Ray Vecchio and Ray Kowalski were in the kitchen of the Vecchio home, packing a large brown bag with sandwiches, chips, and the assorted junk food items they thought they would need to get through the all-night stakeout that lay ahead of them.
Vecchio sighed as he added a few chocolate bars to the bag. "I hate these stakeouts." He complained.
"Yeah, they're not my favorites, either." Kowalski agreed. "But they have improved in one way since we became partners."
"Really?" Vecchio smiled happily. "How?"
"The food is much better. Home-made meatball sandwiches beat the hell out of those nasty bologna and cheese things I used to take on stakeouts."
From the other side of the room, where she was pouring coffee into a thermos, Rosa smiled. "Thank you, Raymond. And you make sure you eat your sandwich. You are far too thin."
"I'll make sure he does, Ma." Ray said.
"Thank you, Caro." Rosa smiled warmly at her son, and Vecchio laughed as Kowalski glared at him.
Rosa crossed the room and handed the thermos to Kowalski. "Here you go. You boys be careful, now."
"We will Ma." Ray picked up the bag of food and gave Rosa a kiss on the cheek before heading out.
Kowalski started after him, but stopped as Rosa placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Raymond, this Saturday is Theresa's First Communion. The Mass is at 3:00 and after that everyone is coming here for dinner. I would like it very much if you would be there."
"Oh." Ray said uncomfortably. "That's nice, Rosa, but that sounds like a family thing."
"Yes, it is." Rosa agreed. "Please be here at 1:30 so we will be on time for Church."
Ray paused for a moment, then nodded. "Okay, I'll be here at 1:30." He gave Rosa a quick kiss on the cheek, then walked out to the car, a huge smile on his face.
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