We’d eaten a dish called Fideo, which Rosie described as Mexican spaghetti, along with rice and beans. Instead of forks we’d used tortillas to scoop up the food. Although, I’d noted how Cris used a butter knife to pile his tortilla with noodles, rice and beans, while I had followed Rosie’s example of tearing off a piece and digging right in. I was quickly learning to love Mexican spices, which were slightly different from the Italian flavors I’d grown up with.

‘So glad you enjoyed it, Liz,’ Rosie said as she cleared the dishes from the table. ‘Now, I bet you’d love to see some of your grandfather and mother’s belongings that Cris found in Frank’s things. Then we can all have some coffee before you head to your hotel,’ she said, coming back to the table and standing next to Cris who still remained seated across from me.

‘Sure, that sounds great,’ I said with a slightly nervous look towards Cris. As Rosie had hinted, he started talking more openly at dinner about work. But I hadn’t been alone with him and he didn’t seem very forthcoming about showing me anything as he sat there quietly.

Rosie, likely noticing Cris’s silence, spoke again to fill the void. ‘Why don’t I go ahead and take you up, since I know Cris has some work to check in on.’

Cris turned his head in her direction and gave her a look that I couldn’t quite read. Rosie’s smile faltered for the briefest second before she perked back up again. ‘That would be fine, right dear?’

My eyes darted back and forth between them, still trying to figure out their dynamic. Rosie was so talkative and outgoing but every time Cris shot her a look, she quieted and checked for approval. It was very different from how my own family worked, where the women dictated the running of the household and rarely asked for permission. He seemed to be the dominant one in the relationship and I had to wonder how he treated Rosie when they were alone. Perhaps he toned his controlling nature down when company was present. But at the same time, he’d just lost his brother. The idea of going through his things was probably hard for him.

After a pause that made me shift uncomfortably in my seat, Cris gave a grunt and said, ‘Yeah, okay.’ He got up from the table. ‘I’ll be in my office.’