Page 34 of Sinned

“Come eat,” Momma called from the dining room.

“Is there anything I can help you with?” I asked like I did every week.

“No, no!” she exclaimed. “This is my house. I take care of you here.”

“I keep telling you to give up,” Josie said. “Momma has to do everything herself.”

“And despite that I will always ask her if she needs my help,” I said. “You never know, one day she might say yes.”

Momma had already set the table and put out the food. She wiped her hands on her apron and waved at everyone to sit down, then went into the family room and kneeled with the children.

“I made you something special,” she said to them. “And I set up the kitchen table just for us.”

She led the kids away as everyone else sat in the dining room. I peeked into the kitchen and saw the three kids sitting happily with their plates full of food and one over sized cookie in front of each of their plates. Christopher smiled and waved at me and I smiled back, glad to see my boy so happy. Momma, or Nonna as he called her, always spoiled the kids.

Josie’s husband had to work late so she sat in her mother’s seat at the head of the table across from their dad who was always half asleep. I sat beside Charlie and across from us was their brother Thomas.

“It feels like just yesterday I was telling this guy that being a priest wasn’t for him,” Thomas said.

“Umm no,” Josie piped in. “If I remember correctly you said he hadn’t met the right pussy yet.”

Momma stepped out of the kitchen with a look of horror on her face.

“Dear God, watch your language.” She walked over to Thomas and slapped him on the back of his head.

“What was that for? I didn’t say it,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter, I know you started it.” Momma grinned as she walked back towards the kitchen and then turned around and whipped a wooden spoon from her apron and wagged it at us. “Don’t make me use the spoon.”

She disappeared back into the kitchen and I leaned forward.

“Has she ever used the spoon?” I whispered.

Charlie laughed. “No, she has stories about her mother, but I don’t think she ever has with us.”

“Shows you what you know,” Thomas said. “Don’t you remember the day I accidentally stole the gum from the corner store?”

“Accidentally my ass,” Josie said.

Thomas glared at Josie then continued, “she chased me up the stairs to my room with that thing. At one point she even swatted my ass.”

“Well that explains a lot,” I said as Josie laughed.

“What did she tell you?” Thomas asked.

“She’s part of the family, she knows all of our secrets,” Charlie said.

Thomas rolled his eyes as he looked at me. “Don’t believe anything they tell you.”

“Don’t worry, your secrets are safe with me,” I said.

“So, Charlie,” Thomas said with a grin. “When are you going to admit I was right?”

Charlie thought for a second, then tilted his head. “You know only Ava and Momma can call me that. What were you right about?”

“You know,” Thomas raised his eye brow. “You met the right--“

“Don’t you say it, Tommy,” Momma called out from the kitchen. “Remember, I hear everything and I love that girl as if she was one of my own. You could learn a little something from my Charlie, Thomas.”