The sharp hiss of cold meatballs hitting the hot pan made my mind hiss along with it, buffering on Grandma Vero's reaction to Rafael's family on his mother's side.
The savoury, salty aroma rising in thick steam from the pan should have made my mouth water. My stomach had already growled from hunger earlier. But instead, my appetite vanished, swallowed by the anticipation of whatever she was about to tell me.
"Is there something I need to be wary of?" My curiosity won, as always.
"Have you not met them?" she asked. "You said they were nice."
"Ah… I only met Mr. Auburn once. On my wedding day."
The clatter of a knife hitting the wooden board rang sharply, followed by Grandma Vero's sudden laughter. She stopped slicing the tomato in front of her, leaving half of it hanging there as she giggled softly, like something had just hit too close to home.
I stared at her, confused, my eyes darting between her and the meatballs I was flipping in the pan.
