Chapter Thirty-Nine
Sophie took the cruet of oil passed to her and poured a small amount into their dipping dishes, followed by a few drips of balsamic vinegar.
“Our wedding isn’t as far away as you may think. If you haven’t started planning it, you might want to start. I was serious when I said short courtship and quick engagement,” Fernando replied seriously as he tore a small chunk of bread from the loaf in the basket Sophie handed to him.
“I don’t want to get my hopes up. When you talk to your brothers about the danger and get their approval, then I will start planning, but you better follow up with that proposal because I don’t want to experience another heartbreak like the last one,” Sophie said, stuffing a small piece of oil-saturated bread into her mouth; thankful for an excuse not to talk for a moment.
The sadness in her eyes turned Fernando’s stomach as he observed the pain she hid deep inside. He placed a hand on the arm she had resting on the table, holding her next bite of bread, and said, “Never. I’m not going anywhere. My brothers and I will figure out how to mitigate the danger, but one way or another, if this courtship goes the way we both think it will... we are getting married... soon. Nothing short of you finding out you are no longer attracted to me will derail this train.”
Shock registered on Sophie’s face. “What in the world makes you think I would suddenly find you unattractive? I’ve been mooning over you for the past four years, and everyone but you has seen it. I think it is statistically improbable that now that we are a real couple, I would decide you are too ugly to look at every day.”
“I didn’t mean that. I mean… we have been friends, from my perspective, best friends, for so long that when we finally kiss for the first time, it may not have the chemistry we think it will. If it’s like kissing your brother, then it won’t work. Right?” he asked meaningfully.
Giggles erupted from Sophie, drawing the attention of the other guests, temporarily halting their private conversations.
As the first dish arrived, Sophie gasped in surprise, “Is that… an octopus?”
Alicia leaned in with a smile. “This is the ‘antipasto’ or appetizer ‘polipo alla veneziana,’ a Venetian-style octopus,” she explained as plates of fresh greens topped with pale ivory baby octopus, tentacles delicately curling upwards like exotic flowers, glistened under golden drizzles of olive oil and sprinkles of vivid green parsley, were set before them. Fernando eyed the dish with curiosity, while Sophie’s expression was one of hesitation bordering on horror. She tentatively picked up her fork, poking at the small, tender creature. “Oh, I don’t know if I can do this,” she murmured, her voice tinged with both amusement and distress.
Fernando chuckled, “Come on, it’s just a little seafood. You eat shrimp and crab. Give it a try!” With a dare in his eyes, he sliced off the tiny round head and popped it into his mouth. The flesh was tender, offering a slight chewiness that melted away to reveal a burst of garlic and a subtle hint of the sea. The flavor was enhanced by a gentle acidity from the olive oil, which brought out the sweetness of the seafood.
“Yeah, well, I don’t know the age of the shrimp and crab that I eat. I can ignorantly assume they lived a nice long life before gracing my plate, and… they don’t have adorable little suction cups on their tiny little legs,” she said, looking at him with a mixture of emotions playing on her face as she watched him chew his bite then glanced at his plate. “The head! You started with the head? You’re a monster!”
That made him laugh out loud, “It’s food, Soph. This happens to be a Venetian tradition. If you don’t at least try it, you will offend the hosts, and I am pretty sure we are being served by Alicia’s personal friends tonight. What do you say to Javi when he is hesitant to try a new culinary experience, something like, ‘Try one bite, and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to finish’ or something like that, right? I’m pretty sure that is in every decent parent’s repertoire.”
“Oh, fine,” she mumbled under her breath, slicing off a tiny tentacle and placing it in her mouth. The texture was a delightful surprise—far more tender than she anticipated, with the fresh herbs providing a bright contrast to the briny depth of the octopus. Despite her reservations, the complex flavors danced on her palate, leaving a lingering hint of the ocean mixed with the fresh, earthy notes of parsley. If she had focused on just the flavors, she probably could have finished the dish, but the feeling of the tiny tentacle tickling the roof of her mouth and the bumpy suction cups scraping along the surface of her tongue was more than she could handle. She liked octopus, and even though she had eaten calamari in the past, it was different. Those were cut and breaded like onion rings. She could assume they were adults, and they didn’t have the same textures as this steamed little guy .
“Okay, that’s enough for me,” she laughed, pushing the plate towards Fernando. “You finish it!” She then quickly reached for a slice of pane di casa, dipping it into the oil and vinegar, enjoying the simple yet delicious flavors as a palate cleanser from her octopus adventure.
