"I … I’m not hungry," Theresa murmurs.
"You have to eat," Cass says in a soft voice. "I know it feels like the end of the world in some ways, but you have to live through it."
"Doesn’t mean I have to thrive." Theresa pokes at the topmost pancake with her fork. "I mean, I'm not even sure why I’m mourning anymore. He was nothing to me; he didn’t see me as someone he wanted to share his life with—"
"But you said yourself, you two were best friends. Just because he didn’t tell you how he felt, doesn’t mean he didn’t have feelings for you," I venture.
"Oh, he had feelings all right." She lowers her chin to her chest. "He was just too scared to acknowledge them. I suppose, I can’t blame him; he was confused and trying to figure out his sexuality and his preferences. I just wish I hadn’t built it all up in my head, you know? I wish…" She swallows. "I wish that I had never met him. I wish that—"
A sound at the door to the kitchen has the three of us turning to glance toward it.
Nonna stands just inside the doorway. She’s clad in a silk dressing gown that flows to her feet, and holds her tray with the remnants of her breakfast.
"Oh, Nonna," Cassandra rises to her feet, "you should have called me; I would have cleared your breakfast tray."
"Oh, pffft! I don’t expect you to wait on me hand and foot." She walks over to the sink and places her dishes in it. "Besides, I wanted to talk to all three of you." She reaches into the shelves above her, grabs a cup and saucer, and approaches the table. She takes a seat, then pours some of the espresso from the Bialetti into her cup, then glances around the table. "Please, don’t let me interrupt your breakfast."
Cass takes her seat again and resumes eating. I follow her example. Theresa pokes at her pancake then cuts a piece for herself.
The silence stretches, broken only by the sound of our eating. When I’m not able to consume more of the pancakes, I place my knife and fork on my plate.
"You wanted to talk to us, Nonna?" I enquire.
She waits until Cass and Theresa too have finished eating, then leans back, railing her cup of espresso.
"A scavenger hunt," she finally proclaims.
"Uh, what?" I frown. "You want to organize a scavenger hunt?"
"The details have been taken care of. I have all the information needed and will be sharing the clues with all of you today."
"So, we’re going to have this scavenger hunt today?" Cass blinks at her.
"Did I not just say that?" Nonna says in a sharp voice.
Cass reddens, "Y… yes. I was just surprised; it’s not what I was expecting."
"What better way to break down the barriers between all of us and get us to know each other better, hmm?"
"I... I am not sure I want to take part," Theresa ventures. "I’m not a fan of such games."
"Too bad." Nonna trains her gaze on her. "It will do you good to be out in the open and get some fresh air."
"But it’s so cold," she whines. "I’d rather be in my room—"
"Where you can mourn my grandson?" Nonna scowls. "Absolutely not; I forbid it."
"Oh." Theresa deflates. "Guess I don’t have a choice then?"
"You don’t." Nonna turns to me and Cass. "I take it you two have no objection with taking part in the game."
Cass and I glance at each other, then at Nonna.
"I enjoy puzzles, so I think I’ll like it," Cass replies.
"Not my favorite pastime, but sure, I’ll play," I drain the last of my coffee and place the cup back in its saucer.
"Good." Nonna glances at us over the top of her cup. "Wonder who’ll turn out to be the winner?"