7 #3
Jerome excused himself and headed to the back to have a cigarette.
He stood there for a moment, enjoying the solitude.
Once alone, his thoughts drifted back to Liz.
He dragged hard on his cigarette as he tried to process what had happened tonight.
He realised her affair with Jonathan, her assistant, was obviously more than she’d admitted to, and he was having a hard time processing that.
What frightened him the most was that he didn’t feel the extreme hurt and pain he should be feeling.
Of course, the news had affected him, but not in the manner he’d expected.
Over the years, their relationship had lost that passion, that intense feeling of not being able to be without that one person.
Most relationships moved from that phase, to a deeper level of love; the physical animal attraction becoming a more spiritual and deeper connection.
But Liz’s constant unhappiness with pretty much everything had chipped away at their marriage.
In the ten years of being together, Jerome had done everything in his power to try and make her happy.
It was his love for his children that was instrumental to this.
They were what fuelled his perseverance.
Deep down, he knew if he didn’t have Alessandro and Kara, Liz and he would have never lasted this long.
He stubbed out his cigarette and headed back inside.
If his feelings for Liz had been deeper, he knew he wouldn’t be as calm as he was.
Peter tactfully hovered at the back of the restaurant, keeping an eye on Dani as Jerome strode in through the door. Jerome went immediately to Peter’s side, watching Dani approach Joseph’s table to take their dessert order.
“I think I’ll just have an espresso. They all sound delicious, but I’m pretty full.” Jenny put down the menu and looked at Joseph.
“I know…” agreed Dani.
Jerome narrowed his eyes as he listened to their conversation and Peter leaned closer to him and whispered, “Just watch.”
“Don’t you wish you could eat dessert first?” continued Dani. “Luckily I’ve tasted all of them. Our chef’s recipes are pretty special.”
“Which one would you recommend?” asked Joseph as he leaned closer.
“Tough choice. If you’re a chocoholic, the chocolate and hazelnut ravioli with vanilla cream is heaven on a plate.
” Dani widened her eyes to emphasize her comment.
“The espresso pana cotta is so light it melts in your mouth, as is the panettone bread and butter pudding.” Dani gave a slight shudder, half-closing her eyes. “Delicious.”
Jenny stared, mesmerized, as Dani described the different dishes. “Oh hell.” She reopened the menu. “I’ll have the ravioli, I love chocolate.”
Joseph licked his lips and swallowed. “Screw it, I’ll have the bread and butter pudding and run a couple of extra miles tomorrow.”
Dani grinned and took their menus. “You won’t regret it.”
Joseph huffed and rolled his eyes.
Jerome leaned back against the service station and shook his head slightly.
“Every one of her tables has ordered dessert tonight,” Peter said.
Jerome’s eyebrow arched as he turned to Peter.
“Well, wouldn’t you?” snorted Peter.
Jerome exhaled as he nodded his assent.
By ten thirty, the restaurant had started to slow down. Dani’s tables were all on coffee.
Rosa came over to her as she was preparing a bill. “You did great today, Dani. Friday’s pretty busy and you handled it well.” Rosa rubbed her arm affectionately.
“I only had four tables, Rosa, but thanks.”
Joseph and Jenny were getting ready to leave and Joseph signalled to Dani for the bill.
Jerome had joined them while they enjoyed their dessert, which they both finished, despite their initial comments on how full they were.
Jerome’s eye caught Peter’s. and Peter walked over to Dani.
“Table twenty’s meal is on the house. Once Jerome gets up, just go over and tell them that it was with our compliments, okay? ”
“Of course. First, I’ll just go and take them their coffee.”
Peter nodded. “Once you’ve done that you can go. You’ve been here all day.” He looked at his watch. It was ten forty-five. She’d been here for over thirteen hours.
“It’s okay. I’m alright staying until the end.”
“I’ll organise a taxi for you, then.”
“That’s okay. Kuch offered to give me a lift home. He lives about a couple of miles from me. I’ll be driving in tomorrow.”
“Oh. Well, that’ll be easier for you. Tomorrow will be hectic. We’re fully booked from six thirty.” He flashed a grin and walked back over to the till where Gia was.
Dani took over the coffee Joseph and Jenny had ordered, along with a fresh espresso for Jerome. He drank more coffee than her, she thought fleetingly as she placed it in front of him and cleared the dessert plates. His eyes wandered over to her as she worked quickly around them.
“She’s very good,” Joseph commented, catching Jerome unaware.
“Yes, she’s new, but she’s doing well.”
Dani brought over two shot glasses of grappa that Peter had sent over and placed them on the table, along with some cream Jenny had asked for. “They’re to go with the coffee,” she added.
“Thank you.” Jenny eyed the drinks.
“It’s grappa. It’s quite strong but it’s lovely. It complements the coffee,” explained Dani, and Jerome stifled a smile at her comment.
“You drink a lot of coffee then, Dani?” asked Joseph, effectively stopping her from leaving his side. He sat back in his chair so that he could see her better.
Dani knew he was trying to open up a conversation with her.
He was being subtle, but Dani had had her fair share of men flirting with her.
Her reply needed to be polite without giving him the complete brush off.
“Yes, something like that,” replied Dani, as a smile curled on her lips and her eyes involuntarily darted for a split second to Jerome.
She stepped back and nodded, then walked to her station.
“She’s really good Jerome.“ Joseph stared after her.
Jerome smiled stiffly at Joseph and nodded.
He drained his espresso, then got up and excused himself.
Once he’d vacated his seat, Dani went over to inform them that their meal was on the house.
Of course, Joseph protested. Joseph searched for Jerome who was by the bar and he made his way over to him in order to thank him.
They spoke a little more and then Joseph and Jenny left.
Dani began to clear the last of her tables when she felt Jerome come up behind her.
“He left this for you.” Jerome held out a fifty pound note. “He asked me to give it to you.”
“Really? Thanks. I never got to thank him.” Dani took the note from Jerome, clearly shocked.
“Don’t be so surprised. You did really well today. I have a feeling he’ll be back again, you can thank him then.”
Jerome gazed down at her intensely as he spoke and Dani felt herself heat up. “Er, thanks,” she muttered, then turned back to her table as she put the note into her pocket, not wanting to make a complete fool of herself.
Jerome walked into the kitchen and Dani relaxed. She didn’t see him again that night. It worried her how much she was bothered by his absence.
By eleven thirty, Kuch was ready to go. He was also dropping off Nicole. After bidding everyone goodnight, they headed to the back of the restaurant and out to the car park. As Dani lowered herself into the car, Carmen caught up with them.
“Hey, this is for you.” Dani looked at the polystyrene container she was holding.
“For me?” Dani squeaked and instantly her mouth flooded with saliva. She knew whatever was in the box would be delicious. Carmen nodded as she grinned at her. “Thanks, Carmen.”
It was midnight by the time she got home.
Everyone was fast asleep. Dani took off her shoes and crept into the kitchen and flicked on the lights.
She placed the box on the table and contemplated whether she should save it for the morning.
Ha! Who was she kidding? Not a chance! She pulled a fork and spoon from the cutlery drawer and sat down at the table, then flicked open the container.
She gasped. There it sat, a slice of the scrumptious limoncello and lemon cream tart.
But that wasn’t what had taken her breath away.
On the inside of the lid there were nine words handwritten in black marker pen.
Enjoy it all this time, you deserve it. J
Dani’s hand flew to her mouth as an overwhelming giddy feeling spread through her whole body.
Holy shit!