Just a Taste

Chapter 1-3

Liam walked into his childhood home, so glad to feel the calm and comfort of family when he knew he would face sorrow later in the day. The O’Leary family dinner was mandatory at least once a month. Eileen O’Leary expected her children to share a meal as a means to keep close. It was something his parents worked together to achieve as soon as he and his five siblings neared adulthood and branched out to have their own lives.

He walked straight to the back of the house. The living room was empty, so he must’ve beaten his brothers to the house today. In the kitchen, he knew he’d find his mother standing over the stove. He wished she would let him help with the meal preparation, but she never would. They took turns bringing dessert because as much as Eileen loved her sweets, she didn’t make them. Dinner was her job and she refused to share it.

“Hi, Mom,” he called as he opened the refrigerator to slide in the cheesecake he’d made for after dinner.

She peered around his shoulder to see what he’d brought. “Don’t tell your brothers and sister, but I like it most when it’s your turn for dessert.”

“That’s no secret, Mom. I always make your favorites. That’s why I’m your favorite.”

She slapped a towel at his arm. “Don’t say that. I love all of my children equally.”

“No one else is here. You can tell the truth.” He looked down at her, suddenly struck by how small she appeared.

Her face grew serious. “What’s the matter?”

“What do you mean?”

“Something’s wrong. What is it?”

He hadn’t been trying to cover his grief, but he hadn’t planned on talking about it either. “Remember Gus Delgado? He owned the Mexican restaurant I first worked at?” Eileen nodded. “He died. His daughter called and left a message. After dinner, I have to go pay my respects.”

Eileen didn’t say anything, but she patted his arm. As far as physical affection went, that was about it for his mom. His dad had been the hugger in the family.

She turned back to the stove. Judging by the smells, they’d have roast for dinner. “Is there anything I can help with?”

She shook her head. He heard the front door open and he went to see which siblings had arrived. Moira pushed through the door and Liam hoped she brought Jimmy with her. Although he hadn’t been thrilled with his friend entering a relationship with Moira, he’d appreciate seeing Jimmy today.

Unfortunately, Moira entered alone. “No Jimmy?” he asked.

She sighed. “Don’t look so disappointed. He’ll be here in a few minutes. He went to check on his dad.”

“I’m not disappointed in seeing you.” He squeezed her hard until she gasped.

“Why are you all dressed up? What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” He released her.

She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. Like their mother, she didn’t need words to call him a liar.

“I found out an old friend died. The wake is today. I’m just feeling out of it.”

Her whole face changed, filling with sadness for a friend she hadn’t even known. She wrapped her arms around him in a gentle hug, unlike the playful one he’d forced on her. Jimmy opened the door without knocking, assessed the situation, and asked, “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Moira answered. As she stepped away, she ran a hand down his arm in reassurance. She would understand his desire to not discuss it.

Jimmy’s gaze went back and forth between him and Moira, and then landed on him, questioning. Liam smiled. “Any luck on the house hunt?”

“I thought so.” Jimmy took off his coat and hung it in the closet. “Your sister’s too picky.”

“I am not,” Moira retorted.

Before the discussion could go further, Eileen called from the kitchen, “Moira, come help with the vegetables.”

She shot Liam a dirty look.

He shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I offered to help when I got here. She doesn’t want my help.”

Moira moped out of the room. Liam knew it wasn’t fair that their mother assigned traditional gender roles.

“What was the hug about?” Jimmy asked when Moira had left.

“I don’t want to talk about it. Tell me about the house.” Anything to keep his mind off his plans for later that afternoon. He and Jimmy didn’t have long to talk alone. Before he knew it, Ryan and Quinn arrived with baby Patrick followed by newlyweds Michael and Brianna. Colin arrived solo.

Moira came out of the kitchen as Colin sat on the couch beside Liam. “Where’s Elizabeth?”

“At the bar.”

“Why do I get the feeling she’s avoiding family dinner? Doesn’t she know it’s a requirement? Shoot, if I have to be here, she should too.”

“You’re blood. No escaping it. She likes to point out that she’s not an O’Leary and is therefore not required to be here.”

Moira headed back to the kitchen, but shot over her shoulder, “Then maybe it’s about time you made her an O’Leary.”

Liam watched Colin and smiled. He recognized the look on his big brother’s face.

“What are you looking at?” Colin asked.

“Did you already buy the ring?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You go ahead and play it cool around Moira because we know she’ll flap her jaws to everyone, but I saw your face change when she suggested marriage.”

Colin leaned closer. “Is it that obvious?”

Liam shook his head. “Probably not to everyone. But you don’t get nervous and that’s what I saw.”

