by Brandy Bruce
Mandy rested her chin on the palm of her hands, completely immersed in his dad’s story. Her lips curved into a full smile as his father shared with her how proud he was of Leo.
Focus, Leo. You’ll never get through this night if you think of kissing her every time you look at her.
Leo helped his mother clear away the dishes and serve coffee as his father and Mandy sat talking. Mandy asked questions and jotted down pages of notes. The clock on the wall glared at Leo. He should have left hours before, but he knew he couldn’t leave so he’d called in to let his staff know he couldn’t make it. Angelina would keep an eye on things at the Fifteenth Street location and Renée was overseeing the Franklin restaurant. The fact that he had no idea when he might see Mandy again was enough of a reason to keep Leo where he was.
It wasn’t long before his father needed rest. After helping him upstairs, Leo rejoined Mandy in the kitchen. Mandy hugged and thanked his mother, who then excused herself to help his dad.
Leo and Mandy stood awkwardly alone in the kitchen.
She doesn’t want to leave, either.
“One more cup of coffee?” he asked. Mandy nodded and sat back down at the table. Leo poured two cups of coffee and sat next to her.
“Did my mother tell you about the party we’re planning for my dad?”
Mandy smiled. “Yes, she invited me. I know she and Isa will be busy with the party arrangements. And I know you’re busy, too—but I was wondering if there are any photos I could use for my article. I’d love to include an old photo of your dad from when the Los Angeles restaurant first opened.”
Leo brightened. “That’s a great idea. I’ll try to find something.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“And if you need to talk to me...about the article, I mean, don’t hesitate. I’m not too busy to help out with that. I want you to have all the information you need.” Leo hoped Mandy could hear the genuineness in his words.
“Thanks, Leo. That’s good to know.” After a moment, she stood up, reached for her coat draped on the back of one of the kitchen chairs and slipped it on.
“How have you been?” Leo said before he could talk himself out of it. Mandy shrugged.
“Fine. I’ve had several reviews to write this week.”
Leo stood up next to her and took her hand in his, ignoring all the warnings in his head.
“Leo, I...” Mandy looked as though she had something to tell him, but he could see her swallow her words.
“Go on,” Leo pressed. She shook her head and let go of his hand. Leo desperately wanted to reach back out and hold her, but he didn’t. Mandy slid her purse strap over her shoulder.
“Mandy...” Leo searched for the right words. “I hope you know that if things were different for me...if my life looked different—”
She raised her eyebrows and waited. “It’s not me, it’s you, right?” she said.
Leo’s shoulders slumped. It sounded so cliché and he knew it.
“Mandy, I care about you.” He wanted to yell in frustration. Never before had he been so at a loss for the right words.
Leo didn’t want to push her, especially now that things felt strained between them. So he just walked her to the front porch. The temperature had dropped considerably and a dusting of snow covered the ground.
“Goodnight, Leo,” Mandy said. She leaned forward up on her toes and lightly kissed his cheek, then turned and walked to her car.
Chapter 13
Mandy hadn’t even had a chance to take off her coat and sit down at her desk before her cell phone rang the next morning.
Leo.
All the conflicting emotions she’d felt the night before came crashing back over her. She picked up her phone.
“Hello?”
“Mandy, it’s Leo. I’m sorry to bother you but I was wondering if you could come by the restaurant later today—or I could stop by your office if that would be more convenient. I stayed up late last night after you left, going through family pictures and scrapbooks. I found a box of old photos of my dad and I thought you’d like to choose one for the article.”
How could she say no to that?
Mandy agreed to stop by the Fifteenth Street restaurant later that afternoon. After working on a couple of reviews and going over her schedule for upcoming reviews due within the following months, she drove to Leo’s restaurant. As he’d instructed, she walked around to the back and entered through the kitchen door.
“Leo!” she called out as she set her purse on one of the kitchen counters, removed her scarf and unbuttoned her coat.
He walked into the kitchen and Mandy felt her heart tug.
Oh, Lord. Why do I have to feel this way every time I see him?
“I’ve got a whole box of pictures for you to choose from,” Leo explained as they walked to his office.
“Um, that’s good.” Mandy mentally scolded herself.
“That’s good”? Stop talking, Amanda, if that’s the best you can come up with.
The scolding voice in her head took on her mother’s tone.
