Synopsis

A mouth-watering home run of a beach read, this lighthearted romantic comedy featuring a newly widowed fortysomething takes the reader on a joyful romp through-out some of Chicago’s finest eateries—with a dash of Cubs baseball on the side.

In the heart of Chicago, forty-five-year-old Angie Sortino finds herself at a crossroads. Recently widowed, she discovers that her deceased husband, Vinnie, has left her penniless, and she is forced to take a job at Chicago City Hall as a cleaning woman until Vinnie’s City pension can be cleared up. Then her spirited twenty-two-year-old niece, Gina Paloni, and her best friend Kim Yang, approach her with a dream of starting a catering company targeting funeral parlors—and Angie sees a chance to reawaken her own culinary aspirations.

As the three women embark on this new venture, they face the challenges of the catering business, from securing clients to perfecting their menu. Angie and Gina’s love for the Chicago Cubs adds a playful twist to their journey, as they often find inspiration in the vibrant atmosphere of Wrigley Field. Gina’s youthful enthusiasm contrasts with Angie’s cautious nature, leading to hilarious mishaps, unexpected romantic encounters, and heartfelt moments.

Through late-night brainstorming sessions and spontaneous cooking experiments, Angie begins to find her voice, both in the kitchen and in her life. With the support of a respected funeral director, Gina and Kim, and an unexpected new love interest, Angie learns to embrace her worth and pursue happiness.

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Excerpt

Chapter 1

All Italians had their funerals at Rago Brothers on Western Avenue in the heart of Chicago’s Little Italy. It was one of the city’s first full-service funeral homes and was built in 1917 by first-generation Italian American brothers Louis and John Rago. They had organized funerals for such infamous gangsters as Al Capone and his bodyguard Frank Rio. Labor union leaders were known to have bronze caskets to the tune of ten grand. It was here that thousands of mourners prayed for their loved ones, resting their knees on one-hundred-year-old wrought iron prayer kneelers. Sun shining through the stained-glass windows cast rainbows on visitors as they moved around the outer lobby and the coffee room. Lush red carpeting lined the floor in the main room, and a black baby grand piano greeted the mourners as they chose their seats.

On this warm August day, a wave of people dressed in black funeral attire lined up to gain access. Inside the funeral home, Louie Rago, a tall, painfully thin funeral director, gently guided Angie Sortino, the forty-five-year-old widow of the deceased, away from the casket and line of mourners. He leaned in and whispered, “I thought you said hardly anyone would come. There’s almost fifty people here. We’ll need to move Vinnie’s casket to the Florentine Room. It’s a fire hazard to have this many people in a small room.”

Angie had to stretch her neck to look up from her five-foot-two-inch frame. “We were only married for ten years; some of these people must have known him before then. Please don’t move him. I don’t have the money for the larger room. As you know, I had to put his casket on three different credit cards.” She dabbed her eyes with a tissue, her hand shaking.

“I’m so sorry, Angie, the fire marshal almost shut us down last week for overcrowding. We simply must move him.”

“If you must, you must.” I have no idea how I’ll pay for this, or where all our money went, she thought as she gazed over at the open casket that held her beloved husband. Vinnie’s hands were crossed over each other, his Cubs 2016 World Series ring on his pinkie. It was just a year ago that his high school friend, Ralph, had gifted it to him. Of course, it was a replica, but Vinnie had treated it as if it were the real deal.

As Angie walked toward the coffee area, her twenty-year-old niece, Gina, approached. “Aunt Angie, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the chance to provide the food for Uncle Vinnie’s funeral; it’s my very first catering event. I didn’t have much prep time, so I bought a few premade items from Jewel and Costco, but don’t worry, no one will notice. I added a few fancy garnishes to the plates. I had help making homemade cookies.” Gina gave Angie a gentle hug. Angie glanced to Gina’s left and saw a young, fit girl with long jet-black hair standing next to her. “You remember my friend Kim from high school? We’re taking an entrepreneurial course at Richard J. Daley College—the community college on Pulaski. She’s going to help me with the business side of starting our catering business.”

About the Author

Amy S. Peele, is the author of Cut, Match, and Hold, medical mysteries with a mission and a side of humor. Her books have won the NYC Big Book Award, Chanticleer International Book Awards, IPPY, Independent Press Awards, and more. Before becoming a writer, Amy enjoyed a fascinating thirty-five-year career in the organ transplant. She also studied improv at Second City Players workshop for a year. She is, and will always be, a die-hard Cubs fan. Amy resides in Novato, California, with her husband, Mark Schatz, and their loyal dog, Rusty.

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