Chapter 15
“Grandma, what’s for dinner?” Elijah asked, tugging on my sleeve, his eyes wide with curiosity. You’d think they didn’t feed them two snacks and lunch at the day camp, the way he claimed starvation when I picked him up.
“Let’s go out tonight,” I suggested, forcing a smile. “Let’s go to the Mexican restaurant in town where Gabriella works. Maybe we can surprise her.”
“Yay!” Elijah clapped his hands.
At the restaurant, we were shown to a small table near the window.
I scanned the room, searching for Gabriella among the bustling waitstaff, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, my eyes locked with Lorenzo’s as he cashed out a customer.
His gaze bored into me with unspoken hostility, making my blood run cold.
I glared right back at him, determined not to let him intimidate me.
Meanwhile, Elijah was engrossed in the word-find puzzle the waiter had given him, oblivious to the tension in the air.
“Can I get extra guacamole, Grandma?” Elijah asked without looking up, his pencil scratching against the paper.
“Of course, sweetheart,” I replied, patting his hand gently. My mind, however, was racing with questions and concerns about Gabriella. What was going on? Why hadn’t she come home or responded to my messages? And why did Lorenzo look at me like that?
Let’s just focus on having a good time, I told myself, trying to shake off the unease. As I glanced around the restaurant once more, I silently prayed that Gabriella was safe and sound, and that she and I would have a long conversation about it tonight.
“Here are your drinks,” Chandra, our young waitress, said with a forced smile as she placed the glasses of water on the table. Her gaze darted away nervously, and I noticed her squirrelly twitch.
“Thank you,” I replied, taking a sip to moisten my parched throat. “I was going to ask about the chicken burrito…”
Chandra hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I can’t serve you.”
I blinked in confusion, feeling a surge of indignation rise within me. “Excuse me? What do you mean you can’t serve us?”
“Please,” Chandra whispered, glancing around anxiously. “Gabriella says you should leave.”
“Leave?” I repeated, incredulous.
Elijah looked up from his kids’ menu. “But we just got here. Is Gabriella okay?”
“Gabriella’s fine,” Chandra assured us, her voice barely audible. “She just doesn’t want any more trouble. She’ll explain everything later. At home.”
As much as I wanted to protest, to demand answers right then and there, I knew that causing a scene wouldn’t be in anyone’s best interest—especially not with Elijah present. So, swallowing my frustration, I nodded reluctantly.
“All right.” I sighed, reaching for Elijah’s hand. “Let’s go, sweetheart. We’ll get dinner somewhere else.”
“Okay, Grandma,” he replied, his brow furrowed in confusion as he slid off his chair.
“Promise me Gabriella is okay,” I whispered to Chandra one last time before leaving.
“I promise,” she whispered back, her eyes filled with sincerity.
As we exited the restaurant, Elijah’s small hand clutched mine tightly, a mask of confusion stuck to his face.
I tried to steady my breathing, wrestling with the wild emotions thundering through me.
It was obvious that something was going on—something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
What could it be? If he hit her, I was gonna let him have it!
“Grandma, what happened?” Elijah asked, his voice quivering slightly.
“Nothing you need to worry about, baby,” I reassured him, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “We’ll just find another place to eat tonight, okay?”
“Okaaaaay,” he stretched out his respectful curiosity.
I stomped back to my car with Elijah in tow and backed out of my spot, wondering if I should leave or call the police.
I circled the small lot and spotted Gabriella’s car, which made me feel a little better.
Just as I was about to exit the property, I saw Gabriella’s mass of hair bouncing down the back stairs.
She waved me down, and I took a breath of fresh air as I scanned her face. No bruises or marks, thank God.
I lowered my window as Elijah nearly hopped over into the driver’s seat on top of me to see Gabriella for himself as well.
“I’m sorry I haven’t called you back.”
“Hi, Miss Gabriella!”
“Hey, Elijah. It’s good to see you.” Her eyes filled with tears that she blinked away. “I’ll be back home soon.”
“Great!” He settled back on his side of the car.
I whispered, “Are you okay, Gabriella?”
“Yes, Ms. Joyce. I appreciate your concern. I’m not in danger. Lorenzo and I are…trying to work things out. Without interference.”
“Interference? As in, nosy people?”
“No. I mean…well… He thinks I’ve been acting different since I moved out and… We want to see if we can work it out. Just the two of us. No interference. You know he has in-law trauma from his ex’s family.”
Is that a thing?
As far as I could see, the only two people Gabriella had been around were me and Elijah. Didn’t take a genius to figure out his insinuation. I didn’t know whether to be relieved or insulted. Gabriella’s calm demeanor soothed my fears, but her words made me wonder what was really going on.
“Plus, he’s letting me use the stove and oven after hours, to practice my recipes.” The fake grin on her face told another story.
“Gabriella, we can get the stove. You don’t have to—”
She caught a tear before it fell. The phone in her apron pocket lit up as it vibrated. “I have to get back to work. I’ll be home. Soon.”
Whatever was happening, I knew one thing for certain: I wouldn’t rest until I found answers.