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

Vito always thought he was lucky. Until that night…


And he found himself retreating again, slipping away and twisting to break the tenuous, fragile bond he’d formed with Henry that morning. Something inside Vito forced it—self-preservation, maybe? He had told Henry everything, bared his breast. And what had it accomplished? It had only laid his wounds open. Laid them bare, like fresh cuts.


Vito stood up and went to stare out the window. “So now you know,” he said. He turned back to Henry. “And now I think I need to take a nap. This talk has taken something out of me.” He spoke softly. There wasn’t much breath left to put behind his words.


“You want me to lie down with you?”


There was hope in Henry’s voice, hope Vito knew he had put there, but he couldn’t bear the thought. He suddenly couldn’t abide the idea of any company other than the two dogs.


Chapter 75