Beauty and the Basement

Beauty and the Basement — page 5 — I pour myself a bowl of something colorful and sweet with a little plastic toy inside of the box Then I lean on the kitchen counter to eat Ah says Santino as he steps into the kitchen I would have made you something It’s all right I say This sugary garbage he says is not all right I could have made that pasta from last week you liked so much My eyebrows shoot up I love his food I just don’t like the idea of being waited on like Mom and I are some kind of royalty We’re not We’re two fools living in a ridiculous mansion that neither of us paid for We’re just lucky because Dad was very very rich Was Santino obviously sees my interest in his pasta because he gives me a big grin Even though he’s already hung up his apron he grabs a pot from under the counter Penne with vodka sauce he says Fresh peas A little cream You don’t have to do this Santino I say but I’m already ditching my cereal You’re off the clock Please please he says I’m happy to What am I going to do tonight anyway Fall asleep in front of the TV What fun is that

Beauty and the Basement — page 6 — Well it’s not that bad I think You know I’m happy to make a good supper for you and Mrs Mostro he says any time Thanks Santino I say Now get out of here he says turning his back to me and strapping the apron on again I’m about to head right back downstairs when the doorbell rings It makes me jump I turn and watch Santino at the counter chopping pancetta Well I say He’s not the butler he’s the chef Still when he’s around he usually answers the door And with our housekeeper Catalina off till after Labor Day I really expect him to step up But no Ah-ah Santino says not even bothering to turn from the cutting board to look at me I’m off the clock I laugh but he’s not kidding You expect me to open the door I say Santino pretends he can’t hear continuing to chop and whistle to himself So I shove through the swinging kitchen door into the big entryway Lightning cracks outside I didn’t even know it had started raining When I open the door a man rushes right past me his coat pulled up over his head Whoa I say flinching at the spray as he shakes off I’m terribly sorry to bother you at this hour he shouts over the thunder Car trouble

Beauty and the Basement — page 7 — Santino comes through the swinging door wiping his hands on a dish towel Sir the stranger says moving to shake Santino’s hand I’m so sorry for bursting in If I could just use your phone I’m happy to wait outside He thinks Santino is my dad It reminds me of what I’ve tried to forget My dad is dead I’ll show you the way to the phone I say stepping between them Mr Forgive me I’m Jack Beaumont he says He stands up straight for the first time since he burst in He has a graying blond mustache He pulls off his hat to reveal a head of thinning hair the same shade as his mustache I’m Carlo I say This is my house And this I thumb at Santino is our chef I pause thinking for a minute Don’t you have a cell phone I ask Ah he says looking away from me The battery died Darn thing He forces a smile and a shrug For some reason I think he’s lying

Beauty and the Basement — page 8 — Follow me I say I lead Mr Beaumont through the kitchen through the back door to the courtyard and out to my mother’s greenhouse We have other phones but the greenhouse is the only room enclosed in windows That means I can keep an eye on him from the kitchen Right here I say gesturing to Mom’s wicker patio set with a phone on the side table I’ll let you have some privacy He thanks me and sits down I pull up my hood and dart across the courtyard to the kitchen I sit on the stool by the window to watch Mr Beaumont He has the phone cradled under his ear and he’s wandering through Mom’s prize winning indoor garden Now and then he stops to read a label or take a leaf between his thumb and forefinger like he’s testing the quality of a piece of fabric I shouldn’t have let him in I say to Santino He sighs Maybe he says But this is some storm

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