Henry Appleby has an appetite for life. As a recent high school graduate and the son of a wealthy family in one of Chicago’s affluent North Shore suburbs, his life is laid out for him. Unfortunately, though, he’s being forced to follow in the footsteps of his successful attorney father instead of living his dream of being a chef. When an opportunity comes his way to work in a real kitchen the summer after graduation, at a little Italian joint called Fiorello’s, Henry jumps at the chance, putting his future in jeopardy.<br><br>Years ago, life was a plentiful buffet for Vito Carelli. But a tragic turn of events now keeps the young chef at Fiorello’s quiet and secretive, preferring to let his amazing Italian peasant cuisine do his talking.<br><br>When the two cooks meet over an open flame, sparks fly. Both need a taste of something more -- something real, something true -- to separate the good from the bad and find the love -- and the hope -- that just might be their salvation.

Dinner at Fiorello's

“Because I realized how much I missed out on. I wasn’t much older than most of the kids on campus, but I felt a lot older. I already had a kid! And my options seemed a lot more limited than Paul’s.” Maxine looked away for a moment, and her eyes glistened. Henry wondered if she was as content working as their housekeeper as she let on. When she looked back at him, though, she was smiling, even though the smile was a bit forced. Even Henry could tell that. “Paul told me, one time after he graduated, that his college years were some of his happiest. He said he had so much freedom and really, so little responsibility. Sure, he had classes and tests and stuff, but that was nothin’ compared to real life.”


Henry nodded. He’d thought speaking with Maxine would clear his head. She’d show him there was nothing wrong with being a simple working person, and that a college education was no guarantee of happiness.


Chapter 20