Kitchen Chaos (23 page)

After the ice cream runs out, the three of us realize that we're starving. We've been so busy scooping and showing off our displays that we haven't even checked out the potluck (except for Lillian, who got around to tasting only what her own mother brought). Out in the hallway we discover that pretty much everything has already been eaten, except for a couple of slices of pizza that Carla DiRosa's parents brought from their restaurant. We're about to divide the two slices up three ways—despite the fact that they're ice cold and the cheese is getting hard—when somebody near the end of the hallway screams. Everyone goes silent, except for the screamer, who, it turns out, is excited rather than in danger.

It's been a day full of surprises, but when Frankie,
Lillian, and I turn around, we find ourselves face-to-face with the biggest surprise of all. Chef Antonio—decked out in his kitchen whites with the
ANTONIO'S KITCHEN
logo on the side—is walking toward us with a huge grin on his face and a casserole dish in his hands. And he's not alone. Henry, Errol, the Newlyweds, Javier, and even Angelica all make their way over to the table where our mothers are packing up their serving dishes. Ms. Johnson, the security guard, is leading the way, looking totally starstruck. She must be a fan, which explains how they all got in.

“
Buenos noches!
Did we miss the party?” Chef Antonio asks the entire crowd. The kids and parents who watch his show laugh and clap excitedly while everyone else just looks confused. Chef puts his casserole dish down on a table. “I guess nobody's hungry anymore, eh?”

“I am!” Lillian, Frankie, and I blurt out together.

Javier leans, in a somehow cool way, around his dad. “Jinx!”

We all laugh, and I think Lillian might even be blushing.

“I have something here for you,
chicas
,” Chef says. “But I'd like this young lady to taste it first.” He pulls a fork out of his jacket pocket and hands it to my mom. She looks as stunned as I feel.

Chef Antonio gestures to the casserole dish, and my mom starts peeling away the foil. As soon as she's unwrapped enough to see what's inside, she steps back from the table and pretty much howls. Big, happy laughs like I have not heard from her in forever. Frankie, Lillian, and I look at one another, wondering what Chef could possibly have made that's so funny. Finally, my mom pulls herself together enough to peel away the rest of the foil. It's Nana's noodle kugel. I should have guessed.

Mom wipes the tears out of her eyes and scoops up a forkful of kugel. Chef Antonio watches expectantly as she chews.

“So?” he asks after she swallows.

My mom drags out the moment, slowly licking her lips. “Not bad,” she finally says. “Not bad. I think Nana Silver would approve.”

Everyone laughs. At least Frankie, Lillian, and I do, along with our moms and everyone from our Saturday cooking club. I look around at all of the now-familiar faces and realize that that's exactly what we are: a big, colorful, mismatched, messy family. And right now that's just what I need.

“Bueno!”
Chef says, taking a little bow.
“Muy bueno.”

I have to agree.

Thanks from both of us to our editor, Fiona, for bringing our tale of three girls, three moms, lots of brothers, several dads, and a couple of grandmothers into the light of day. . . . And to Peter, our tireless agent, for persevering to publication with patience and wisdom.—DAL and JER

My deepest gratitude goes to my coauthor, friend, and neighbor, JillEllyn Riley, for inviting me to join her in dreaming up the adventures of Liza, Frankie, and Lillian at her dining room table, and for never failing to offer me a cup of tea and a plate of cookies. Someday, we will have that cocktail. Much love and thanks to my husband, Ian, for his patience, support, and willingness to take on the role of kid chauffeur while I wrote, and to Lili and Julian for (most of the time) putting up
with “Don't go in there, Mommy's working,” even on the weekends. Thanks are also due to my own Brooklyn BFFs, for their confidence, counsel, and enthusiasm for early-morning coffee dates.—DAL

Thank you to my coconspirator, Deb Levine, for weathering all manner of crises and craziness—including an earthquake—to keep the cooking club going with grace and a keen sense of humor. To the gifted, creative cooks who contributed delectable ideas for our fictional chef—he is very grateful. To my own dashing fellas, all three—Eóin, Cullen, and Alan—big heart, big love. And as always, to Miles.—JER

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the authors' imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

First Aladdin hardcover edition February 2015

Text copyright © 2015 by Deborah A. Levine and JillEllyn Riley

Jacket illustrations copyright © 2015 by Leo Espinosa

Also available in an Aladdin paperback edition.

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

ALADDIN is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and related logo is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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The text of this book was set in Arno Pro.

Jacket designed by Jessica Handelman

Interior designed by Mike Rosamilia

Library of Congress Control Number 2014935944

ISBN 978-1-4424-9939-3 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-4424-9940-9 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-4424-9941-6 (eBook)