Fernando, amused by Sophie’s reaction, made quick work of her dish, having enjoyed it even though it was initially awkward to eat a baby of any creature.
They soon moved on to the ‘risotto al nero di seppia’. Alicia announced, “This is a classic risotto with cuttlefish ink. It’s rich and creamy, with a striking black color that brings variety to the dining experience. Cuttlefish ink has been traditionally used to flavor and color dishes like risotto, pasta, and sauces, reflecting the culinary heritage of the area. I hope you enjoy this wonderful Venetian tradition.” As the creamy, ebony risotto was served, Fernando leaned towards Sophie and whispered, “Great, someone must have told them I was an author. Should I inform them I prefer to write with my ink, not eat it? Watch out; the next plate might come with paper as the main dish.” They shared a laugh, enjoying the inside joke and the light, slightly salty taste of the sea that the risotto brought.
Alicia beamed as she introduced the main course. “Here we have ‘pesce in saor,’ a quintessential Venetian delicacy that beautifully blends sweet and sour elements.” She gestured towards the plates as they were set down, showcasing the fish that had been fried to a crisp and then smothered in a marinade. “This sauce is a vibrant mixture of caramelized onions, vinegar, raisins, and pine nuts, all combining to create a rich and complex flavor profile that’s truly unique to our region. Enjoy.”
As Fernando and Sophie took the first bite of the tender fish, the golden amber marinade shimmering under the candlelight, they were greeted with a harmonious blend of flavors. The fish itself was flaky and moist, with the marinade lending a perfect balance of sweetness from the raisins and a sharp tang from the vinegar, complemented by the subtle crunch of pine nuts. The onions, softened to perfection, added a mellow sweetness that rounded out the dish, making each bite a delightful exploration of taste and texture.
“Now this, I could eat more of,” Sophie said with a sigh as she enjoyed another bite. “This is heaven. I have never had anything so delicious in my entire life, and my mother is a wonderful cook, so that is saying something.”
“Mm, I agree. This is absolutely delicious and… no tentacles to tickle your tongue,” Fernando teased, chuckling when Sophie playfully swatted him for trying to torment her over her reaction to the appetizer.
“Oh my goodness, these grilled vegetables are wonderful, too. The char marks aren’t just for show. You can taste the smoky flavor the flames left behind. And they’re so tender inside,” Sophie noticed as she bit into another wedge of garden-fresh zucchini.
“And here I thought these were just for decorations on the plate; it’s practically a rainbow with the green zucchini, red and yellow peppers, and purple eggplant. Who thinks of eggplant?” Fernando grinned, watching her.
“Don’t pretend you don’t eat vegetables. Remember, I know all your favorite foods and have eaten hundreds of meals with you over the years. You have no secrets. Now, eat your veggies.”
Stabbing a piece of eggplant and promptly chewing it, Fernando asked, “You’ve never had grilled veggies before?”
“No, not that I remember. I’ve only had grilled food a few times in my life. We never lived in a place that was conducive to owning or rather storing a grill, and if we did have access to a grill, like at the park or something, it was always hamburgers and hot dogs. ”
“Well, we are going to start having regular pool parties at my house so I can get to know Javier and your family. We will have to increase your family’s grilling experiences. Garrett has taught me the ropes, but I can always use more practice, and Santiago can learn right beside me.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun. Santi would love that, I’m sure. You two are going to get along great. Be warned, he may try to pull the Big Brother card and interrogate you, but I doubt it. If this works out, I’m sure he will be relieved to share the burden of our safety. This will make it possible for him to move on with his life and build his own family without the concern for Javi and me weighing on him.” Sophie handed the server her now empty plate and patted her flat belly. “I hope they don’t feed us too much more; I’m about to burst.”
“I think we’re down to dessert,” Fernando answered, handing over his empty plate as well before turning into her space and looking into her eyes, “I need you to start thinking about this… us… as a sure thing and not a question mark. I told you this only goes south if you can’t stand my kiss. Anything else can be worked out.”
Sophie giggled, covering her mouth to muffle the sound as it bubbled out.
“What is so funny? You did that earlier and never explained,” Fernando asked, a little offended that he was kept out of her joke. He loved hearing her laugh, but not when he got the distinct impression she was laughing at him. That was very uncomfortable and reminded him of some of his darker days at the boy’s home.