Leo pushed open the door and pointed to the photo box on his desk. Mandy reached for the picture on top of the stack. She examined the photo of a much-younger Gabriel, leaning against an old car and holding a toddler in his arms.
“You?” Mandy asked and Leo nodded. Mandy pulled up a chair and began to sort through the photographs. Leo sat next to her, pointing out details and explaining the context of the pictures when he could. Mandy loved that nearly every photo brought a smile to Leo’s face.
An hour passed without Mandy noticing. She had emptied the box, spreading out the pictures across Leo’s desk and studying each one. She’d found at least three good possibilities. Leo had brought Mandy a soda and warmed up a basketful of breadsticks for them to munch on as they looked at the photos together.
Mandy sipped her soda and leaned over the desk, focusing on one of her favorites, though she never would have told Leo. An old photo of Leo and Isa standing in front of a church building had caught her eye. Leo couldn’t have been older than sixteen. The carefree look on his face, the easy happiness and contentment he exuded—Mandy wished she could help him feel that way again.
With a sideways glance, Mandy watched as Leo shuffled through a few photographs.
That’s how he makes me feel. Happy. Content.
If only he felt the same. If only he wanted more instead of less.
Mandy sighed and tried not to feel too despondent.
A knock at the office door surprised both of them, and Angelina walked through the open door.
“Angie? Is it four already?” Leo asked, checking his watch.
Angelina smiled. “Yes. But you two finish whatever you’re doing. We all know what to do in here. The kitchen’s being prepped.” Angelina disappeared back down the hallway.
“Have you decided, Mandy?” Leo asked.
“I’d like to use these three,” Mandy said, gathering the photos and handing them to Leo. “Could you scan them and email them to me?”
Leo nodded. “Good choices,” he said.
For maybe the tenth time since she’d arrived, Mandy wanted to tell Leo about her new job opportunity.
But she didn’t.
“I wish we could have dinner together....” Leo’s voice trailed off and he glanced at the clock on the wall. Mandy shook her head quickly, knowing he had a dinner rush to prepare for. She said a quick goodbye and drove home. Just minutes after she arrived home, the shrill sound of the Shirelles’ “Mama Said” pierced the room. Mandy fell face first on her bed and held her phone up to her ear.
“Hi, Mom,” she said in a muffled voice.
“Mandy? Is that you? Why are you mumbling? I haven’t heard from you in days.”
Some things never ch
ange.
Mandy rolled to her back and blew her hair out of her face. “I’ve been really busy with work, Mom.”
“I see. Well, your father and I need to do some shopping up at Park Meadows soon. We’d like you to have dinner with us. You can choose the place.”
“Sure. When?”
“Saturday. Let’s plan for an early dinner. Say, five. Would you want to invite Leo? Your father would like to meet him.”
Mandy sat up. “I would, but I doubt he can join us. Fridays and Saturdays are his busiest evenings at the restaurant.”
“Another time, then. We’ll see you Saturday, Mandy.”
Mandy recognized a subtle change in her mother’s voice. It seemed softer somehow. Mandy also took note that she’d had a conversation with her mother and yet her blood pressure hadn’t risen.
Progress. Thank you for that, Lord.
Without a doubt, Mandy knew where they would be having dinner Saturday night. And she hoped her favorite chef would be cooking.
* * *
Another email from Bernice St. James on Thursday pushed Mandy to respond, agreeing to a phone interview on Friday morning. Since Mandy often worked from home on Fridays, she knew she’d have the time and the privacy for the interview.
She’d spent Friday morning telling herself that there was no reason to be nervous. After all, Ms. St. James had sought her out. But when her phone rang, Mandy had to sit down to fight the jitters in her stomach. Thankfully, once the interview began, the jitters subsided and she hit her stride.
Ashley had promised to come over right after the interview. She knocked on the door just fifteen minutes after Mandy texted her. Mandy swung the door open and Ashley stood in the doorway, her eyes as wide as saucers.
“Are you Take Me There’s newest employee?”
Mandy rolled her eyes and pulled Ashley inside. “Of course not, Ash. I had an interview, that’s all. She asked me lots of questions and then she told me more about what they have in mind for me.”
“Tell me everything,” Ashley said as she made herself at home, opening the refrigerator and pulling out a carton of milk. “Do you have bagels?”
Mandy nodded and pointed to the pantry. “I want one, too.”
