it up.”
I glance up. “It’s okay. I just got lost in the past there for a moment.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No. We should eat.”
Hell, maybe she already knows my history. She is best friends with my sister. I have no idea how much Maria may have shared. But it doesn’t mean I have to.
We eat in silence, and then Savvy washes our bowls while I find a container and get the rest of the chili into the refrigerator.
It’s still early, and we really don’t have anything to do. Fortunately, Lightning keeps phone chargers here, so we have a way to communicate if needed.
“I found a deck of cards. Do you want to play a game?”
I glance up to find Savvy holding cards. “Sure.”
We play several hands of rummy with the soft hum of the heater and the smell of chili lingering in the air. Italmost feels normal. Finally, I ask what’s been on my mind since dinner.
“Did Maria tell you about our parents?”
Savvy places a card in the discard pile. “No, she didn’t.”
“Did she tell you about me?”
She laughs. “Not much. Just what you heard her say. You were in the military, and now you work security. I don’t know why you went into the military, what your interests are, why you do the work you do now instead of something safer.”
I lean back and set my cards down. “I’ll answer if you answer my questions, too.”
She sets her cards down. “All right. It’s a deal.”
“I joined the military because it was something I always wanted to do. That’s why I work in security now. I get to work with other former military men who are like my brothers. And we have more flexibility on our assignments than we ever had in our missions. As for my interests, I like hanging out with friends, reading, and ax throwing.”
