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“Where does Gio fit into all of this?”
“That’s my boy. Always asking questions. This one is good. You are here to be a fresh face, I am old, they don’t respect me the same. They have their young people in their ears. America has changed so much. You, you are young and have years before you. Proof the Di Lorenzo bloodline lives in strength. That room you settled today with your presence was our first goal.
“Even if I didn’t come out and name you my successor, they assumed as much and that’s what we wanted. In that room were half friends, half foes. You, mio nipote brought us more friends.
“Gio is a…what do they call it in America? Ah, yes, a carbon copy of your mother. You, mio nipote, are the rabbit your brother is about to pull from the hat. Your job is to sit in the hat and hold everyone’s attention.”
“What?”
“You are a chef, Dario. This is who we’ve always wanted you to be. Take this time with me to plan what you will do when you return home, the family you will build. Everyone has a part, yours is to distract from what your brother is doing.”
“Why not tell me this before now?”
Nonno empties his glass. Then looks me in the eyes. “Today, I watched you walk into a room like a true Di Lorenzo boss. That is what we needed them to see. If you knew the truth, there was no guarantee you would have walked into that meeting and certainly not with the energy that was necessary. Capire?”
“Yes, I’m starting to understand a lot.”
Nonno stands and pats my cheek. I look up at him and smile. “I’ll leave you to think. There is more to learn of the past. We will share it all with you in the right time.
“You will return home as soon as this business is finished. For now, enjoy. My home is your home. This other business back in the States will work out. It’s being made sure of. You can relax.”
With that, my grandfather leaves the room. I take a long drag from my cigar as my mind reels. This changes everything. I’m finally going to marry my best friend, there’s nothing to stop me.
I need to call my woman. We have much to discuss. I want her here with me, but we both can’t be MIA from the restaurant at the same time for so long. Maybe she can come join me closer to when I plan to return.
I’m not going to be the Don. Wow, what the fuck just happened?
I look down at my watch. Fuck, she should be in the middle of the dinner service. I’ll have to wait a few hours for her to get home before I try to call.
I dial Gio instead. I need a favor.
“Dario, how you doing?”
“I’m great now that I understand what’s going on. Listen, I need to talk to Car. Her phone, the connections ain’t so good. Can you get her a line that’s clear?”
“Not a problem. You need anything else?”
“No, I just want to talk to her. Make that happen for me.”
“You got it.”
He hangs up without another word.
Carleen
My thoughts have been preoccupied with the little sonogram pictures in my backpack. I had my first glimpse of our baby today. Talk about a dose of reality.
I’ve had a little baby growing inside me for ten weeks now. This peanut is real, I’m going to be a mother. A part of me wishes I had told Dario, so I’d have someone to gush about this with. I miss him already.
“Wow, what’s the smile about? I thought for sure you were going to be miserable for the entire time the boss is away. I was willing to bet on it. You’re costing me money here,” Daisy teases.
I turn to her and wrinkle my nose. “First, when do I give you guys time to bet on my happiness? I think I’m slacking. Second, it’s been two weeks. Can’t I be happy? I didn’t burn the place down or cause us to have an empty dining room. I’m proud of myself.”
It’s only half of the truth. I don’t plan to tell anyone about the baby until I have to. If I’m not showing, no one will be knowing.
“Did you seriously doubt that would happen? You run one of the best kitchens I’ve ever worked in. Your work ethic has been A1 since day one. I admire that. I think Dario does too. I see him watching you with that proud grin, even before you two became a couple.”
I smile as I sauce the plate in front of me. “Balsamic salmon, table fifty-six in the window,” I call as I think about Daisy’s words.
I’ll admit I’ve been doing a lot better than I thought I would. Apollo informed me on our first day without Dario that my man had added my dish to the menu.
