Chapter 46Rose
Chapter 46
Rose
I was grinning, probably with squinty-crazy-eyes, at the roll-up sandwiches I’d prepped for Katt and Liliana. Because all was good—better than good—I added a scoop of our house-made pasta salad and popped a bonus truffle on each plate.
I’d just gotten off the phone with Lauren. This morning, she’d met with Tony at his deli-grocery in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco. He’d given her some letters, pictures and other family mementos to bring to me when she and Finn drove up here tomorrow.
“Such a sweet and generous man!” my bestie had raved. “They had some Italian pastries waiting for me and made me a macchiato the minute I walked in the door.”
She let out a long sigh. “I got to meet Angelina and her two brothers too. That Nico is a scamp for sure. And all the guys look like your Rafe.”
Not mine—not yet, I’d reminded her.
She’d described what Tony had given her. The best part? Apparently, they’d each written a letter and tucked them all in a big envelope for me to send ( they’d said give, Rose ) to Rafe.
I grabbed the two plates and walked over to the table by the front window. It was a little crowded, what with their mochas, Katt’s tablet, Liliana’s notepad and pen—real paper, real writing instrument—and three or four cat ornaments from the walls. But we made it work.
“How’s the planning coming along?” I asked. Ana was getting her long-wished-for kitten as a surprise for Christmas. Experienced cat staff Katt was giving Liliana pointers on the Humane Society’s adoption process and the welcome-to-your-new-home essentials.
“Sit, sit for a moment,” Liliana urged.
I dropped down to the extra chair, and she pushed out, “I never realized how much one tiny kitty needed. Perrito’s huge, and I don’t remember him requiring this much.”
Katt and I glanced at each other and looked away, hiding our smiles. The real question was how their talkative, playful husky was going to take to the miniature new member of their family.
Katt turned back to me and narrowed her eyes. “You look…happy. Kinda bright and sparkly and, yes, happy.”
Of course, being a photographer and an artist, she’d see how my face reflected my mood.
“Is that a question or a statement?” I stalled.
“Ha! Definitely a statement. Spill the tea!” Both Katt and Liliana focused their laser-like stares in my direction.
“Okay, okay, I give up. Rafe and I have been texting for the past two weeks. More recently, talking.” As one, they started smiling and nodding.
“We knew you two couldn’t stay away from each other,” Liliana declared.
I held one hand up. “Hold on. We’re just talking at this point, keeping the channels open. Nothing about him coming back here. I haven’t even asked him yet.”
They frowned a little at that. It hit me, and I sat up straight in my chair.
“I need your help,” I said.
“Anything!” they cried in unison.
“I want to send Rafe some gifts and some photos and…some messages about how much I miss him. Maybe how much we all miss him.”
They nodded again, and Liliana said, “Oh, like a care package. I used to mail those to Mateo when he was deployed overseas. He loved getting them.”
“Yeah, he’s even mentioned them to me a time or three,” said Katt, blushing a bright pink. Hmm…what is that all about? “I bet Rafe’d love getting one again.”
“I don’t think he ever received care packages back then,” I commented. “No family, you know.”
“Oh, Rose,” Liliana said sadly.
I clapped my hands. “Okay. We’re going to change all that. First, let’s make a list of things to send him.”
Liliana pulled her notepad in front of her, flipped to a new page and picked up her pen.
“Oh, fido.” I reached over to her. “Here, please give me those. Let me take notes while you both eat.”
She patted my arm. “Rosita, I can eat, talk and write all at the same time. We moms are good at multitasking, right?”
We jumped into brainstorming goodies for the care package—now grown into a care box —until only smears of pesto from the salad were left on their plates.
I turned to Katt. “Could you possibly come over to my house tomorrow evening to take some photos? And make prints by Saturday morning? I know it’s a quick turnaround.”
She nodded and added, “I’ll make prints of other photos Rafe’s in too.”
“I want to drop off the care box at the post office by Saturday noon. I imagine I’ll pay a bundle to get it to him by Christmas Eve day. But it’ll be worth every penny…”
“You’re cutting it close, girl,” Katt warned.
“I know, I know,” I agreed, worry creeping in. “Maybe I need to check with Pete to see if he has any recommendations for shipping companies. And any other ideas to go into the care…boxcar.”
They laughed at me, and I didn’t blame them one bit. I had gone a little overboard.
“Rosie, you don’t have to say who you are. I’d recognize your voice anywhere.”
“Oh, Pete, you’re a sweetheart! Are you getting excited for your grandkids to come visit?”
“You’d better believe it! They and their folks are driving down this Saturday and staying for the week. We’ll see you Monday night—sure looking forward to karaoke caroling at your place!”
“You may see me before then—I need your help. Can you keep a secret?”