BACK AT THE HOUSE THEY start cooking. Paul is charmed and delighted that he gets to teach Alex this too. It feels significant, letting Alex handle the recipe cards Paul’s grandmother wrote out years ago. He’s glad not to be caught out as he watches Alex squint over measuring spoons and the spice rack.
“Who all is going to be here?” Alex asks as he balefully regards a pecan pie crust he can’t get to lie right in the pan.
Paul squints at the pot he’s stirring as he counts off on his other hand. “Most of the brunch crew. Shawna. Brian.” Paul chuckles when Alex makes a face. “Craig for sure. My damn dog. Josh might be coming, Liam and Carly —”
“Liam’s coming? Why does no one tell me these things?”
“You work with him every day. I assumed he’d mentioned it.” Paul says
“He never did. Doesn’t
