Free The Secret's in the Sauce by Linda Evans Shepherd Page A

forehead, and he glanced at me to see how to respond. I’m guessing my smile must have been stoic if my dad’s expression was any indication. “I see.”
    Mother shot Velvet a glare. “Young lady, you look like you’re going to catch pneumonia, dressed like that.”
    Velvet laughed as she took a seat next to David. “Flaunt what you’ve got, I always say.”
    Fred had been busy washing his hands in the sink. “Want me to get the iced tea?” he asked me.
    I sat down. “Please.”
    Fred was soon seated beside me. I asked, “Fred, could you say our blessing?”
    He bowed his balding head and reached for my hand. “Sure thing.”
    One thing I could always count on with Fred was his long-winded blessings. And for once, I didn’t mind that the food was getting cold. I needed to catch my breath. I needed to ask God to help me get through this evening.
    It was bad enough that Mother had never warmed up to David. Not that he’d seemed to notice. But I did. She was the reason why David had been adopted out to that Hollywood actress in the first place.
    She’d only gotten away with it because she’d taken advantage of the circumstances.
    She and her foolish pride. She’d been embarrassed that I’d married a man who was half-Mexican. She was even more appalled that I, her precious Swedish daughter, was carrying his baby. So, when she learned that Joe had been killed in Vietnam, she’d swooped in. There I was, out cold in an L.A. hospital because of the shock of Joe’s death, the onset of labor, and a cocktail of heavy medications given to me by the labor and delivery team. My lack of consciousness had set the stage to her advantage. As soon as David was born, but while I was still sleeping, she’d called in a Hollywood attorney.
    “Here’s the release you need to sign for the baby’s burial,” she’d told me the moment I’d opened my eyes.
    In my shock, I’d had no idea I was signing David’s adoption papers.
    I’d only discovered the truth when he’d shown up in Summit View last fall, looking for me.
    I still couldn’t get over the fact that my son had been raised by Harmony Harris, the star of the musicals of the sixties, God rest her soul.
    So, it was ironic that Mother had moved in with me, only months after I’d learned of her betrayal. How I’d managed to hold my tongue these past few weeks, I don’t know. Because to tell you the truth, I was still seething.
    But I kept telling myself, “Hang on, Vonnie; it’s only a few more days till she gets her cast off. You can make it.”
    Velvet sighed at Fred’s continued prayer. Fred was saying, “Thank you for the loving hands that prepared this meal. Thank you for all who are gathered here. And dear Lord, we thank thee for all the blessings you’ve bestowed upon our family . . .”
    I smiled. Poor Velvet, she wasn’t used to prayer time with Fred.
    I tried to concentrate on Fred’s prayer, but my mind drifted back to Mother. I knew I’d have to forgive her, one day. I mean, I wanted to, but honestly, I didn’t know how.
    Fred was winding down. “In Jesus’s name, amen.”
    I looked up and exchanged smiles with my dear husband. His extra long prayer had helped me center myself so I could play hostess. Besides, this family needed all the prayer it could get.
    I picked up the basket of rolls and handed it to David, who was sitting next to me.
    “Thanks, Mom.”
    Velvet was already helping herself to the casserole. “I sure hope this is a vegetarian dish. I don’t do meat.”
    David looked surprised, which was a relief to me; I wondered if this was actually their first dinner date. I mean, maybe up until now they’d only done breakfast. Ugh. I blinked and tried not to shudder. Mother said, “Why not?”
    “I don’t like to mess with the universe like that. I mean, we’re all one. The animals and us, I mean.”
    Mother snorted. “Where’d you get that crazy notion?”
    I looked up. “Mother, be nice.”
    Dad reached over and patted her