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Paige didn’t say a word. She just continued to stare at Connie. That was not all there was to it. Mojo or no mojo, that was not it.
‘That stare never worked when your mother did it, it’s not going to work now either,’ Connie said without looking away from the pan.
‘She’s texted again,’ Paige replied.
Connie didn’t say anything, and Paige wasn’t sure if she wanted to talk about it anyway. She quickly moved on, ‘But just so I’m clear, that’s the mushroom risotto, right?’ Paige asked.
Connie nodded, her spine straightening.
‘The mushroom risotto that you swear has to have oyster mushrooms, or it isn’t worth doing?’
Connie nodded again but slightly more rigid this time.
‘The oyster mushrooms that you specifically purchase dried, that you rehydrate using a very specific broth for twenty-four hours, that risotto?’
‘It’s the only way to make it, Errol taught me that.’
Errol was husband number three and mega chef. He didn’t last because she never saw him. Or so she said.
‘Do you still see Errol?’
‘From time to time, we stay in touch,’ Connie replied still carefully stirring.
‘Come on, Gran, who’s coming for dinner?’
‘No one.’ Connie just stayed focused on the pot in front of her. Paige waited again. ‘No one you know, now mind your business,’ Connie said, giving in a little.
‘Will there be a sock on the door when I get back?’
‘No of course not, it’s not like that. The Captain has already set sail. This is more of a professional interaction than it is anything else. Anyway, this will be ready in twenty minutes and I’ve made enough so you and Melanie can eat too. In fact, there’s enough for little Alfie to try. Need to start training those palates early, you know.’
‘Thanks,’ Paige said slowly, still suspicious, sure there was more to it.
Connie finally put her spoon to one side and turned to study Paige. She raised her hand to rest on Paige’s cheek just as she’d done ever since she was old enough to remember.
‘What’s wrong, Book?’
It was the sudden change in direction that caught Paige off guard. ‘Nothing. Well, nothing I want to talk to my gran about.’
‘Ha! You finally did some fun stuff with Melanie then. About time. The heat between you two. Yikes. You’re probably going to want to take some mints with you, this risotto has a strong flavour.’
‘Don’t worry, that’s not on the cards,’ Paige said.
Connie removed her hand and quickly turned back to stir. ‘Oh, and is that why you’re sad? Or is this more about your mum?’
Paige growled out an agitated breath. ‘It’s not that and I’m not sad.’ But she continued, ‘Besides we agreed it was a one-night thing. We were just getting too distracted by not doing it. Now it’s done and we can focus on work.’
‘But you remember your reading, right?’ Connie asked quickly, glancing over her shoulder at Paige.
She sighed. ‘Of course. I’m going to go downstairs and make sure everything is under control.’
‘OK but be back up here in twenty. You need to take the risotto right away else it will get claggy.’
* * *
Paige pulled up outside Emily’s house and took a deep breath before grabbing her bag. She’d brought her notebook and pens; they had to get some decisions made tonight. Paige was not going to let Melanie down.
Paige made her way to the main door; it opened before she could get close.
