From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home

Chapter 10 centers on the first anniversary of Saro’s death. Tembi has returned to auditioning but continues to struggle with her grief, while Zoela, now eight, still asks why her father died. Tembi describes the preceding year as a series of grief-stricken Wednesdays, which she mistakenly believed would get easier over time. She still struggles to get out of bed, and Zoela regularly asks who will take care of her if Tembi dies. After her audition, Tembi finds solace in her garden, where the fava beans that Saro originally planted are now growing. She picks the heirloom beans and makes Saro’s favorite spring dish, purea di fave con crostini, for the friends and relatives coming to mark the anniversary of his death. The aim of the gathering is to celebrate Saro’s life and to revive the tradition of welcoming friends into their home. Tembi calls Croce for advice about the fava bean recipe, using the word ‘commemorate’ rather than ‘celebrate’ to describe the gathering. She promises to visit Sicily over the summer, then continues preparing for the gathering. Two days later, she and Zoela light candles in the room where Saro died, play his favorite music, and invite friends to leave messages for Saro.