“The damn thing has been burning a hole in my pocket for a couple of weeks now. I can’t figure out when to ask. Or where to ask. It seems like it would be a big deal for a woman, you know? I don’t want to screw it up.”

“I’ve got nothing for you there, but let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

Colin picked up the remote and turned the TV on to a football game. The Bears were losing to the Packers as usual. Within minutes, all four O’Leary men along with Jimmy O’Malley were sitting in the living room, screaming at the television at football players who couldn’t hear them.

Hours later, Liam drove through the Humboldt Park neighborhood, dreading his destination. He’d missed the viewing at the funeral home intentionally. He didn’t want to see Gus like that. The thought alone brought too many memories of his own father’s funeral. The street in front of the Delgado house was filled with bumper-to-bumper cars. He drove around the corner and searched for a spot.

The flowers he bought wobbled in the passenger seat and part of him wanted to leave. But he couldn’t. It wouldn’t be right. Not for Gus and not for Carmen. At the end of the next block, he squeezed into a spot. As he stepped from his car, a blast of cold air hit him. He pulled his jacket tighter around him with one hand while he cradled the flowers in the other.

He walked into the harsh wind down the block toward Gus’s house. He hadn’t been a guest at Gus’s house often, but he’d eaten dinner there a few times. Of course, he’d been there when Gus’s wife had died. He hadn’t stayed long. His own grief had been still too fresh and he couldn’t stand it.

It had been years and he thought by now it would be easier, but with each heavy step, his doubt increased. He climbed the steps to the porch and knocked. No one answered. The noise from the other side of the door was loud. He knocked harder and then turned the knob.

He entered the house and looked around. People packed the entire living room. He stood still for a moment, allowing the air of the room to warm him. He studied the faces and realized he didn’t know anyone. No one approached him, but many looked in his direction with open interest.

Then he spotted Carmen. She bustled around, taking plates and delivering coffee to older men and women around the room. He crossed to her and followed until she went into the kitchen. He waited in the doorway.

The kitchen was empty of guests. She put the dishes in the sink and then braced her arms on the counter and released a breath that shuddered through her. Guilt poked at him. He was interrupting a private moment and he should leave, but his feet wouldn’t listen.

He cleared his throat. “Carmen?”

She straightened slowly before turning to face him. A slow smile formed on her face. “Liam.”

He hadn’t been sure she would remember him. “How are you holding up?”

She lifted her shoulders in answer. The question was dumb. That was one of the worst parts of dealing with people after his father had died. The dumb questions.

“Here.” He held the flowers out to her. “I know it doesn’t help or ease the pain in any way, but I couldn’t come here empty-handed.”

“Thank you. They’re beautiful.” She took the vase from him and looked for a free space on the counter. The entire kitchen table and the length of the counter held trays and bowls of food. The smells made his mouth water even though he wasn’t hungry.

“Can I get you something to eat?” she offered after she stashed the flowers in the corner near the refrigerator.

“No. Can I help with some of this? Do something for you? You look like you have your hands full with all of your guests.” He removed his jacket and hung it on the back of one of the kitchen chairs. He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, prepared to help.

She blinked a couple of times. “Uh… In all honesty, I’ll probably end up throwing most of this out. There’s just too much.” She turned in a circle. “Coffee. I need to make more.”

Liam moved forward. The girl looked dead on her feet. How could her family not see this? He pulled a chair out from the table. “Sit. I’ll make it.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Carmen, sit down. Take a break and relax for a minute.” While not harsh, his tone was firm and she sat.

He remembered when Gus’s wife, Inez, died and the house had been filled like this. Gus loved having the family here, but Carmen had hidden in the kitchen, overwhelmed. Liam had joined her then, too. He moved around the kitchen making coffee and then washed the dishes that were in the sink.

“You don’t have to do that, Liam.”

“I know. I like to feel useful. And I don’t think anyone in your family wants to chat me up.” He rinsed a dish and put it in the drain. “I came here to see you, Carmen. I don’t know anyone else. Your dad was my friend.”

He heard her hiccupping breath. When he turned, he expected to see her crying, but she just stared off at nothing. Drying his hands quickly, he squatted in front of her. “What do you need, Carmen? I watched you run around here, taking care of everyone. What can I do for you?”

Her focus shifted until her eyes met his. So much sadness. He wanted to wrap her in a tight hug, but they had never had that kind of relationship. They’d had a teasing, laughing one with minimal contact. And that had been years ago.

“Could you take the coffee into the living room? I just need a few minutes.”

He patted her knee before rising. “Take all the time you need.”