Chapter 9 - Rosa's KitchenA year later, Norah stood beneath a new sign.
ROSA'S KITCHEN.
The building had once been an abandoned community center in the Narrows.
Now it contained a clinic, a teaching kitchen, and a small dining hall.
Free meals.
Basic health screenings.
Job training.
Gabriel had funded it.
Norah had designed it.
Benny ran the kitchen program.
Leo handled security, although officially his title was Operations Director.
“You made that title up,” Norah told him.
“All titles are made up.”
Children filled the dining room.
Norah walked toward the stove.
A little girl stood on a stool.
“What are we making?”
“Stracotto.”
Gabriel entered quietly.
Norah saw him.
He watched from the doorway.
She showed the children the thyme.
“For the dirt.”
Then cinnamon.
“For the soul.”
Gabriel looked away.
Norah knew why.
Later they stood alone.
“She would have loved this,” Norah said.
Gabriel nodded.
“I spent years thinking money could have saved her.”
“It couldn't.”
“No.”
“But this might save someone else.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“That was your idea.”
“Our idea.”
He kissed her forehead.
Norah smiled.
“You're becoming sentimental.”
“Don't tell Leo.”
“He already knows.”
May you like
Gabriel sighed.
“Traitors everywhere.”
