Chapter 31 #2
I emailed Mr. Mayor about the appalling menu at the retirement home, but he put me off with empty platitudes, saying he would of course look into it. And while I followed up with several calls, I only managed to reach his office manager.
Not that I’ll let that stop me. I intend to make sure the old folks who live here have real food to eat.
But that’s not why I’m nervous right now. It’s the thought of stepping back into the Shirtless Chef’s skin and recording a video.
I can tell Bianca is nervous for different reasons.
“Don’t worry, cara mia,” I say as I park the car in the lot. “It didn’t fall down while you were away. The building is still standing.”
“Probably because I wasn’t there to burn it down.”
I take her hand. “I spoke with Mr. Mayor’s office manager yesterday. He confirmed they’ve scheduled maintenance for the sprinkler system and all of the fire alarms.”
“You did that?” she says, sounding a little more impressed than I deserve.
“Of course. I also told him we’ll be re-training the cooks. I said I’d send him a grocery list or a bill. Either suits me.”
For a second, joy steals over her expression, chasing the unease away, and she leans over and kisses me.
But I can see the worry’s still there.
“You’re worried about your friends,” I say. Because they are her friends. She stopped being a hospice nurse because she realized she cared too much about her patients, and it was killing her to lose them, but she cares just as much about the residents of this building.
“My patients.”
“If you insist.”
I expect her to shove my shoulder, but she surprises me by leaning in to kiss my cheek.
“What’s this for?” I ask.
“For understanding me and not being a dick. Also, you’re going to be great in there. I’m already looking forward to sending smackdowns to all the people who are inevitably going to send you love notes after you post your video.”
I smile back at her and smooth her bangs behind her ear. “Thank you. And I have to tell you…even though Mr. Mayor is a true idiot, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to send you away for good. He cares too much about what other people think to take away someone who’s so important to this place.”
Still, we both hesitate.
“I could drive us to California,” I joke. “We can pick oranges and go to the beach and forget everything except each other.”
She smiles. “That sounds kind of nice, actually, but we’ll have to wait until after the apple pie bake-off. I’m a very sore loser.”
I rub my knuckles against the back of her hand.
“You’ve convinced me to go in. You’re a sore loser, and the only way I can secure a win for you is to learn that recipe from Luanne.
” I pause before adding, “I’ve been thinking…
if I’m going to continue to make videos as myself, I want to include more of my life. This feels like a good place to start.”
Her smile heals part of the seam I’ve tried to stitch between myself and the Shirtless Chef. “Look at you, wanting to go to a nursing home and make videos with a bunch of elderly people. I’ve been a bad influence on you.”
“A good influence,” I say, opening my door. “My angel.”
“Let’s not overdo it,” she replies, but she looks pleased.
Before I can get out, she places her hand on my arm. “It’s been fun since you got here.”
The word shrivels something inside of me. “Fun?”
Understanding flickers in her eyes, and she squeezes my arm, her eyes intent on mine. “That woman made you think fun is worthless, Giovanni, but that’s insane. Giving people joy is no small thing. And everywhere you go, you give joy. You’ve given my whole family joy.”
It’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me, and for her to have said it…
“My heart is full of you,” I say, choked up by emotion. “Being here…with you…it’s meant the world to me. I felt like I was drowning, and you reminded me that I can swim.”
She leans forward, and I bend my head to her. Our kiss is a blessing. A thing of hope.
“Come on, beautiful,” I say. “We’ll do this together.”
Less than half a minute later, we’re walking into the building. I take Bianca’s hand and squeeze it as we approach the desk.
Judy, the receptionist who was here last week, beams at us.
“Oh, thank God, has it already been a week? I’m so glad you’re back.
But where are your scrubs? The nurse who’s been filling in doesn’t know how to use a needle.
I wouldn’t let her stick one into an orange.
Can I be the one who sends her packing?”
“I’m not working today,” Bianca says, her expression pinched, probably at the thought of her favorites being turned into pincushions. “Rhett made me take the whole week off. We’re here to see Luanne.”
Judy sighs. “Oh, I could just slap that boy. The only time he bothers to lift a finger around here, it’s to do the wrong thing.
I can’t even count the number of times we’ve been after him to send someone to do the landscaping.
You can bet your butt he’s spent thousands of dollars getting that corn maze sculpted before the race next weekend.
Meanwhile the lawn here rarely gets mowed.
He could do it himself, but God forbid he break a sweat.
” She sighs again, then says, “Sign the book and head on back.”
“I’ll do that,” I volunteer immediately. “The yardwork, I mean.”
Bianca turns toward me, her lips parting. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know. But it’s no trouble. We can do it together if you’d like.”
She tugs me to her by the hem of my shirt and kisses my cheek, her mouth brushing the corner of mine. “You’re some man, Mr. October.”
“You missed,” I whisper.
She smiles and kisses me lightly on the lips.
“Young love,” Judy says with a sigh, waving a folded paper in front of her face as if it’s a fan.
“Well, you kids sign the book and head on back. I think Helen’s playing one of your videos, Giovanni.
Of course she is. She’s been selling those shirts of hers like hotcakes, and thank goodness.
Did you know she’s using her own money to fund improvements around here?
Why, she just bought a couple of benches for the backyard. ”
An idea sparks in my head, and it lights a fire under the growing sense of purpose I’ve felt over the last few days.
“Come on, Bianca,” I say. “We’ve got work to do.”
My first mission? To ask Helen if she has a couple of shirts in our size.
We’re going to sell the shit out of them today.