Chapter 24 Gayle
G AYLE
Although Elena’s blocked from her line of vision by a potted tree, Gayle watches Christian. He’s smiling at Elena as if they’re any young couple in love on holiday in Venice. Then he throws his head back and laughs at something. How does Elena make conversation with this man? How can she even bear to look at him?
Gayle turns her attention back to Mike, grateful to be married to an honourable man who’d never dream of raising a hand to her. She leans across the table and, with her napkin, wipes a drip of marinara sauce that’s caught in his beard.
Happily, Signora Bianchi is back in the restaurant today and the meal has been to die for. Signora Bianchi is subdued this evening though. She’s been friendly enough and stopped by to enquire about their day, but she isn’t as smiley or chatty as she was on their first night, leaving their table only a minute after she came.
‘A husband’s heart attack can do that to a woman,’ Mike says.
Gayle wonders if it’s more than that though, if perhaps the yelling they heard from the Bianchi apartment last night might also have something to do with Signora Bianchi’s melancholy. Regardless, Gayle’s thrilled that she’s back and they can enjoy her amazing food again.
The lovely young Australian waitress, Sophie, comes out of the kitchen and catches Gayle’s eye. Gayle gives her a wave and Sophie waves back, her round face lighting up with her smile. She looks as pretty as a picture in another fifties-style frock. Sophie approaches their table but then she freezes mid-step, her expression changing to one of terror.
Gayle quickly turns her head, following Sophie’s gaze. And who should she find looking back at Sophie, with a wide grin, but Christian Taylor. What’s going on? Has Christian hurt her too? She turns to Sophie again, but the girl has already disappeared, the door to the kitchen swinging shut behind her.
‘Hon, there’s something going on with Elena’s husband and Sophie, the waitress,’ Gayle tells Mike, describing to him what she’s just seen.
He looks over his shoulder at Christian. ‘You sure you’re not imagining things?’
‘I’m sure. You should’ve seen her face when she saw him. It was like she’d come face to face with Lucifer himself.’
Mike opens his mouth wide to fit half a sardine in. ‘Don’t you go taking on more people’s problems now,’ he says with his mouth full. ‘We gave Elena the best part of our day today and for what? My thighs are still burning from those stairs. I say we put the whole thing behind us.’ He tilts his head to get a better view of the kitchen. ‘I wonder when they’re bringing out the lemon mousse? Never had lemon mousse before. Never even knew lemon mousse was a thing. Wait till the kids read about that in the blog tonight. Suze and Lizzie will be looking up lemon mousse recipes on the internet, I’d guarantee it.’
Gayle feels another splitting headache coming on. Her doubts about following Mike’s lead always and without question gnaw away at her heart.
Be happy to be here in this lovely restaurant, eating this lovely food. Don’t resent him just because he doesn’t care about strangers’ lives. What’s important is that he cares about you.
Mike burps. ‘Ooh, pardon me. I blame that on the sauce – too rich, I say. You haven’t finished your fish there. Want me to give you a hand with that?’
‘Help yourself, hon.’ As she slides her plate towards him, she can almost feel the cancer within her marriage grow.