ROSALIA

Cooking for Rosalia mamma.

"Cieli, so sorry for interrupting ". Rosalia mamma said waving her hands in the air and backing away from her daughter and the proposed soon- to- be - in law making out in the kitchen.

Rosalia thought her mother would still be asleep since it was still 5:30am. She saw a text earlier from David that he was standing at her porch and allowed him in. Unknown to him that her mother was in the house, they went straight to the kitchen as David claimed to be thirsty and was about to heat up milk for him when he initiated a kiss.

"Wow, that's one lovely way to meet my mother in law, don't you think?" He said, sarcasm coating his words.

"It's okay Sir, perhaps we could make introductions? I told her already and that's the reason why she finally decided to leave the nursing home"

"I would be one lucky bastard if she still allows me to marry you even though I never visited her at the hospital"

"I told her you are always busy and we barely have time for one another" Rosalia sighed.

"See why you should have allowed me to visit at least once" David whispered like it pained him to speak.

Rosalia bit her lip nervously. She never allowed David to visit because she never wanted her mother to see the dirty side of her- the side that sells her body for money. She could not just do that to her mother.

Knocking on the door, Rosalia mamma eagerly responded, "come in"

"buongiorno ma" David greeted

"Ah guarda quello, un bianco che parla italiano. Non é adorabile?" Rosalia mamma said clapping her hands.

David on his part, having no clue what she said, only smiled and patiently waited for the older woman to ask him to sit.

"Come sit" The older woman urged

After taking a seat on a recliner close to the bed, David began his speech "Ma, first of all, I am very sorry for never visiting you. Work is no excuse. I just did not know if you would be okay with your daughter dating a white man. Please ma, I want to spend the rest of my life with her. And I promise to always be there for her".

Rosalia mamma cleared her throat, "Well if my daughter has agreed to marry you, what else can I say? I don't care about your race, I just want you to promise me that you would always treat her right. She's a good girl, she won't give you any problema. Please she is all I have left" After a short pause, she continued in a sober mood at the verge of crying "And I don't have much time left. I am glad she's found someone to take care of her while I return to my Maker".

This made Rosalia cry "No mamma, ne abbiamo parlato, tutta questa cosa del cancro sará nel passato"

"Tutti muoino un giorno, Rosalia". This statement from her mamma did not make her feel any better as she stood up and left the room.

David, on looking towards the exit Rosalia just passed asked, "Is everything alright ma?"

"Everything is well, son. Welcome to my family", Rosalia mamma assured.

Mother and soon to be in law talked about a lot. Rosalia mamma got to know a few things about David. Throughout their conversation, David thought of Rosalia and wished he could leave her mother and check if she was okay.

Rosalia mamma noticed that his attention was diverted to something else as he kept throwing the exit a glance from time to time. The woman laughed and gushed,

"You are so in love. Go on and check on her. We can talk some other time but I'm sure that she's fine. My daughter is a strong girl."

David stood up and left, not before saying a "Thank you ma".

He first went to her room, but she was not in, so he made his way to the kitchen to find Rosalia butchering a chicken.

He stood at the door as he watched her cut the chicken with all her might. After cutting a few pieces, she dropped the knife quietly and rested on the working table as she cried silently and wiped her face.

All he wanted to do at that moment was to wrap her in his arms and console her, but he could not take a single step and continued to be her spectator.

She tried to stand to her full height and resume her work but fell and sobbed, this time louder than before, but still quiet as he barely heard her voice.

She turned to the door and found him watching her. She stood up and resumed her work like nothing had happened a few minutes ago.

David walked up to her and placed his hand on hers holding the knife. She tightened her grip on the knife but later released it as David hugged her like a friend would.

Patting her hair, he assured her, "Everything is going to be fine".

His words seemed to have the opposite effect as she cried the more. He sighed, kissed her hair and decided to allow her to cry as much as she wanted.

A few minutes later, she stopped crying, raising her head, she said, "I am sorry-"

"Shuush. You don't need to apologize for anything", he cut her off and held her hands in his. "Together, we will figure something out, okay?"

She nodded and straightened her shirt with her hands.

Looking at the working table and rolling his sleeves up, he asked, "So, what were you about to make, do you need any help?"

Rosalia was startled and quickly replied, "Sir, It's nothing. It's not something I can't do on my own. You don't have to worry"

David chuckled and responded, "Please let me. I want to help you cook for my mother in law. It's the least I can do since I can't cook"

Rosalia resigned and let him help. They cooked together, with David making small talks from time to time and Rosalia smiled politely as well.

Rosalia mamma came into the kitchen when the sweet aroma alerted her senses and reminded her of the empty state of her stomach, to see them already serving the chicken pie they had made.

She joined them and they ate and laughed all through the meal.

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Glossary :

1. Cieli- heavens

2. Buongiorno ma- good morning ma

3. Ah guarda quello, un bianco che parla italiano. Non é adorabile- Ah look at that, a white man who speaks italian. Isn't it adorable

4. No mamma, ne abbiamo parlato, tutta questa cosa del cancro sarà nel passato - No mama, we have talked about this, these whole cancer thing will be in the past.

5. Tutti muoiono un giorno, Rosalia- everyone dies one day Rosalia

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