A Pizza to Die For Read Online Free PDF Page A

kind of plan instead of just rushing into this headfirst.”
    I looked closely into my sister’s eyes for a few seconds, and she asked me, “What are you doing?”
    “I just can’t believe those words came out of your mouth. You’re usually the one who wants to stir up trouble and see what happens.”
    Maddy nodded. “Maybe this time I need to be the sister who offers a reasoned perspective.”
    I couldn’t believe she could say that with a straight face. “I’d love to know how you plan to do that.”
    Maddy grinned at me and said, “It’s easy. I’ll just pretend that I’m you.”
    We sat there going over dozens of possibilities, but we weren’t having much luck, and the time kept moving forward.
    We were both lost in thought since we still hadn’t come up with anything even approaching a game plan when Josh and Greg tapped on the glass door. I glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that we still had ten minutes before we were due to open for our evening shift. It was rare for one of them to come early, but the fact that they were together meant that something was up, and from the expressions on their faces, it wasn’t good.
    I let them in. “Josh knows what’s going on,” Greg said.
    Wonderful. “I suppose you two are ready to go confront Judson Sizemore again,” I said.
    “That’s one way to go,” Josh said, and I marveled again about just how much he looked like his father had at that age. “Can we eat first, though?”
    Both young men went straight to the new pizza before I could warn them about its combustible properties.
    “What is it?” Josh asked as he took a piece and smelled it. I’d noticed that about him long ago, an odd habit indeed: Nothing went into that boy’s mouth until he smelled it first, and if it didn’t pass his sniff test, he refused to eat it.
    “It’s Maddy’s new experiment,” I said. “You aren’t under any obligation to try it.”
    Josh shrugged, and then took a bite. He chewed it slowly, and then, after careful consideration, said, “I like it.”
    “You’re kidding,” Maddy said.
    “No, really, it’s good.”
    Greg leaned over and took a piece for himself. He had a bite, chewed it, and then dropped his slice onto my plate. “Man, that’s awful. It’s way too hot and spicy.”
    “If you don’t want it, I’ll take your share,” Josh said.
    I pushed the platter toward him. “You’re welcome to the rest of it.”
    “Sweet,” he said as he took the remaining slices to another table.
    “I’m still hungry,” Maddy said. “Shall I make us something else?”
    “Why don’t I take care of this one?” I asked as I stood. I’d had enough of my sister’s creative approach to pizza-making to last me a while. “Greg, would you like me to make you something, too?”
    “No thanks. I had a burger at Brian’s Grill. You all go ahead, though. I’ll keep you company.”
    I went back into the kitchen, and to my surprise, the three of them followed me, including Josh holding the remnants of that abomination of a pizza in one hand as he ate the final slice. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to get that taste out of my mouth. Something simple was needed to cleanse my palette, the way a sorbet does, so I decided to make a plain cheese pizza for Maddy and me.
    As I slid it onto the conveyor, she said, “You’re not putting any toppings on it at all? Really?”
    “I think I’ve had my fill of extras at the moment. Something simple might be good, but I can make you something else, if you’d like. What do you think?”
    “Maybe you’re right,” she said after a moment’s pause.
    “Why are you two so early?” I asked, now that the pizza was on its journey through the oven. It might not be as fancy as the wood-fired one they had at Italia’s, but it made good, consistent pizza time after time, and that was all I could ask of it.
    “We came to help,” Greg said.
    I looked around the clean kitchen. “Thanks, but you’re a little late. Maddy and