8 #3
SATURDAY LUNCH WAS ALWAYS busy at La Casa d’Italia. The difference to the week days was the change in clientele. They were mainly shoppers and families, which made a welcome change. The noise level was notably louder and the atmosphere more relaxed.
Dani had been given a larger section today and had volunteered to stay on for the afternoon.
Most of her section was on dessert, so she started to reset the tables.
Gia had gone into the kitchen and Peter was talking to a large party at the back of the restaurant.
As Dani replenished her cutlery, her attention was directed to the front door.
A statuesque blonde had walked in with two children, a boy around eight years old and a younger girl.
They were all immaculately dressed. Behind them stood another woman with curly red hair, which was piled on top of her head.
Dani looked around for Peter, who had his back to the entrance and hadn’t seen them enter.
The rest of the staff were busy. Dani dropped what she was doing and walked over to the front desk.
“Good afternoon. May I help you?” asked Dani smiling at the striking woman. She was pale and had ice blue eyes that stared at Dani. Her expression was that of distaste and Dani tried hard not to shrivel under her gaze.
“You’re new.” The icy blonde’s eyes moved away from Dani as she looked into the restaurant, effectively dismissing Dani.
“Yes. I’m sorry, would you like a table?
” Dani answered politely. The blonde momentarily smirked at her and then, ignoring her completely, walked towards the rear of the restaurant.
The children followed her and the redhead smiled apologetically.
Dani stared after them wide eyed and was about to say something, when Gia came out from the kitchen and upon seeing the children, her face instantly lit up.
“Nonna!” the two children cried and ran past their mother and towards Gia, who flung her arms around the children, showering them with kisses.
Dani swallowed hard as it began to dawn on her that the rude blonde was Jerome’s wife.
She took a deep breath, relieved she hadn’t made a total fool of herself.
She studied the blonde as she slowly approached Gia.
She was tall and in addition to her height, she wore four inch high black ankle boots, making her tower over Gia.
She’d slipped off her coat to reveal a smock-styled grey dress that only a slim tall woman could pull off and manage not to look pregnant.
Her hair was straight and long, falling loosely down her back.
Dani’s heart sunk. She was stunning and the fact that all the male customers had stopped to stare at her confirmed that.
Gia straightened after hugging and kissing her grandchildren, still holding them close to her as she greeted Liz cordially.
Gia momentarily released the children to shake her hand and give her a rather lukewarm peck on the cheek.
Liz stiffly shook her hand and reciprocated the kiss but it was obvious that there was no warmth between the two women.
Dani moved back to her station and cleared a table that had left, and headed over to the kitchen.
The redhead was sitting at the bar chatting with Kuch and he pulled a face at her as she caught his eye.
Dani smiled back at him and took the plates into the kitchen.
Peter approached her as she came back out.
“Dani, run up to Jerome’s office and tell him Liz is here, will you?
” he asked tightly. Dani nodded and her eyes flitted to where Gia was settling them onto a table in her section.
Oh! So he was here, then? she thought, realising he hadn’t come down at all.
At that moment, Dani could not think of anything worse than serving their table.
Dani moved quickly to the back entrance and ran up the flight of stairs two by two, leading to the offices.
She flung open the door, only to be faced with Jerome walking from his office down towards her.
Dani stopped in her tracks as her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, flawless in his black three piece suit.
His face was set hard but his expression changed when he saw Dani.
“Er, your wife is here… well I mean your family. They just arrived,” Dani blurted out.
“Yes. I know. Thank you.”
Oh!
He stifled a smirk and Dani turned back around and headed back down the stairs, feeling flustered.
She really wished she hadn’t volunteered to stay on this afternoon.
The morning had gone so well. Now she’d have to serve Jerome and his frosty wife.
She could hear Jerome walking behind her and she skipped quickly down the stairs.
“How was lunch today?” his voice was soft as he caught up with her.
“Um, busy.”
“Are you staying on this afternoon?” he turned to look at her as he spoke.
Dani smiled tightly and nodded, “Yes.”
“Good.”
Good? Why good? “Thank you for my tart.” Her voice was low as they approached the door.
Jerome put his hand on the door handle and turned to look at her. “It didn’t seem fair that I ate the most of it last time. I hope you enjoyed it.” His eyes burned into hers and Dani swallowed nervously, transfixed. Christ he was just so…
“Yummy,” muttered Dani. Crap! She’d said that out loud. Jesus, get a grip. “Um, it was really yummy. Er, thanks.”
Jerome frowned a little before he opened the door to the restaurant and motioned for her to go through.
“Thanks,” mumbled Dani as she entered the restaurant and headed straight to her station, her eyes focusing on anything other than the Ferretti family.
Jerome walked steadily over to the table and both children ran excitedly over towards him.
Dani turned and her heart melted at the exchange between the three of them.
His whole demeanour softened as they clung to him.
He’d lifted up his daughter and was holding his son’s hand as he took them back to the table.
Liz was texting on her phone at the table, indifferent to anyone and anything.
Dani noticed that Peter had gone over to speak to her and she momentarily stopped what she was doing to begrudgingly accept his hand.
Gia was fussing over her grandchildren, clearly enjoying every moment, when the front door opened.
Cosimo and Arsenio entered the restaurant, and the over-excited children ran towards them both, nearly knocking the packages their uncles were carrying out of their grasp.
The whole scene was a joy to watch. Jerome’s stature had relaxed and his normally broody face had softened as he watched the interaction between his brothers and children.
Gia glowed more than normal, taking a break to enjoy some quality time with her family.
Only Liz sat quietly as the Ferrettis chatted animatedly.
All of them watched the children open up the presents their uncles had bought them.
It took fifteen minutes for them all to calm down. Peter placed their drink orders and Kuch set them on a tray ready for Dani to take over.
“Let me introduce you to Nina. She’s the Ferretti’s nanny.”