the desk, opened one of the drawers and brought out a large white binder. “These are all my neighborhood contacts. Flowers. Food. Music. A hall. Whatever you need.”
Zach accepted the book and kissed her cheek. “You’re the best.”
She laughed and stood. “Now, out of my way. We’re busy.”
He glanced around the market. “I could give you a hand for a little bit.”
“Trying to worm your way into a dinner invitation?”
He gave a shrug. “I haven’t had your cooking in a long time. I think I’m overdue.”
She paused. “And your mother?”
He didn’t know what shape she’d be in, but he could check on her and bring her with him if it was a good day. “We’ll see.”
“She’s my daughter, and I haven’t seen her in weeks.”
Zach understood that, but his first concern was his mother’s health. “Dinner at seven?”
This time, she kissed his cheek loudly. “You are a good boy.”
He didn’t know about that, but he tried. As he was leaving, he almost ran down a woman in a pastel pink jacket with matching hat and scarf. She tried to peer around him into the office. “Sorry, miss. Do you need something?”
She took off her hat, and he noticed that it was Dr. Sprader. Her jaw dropped at his presence, then she pursed her lips. “I was looking for Mrs. Rossi. I wanted to sign up for her cooking classes.”
“It’s you.” He shook his head, knowing that didn’t come out right. “My grandmother’s right here.” He turned to Nonna. “You still teach those?”
She shrugged and motioned for the doctor to come into the office. “I like to pass along my knowledge, so why not? Our next class is next Tuesday. Zach, it wouldn’t hurt you to brush up on your cooking skills.”
Dr. Sprader seemed a bit stunned. “Your grandmother?”
Nonna looked between him and the doctor. “You two know each other?”
“We keep bumping into each other.” The doc bristled at that and turned her back to him. “I was hoping to sign up my friend and me. But I have to admit, we’re both novices at cooking.”
“I teach all skill levels. And if you’re a beginner, all the better. You won’t come into my class with awful habits. I can mold you.” Nonna brought out a calendar. “And your names?”
“April Sprader and Page Kosinski.”
Zach looked at her. She looked like an April. A woman with a spring attitude. Shaking off the dull grays of winter and embracing a rebirth. He gave himself a mental slap in the head. Where was he coming up with this stuff? “April.” She faced him, and he realized he’d said her name out loud. “First dancing, now cooking. What are you trying to do? Mark off items on your bucket list?”
“As a matter of fact, yes, I am.” She got out her wallet and handed Nonna a few twenties. “I look forward to our first class.” She ignored him as she passed by him.
Nonna slid the money in an envelope and wrote the names on the front of it before securing it in one of the desk drawers. “You sure you don’t want to come to one of my classes?”
“I don’t have time to cook, Nonna.”
“I figured you might want to join so it would give you an excuse to be around that woman.”
He pointed in the direction April had left. “Dr. Sprader? I don’t think so.”
Nonna eyed him, but he didn’t fidget or look away. “Something wrong with her?”
“Where do you want me to start?” He chuckled. “First off, she doesn’t like me. Not that I’m all that fond of her.”
“She seemed perfectly sweet to me.”
He gave a shrug and clutched the book firmly. “Maybe, but I’ve got more important things to pursue. Thanks again for your contacts, Nonna.”
“Class is Tuesday night at eight in case you change your mind.”
But he wouldn’t. He had a wedding to plan, a mother to care for, and clients who depended on him for their careers. The last thing he needed was a distraction of the female variety.
ZACH STARED OUT the window of his office, not paying attention to his cell phone. It buzzed with multiple text messages. He’d spent most of his weekend nailing down details for the Ramos wedding. He’d already downloaded the application for a marriage license and found a priest who would perform the ceremony at the banquet hall where Nonna knew the chef and had given him a discount since the happy couple would be married on a Sunday night. There were other details to take care of, but he’d made a sizable dent.
He pushed his wandering thoughts aside and picked up the phone. The first message was from Johnson, asking if he had heard anything yet about the offer from the Lions. Ramos wanted to know if they could fly out his parents from Puerto Rico in time for the wedding. And Coach Petrullo needed an update on Johnson’s health. He answered them all. He’d make it work. Because that’s what he did: took on the impossible and it happened.
His phone buzzed with a new text message. Bad day. Can you come home early?
He checked the time. Not even noon, and the day nurse wanted him to leave already? He replied that he’d stop by at lunchtime. He could kill two birds with that stone: get something to eat and check up on his mom. Then he’d drive out to the practice fields and talk to both Johnson and the coach. Life was all about multitasking.
He glanced out the window again, the gray February skies muddying his mood, turning it cold and dark. Images of Dr. Sprader crossed his mind, bringing a ray of sunshine to dissipate his gloomy state. Sure, she had appeared as if she were angry at him, but when he watched her with her patients, she had radiated something akin to kindness and compassion. A sort of contentment or...peace.
He straightened his tie and stood up. He didn’t have time to think about what he didn’t have. Better to focus on what he did.
He grabbed his wool trench coat from the hook behind his office door and stopped by his assistant’s desk. “I’ll be taking an early lunch today and stopping by practice to check on Antonio. Any messages before I leave?”
Dalvin huffed. “I keep this place a well-oiled machine. Nothing happens without you knowing.”
Zach clapped Dalvin on the shoulder. “You’ve got my number in case anything does come up.”
Dalvin pointed at his computer screen. “What do you think of these as wedding favors?”
Zach bent forward, scrunched his face. “We have to have favors, too?”
Dalvin shrugged. “I read about them on Pinterest.” His assistant
