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Have a Taste
A HEART'S
HUNGER (An Excerpt
of A HEART'S HUNGER from RECIPE FOR LOVE, The squeak of the screen door announced my arrival. It closed enough that I could secure the catch. Air howled. Tugged at the opening, but the door kept its place. "Hello! I'm home." The house was lit by morning haze streaming in long beams through its wide picture windows. The sun defied this hearty blow and heated the room to a balmy temperature. Doors rattled as the house caught the gust again. "Hello." Muffled sounds perked my ears. I placed my suitcases to the side of the stairs. They practically led themselves to their familiar spot as I slowly searched out the noise. "Best scenario is my Aunt Polly. Worst scenario is a burglar. Since I cannot imagine a stranger taking more than twenty steps in this town without being waylaid by locals, it's probably a neighbor - or Bennett." Saying his name aloud squeezed my heart, causing the after rush of blood to pulse in my throat. My feet moved automatically as they paced out the living room, curled around the right side of the house, swayed into the TV room, then pushed through into the dining room. I completed the route - ending in the kitchen, and turned in the only two directions possible - stairs going up or towards the utility area. My breath stuttered as I waited for the sound again. A contained cry turned me toward the utility area. I took the few steps and stood there with my hand poised on the handle. "Who's in there?" "Ghosts , ghouls and the rest of the creatures of the night." ---------------------------------------- History of Polly Nana's Pot Roast Recipe: This is my great aunt's recipe, including notes. She and my great uncle took the place of grandparents. 'Polly Nana' was the name she giggled over because she was a diehard New Yorker turned instant mother and grandmother, and a self-proclaimed Pollyanna family woman. She deemed it a gift - her heart-soaring pleasure - to embrace the lost, the children of extended family and their children's children. This recipe is a favorite, as there was always extra for whoever dropped by. And with the smells that emanated after two hours of simmering, folks always dropped by.
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