Blue Smoke

family before the chaos, she shouldn’t linger.

    Things were already heating up when she walked in the door of the restaurant. Buzzing conversations, the clatter of cutlery, the phone ringing greeted her when she stepped inside.
    Pete was at the pizza counter, her mother at the stove. Fran, along with a couple of the waitstaff her father still called his kids, were manning the tables.
    Reena saw her immediate future flash in front of her eyes in the form of an apron and an order pad. She started to call out to Fran, then saw Bella sitting at a table nibbling on some antipasto.
    “Hey, stranger.” Reena plopped on the other chair at the table. “What are you doing around here?”
    “Vince is golfing today. Thought I’d bring the kids by for a while.”
    “Where are they?”
    “Dad and Jack took them for a walk, over to the harbor. Mama called to let you know I was here, but you weren’t home.”
    “Just got back, didn’t even check the machine.” She reached over, nipped one of the olives from Bella’s plate. “Boccie contest is winding down. We’re going to be swamped in about a half hour.”
    “Business is good.” Bella gave a little shrug.
    She looked amazing, Reena thought. The lifestyle she’d aimed for all of her life suited her. She was polished. Her deep blond hair expertly highlighted and swept silkily around a face of fine, smooth skin. There was gold and glitter at her ears, on her fingers, around her throat. Subtle and expensive to match the pale rose linen shirt.
    “How about you?” Reena asked. “Are you as good as you look?”
    A smile flickered around Bella’s mouth. “How good do I look?”
    “Magazine-cover level.”
    “Thanks. I’ve been working on it. It takes time to lose the baby weight, get back in shape. I’ve got a personal trainer who makes Attila the Hun look like a pansy. But it’s worth it.”
    She held out her wrist to show off the sapphire-and-diamond tennis bracelet. “My reward from Vince for getting back to my pre-Vinny weight.”
    “Nice. Sparkly.”

    Bella laughed, gave that little shrug again and toyed with some prosciutto. “Anyway, I came by to try to pigeonhole Fran about the wedding.”
    “What about it?”
    “I just don’t see why she insists on having the reception in some dinky hall when she can use our club. I’ve even got a list of menus, and florists, musicians. She doesn’t need to settle when I’m willing to help.”
    “It’s sweet of you.” And she meant it. “But I think Fran and Jack want something a little simpler and closer to home. They’re simpler, Bella. That’s not a criticism,” she added, reaching out for her sister’s hand when Bella’s eyes flashed. “Honestly. Your wedding was spectacular, and gorgeous and absolutely reflected you. Fran’s should reflect her.”
    “I just want to share some of what I’ve got. What’s wrong with that?”
    “Absolutely nothing. And you know what? I think you ought to help with the flowers.”
    Bella blinked in surprise. “Really?”
    “You’re better at that than Fran and Mama. I think they should let you have your head there, especially if you’re willing to help pay for it.”
    “I would be, but they won’t—”
    “I’ll talk them into it.”
    Bella sat back. “You could, too. You always could work them around.”
    “One condition. If Fran wants simple flowers, you don’t buy truckloads of exotic orchids or whatever.”
    “If she wants simple, I can work simple. But stupendously simple. And I can turn that dinky hall into a garden. A cottage garden,” she added at Reena’s narrowed stare. “Sweet, old-fashioned, romantic.”
    “Perfect. When my turn comes, I’m hooking you.”
    “Got any potentials?”
    “Not looking for potential husbands. But I’ve got a potential guy. Firefighter.”
    “Oh. Big surprise.”
    “Studly,” Reena said around another olive. “Excellent mattress possibilities.”
    Bella gave a choked laugh. “I miss you, Reena.”
    “Aw, honey, I miss you, too.”

    “I didn’t think I would.”
    Now it was time for Reena to laugh.
    “Seriously. I didn’t think I’d miss you, or this.” She gestured to encompass the restaurant. “But I do, sometimes.”
    “Well, we’re always here.”
    S he stayed longer than she’d intended, long after Bella took her children home to her sprawling suburban estate. When business was light enough, she maneuvered her mother and Fran to a table.
    “Girl powwow.”
    “Any excuse to get