They sat across from each other at Mandy’s kitchen table, eating toasted blueberry bagels with cream cheese and drinking milk.
“It sounds good,” Mandy admitted. Ashley pursed her lips.
“Tell me.”
“It’s a fabulous opportunity. The pay is great. The benefits are comparable to what I’ve got now—that’s if I choose to go with them full-time. I could just freelance. Bernice would like for me to have a regular column on the website, sort of like my own blog.”
“You have a regular column now,” Ashley pointed out. Mandy nodded.
“That’s true. But Denver Lifestyle is all about Colorado. With Take Me There, I’d be traveling all over the country and even internationally! They’d be paying me to travel! If the blog really took off, they’d consider doing TV specials for their network. Can you believe that, Ash? A film crew would follow me as I explore resorts and restaurants all over the world!”
Ashley smiled. “That does sound amazing.”
“I know!” Mandy’s excitement bubbled over. “I mean, don’t you think I should take it?”
Ashley looked thoughtful. “I think you should pray about it. And if God gives you the green light, then go for it, absolutely. Dive in headfirst. But if you feel any hesitation, wait.”
Mandy nodded her agreement. “Of course, I mean, I’m definitely going to pray about this before I make a final decision. Bernice is going to email me the official offer so I have time to think it all through. I know what you’re thinking, Ashley.”
“Do tell.”
“What about Leo? You’re wondering whether I’d be up for this job if he wanted to pursue a relationship with me right now.”
“Well, would you?”
Mandy shrugged. “I don’t know. And it doesn’t matter because Leo has told me frankly that he’s not looking for a relationship right now.”
“And you believe him?”
Not really.
“All I can go on is what he told me.”
“Do you want to know what I think?” Ashley asked. Mandy pretended to think it over.
“Well...”
Ashley didn’t blink. “I think you’ve fallen in love with Leonardo Romano.”
Mandy kept her eyes diverted. “Even if that were true, it’s not enough, Ashley.”
“Not enough? Since when is love not enough?”
Mandy looked up. “It’s never enough when it’s one-sided. He has to decide whether he wants to pursue me. He has to decide whether he’s in love with me.”
“And if he does just that?” Ashley pondered aloud.
Mandy looked down.
“Then...I don’t know.”
“Let me point out one thing, Mandy. Traveling to all those wonderful, romantic resorts, dining at all those incredible restaurants—it might be a little lonely when you’re always asking for a table for one.”
“Well, that’s my only option right now, Ashley,” Mandy replied, hurt seeping into her words. Ashley grasped Mandy’s hand.
“There’s another option, honey. It’s called faith.”
Chapter 14
Two days passed and Leo wondered whether the energy he spent not calling Mandy was worth the effort.
Saturday evening Leo sighed with relief that he wasn’t scheduled to cook. He did plan to divide up his time between both restaurants, overseeing the staff. After a quick run-through of the Franklin restaurant, Leo made his way to the Fifteenth Street location. He got caught up responding to emails in his office when a flustered Angelina knocked twice and then opened the door before he could even speak.
“Angie, what’s wrong?”
“One of the servers called in sick so I was helping out, but tonight is supposed to be my first night running the hostess station. Can you call Dana and see if she’s available? Or maybe someone from Franklin can come over.”
Leo was already flipping through his scheduling book as he waved Angelina back.
“I’ll call. You hostess.”
She ducked out and then whirled back around.
“Leo, you are planning to stop by and at least say hi, right?”
He didn’t look up. “I’ll do a walk-through later and speak to customers.”
“What if she’s not here by that point?”
Leo stopped what he was doing and looked up. “Angelina, what are you talking about?”
“Mandy’s here with her parents. Table eighteen. They’ve already ordered.” With that, Angelina’s hair swished behind her as she walked away.
Leo sat frozen for a moment before remembering that he needed to find another server. After being reassured that Dana could be there within half an hour, he hung up the phone and gave himself a minute to compose himself before heading straight to table eighteen.
Angelina had seated Mandy and her parents at a table near where he and Mandy had shared dessert. Flashes from that night crossed his mind—Mandy’s wavy hair, her notepad on the table, the inviting smile that was reflected in her eyes, the adorable freckles on her face.
“Mandy,” he said as he approached the table. He tried to decipher the look on her face. Relief? Had she been waiting for him? Hoping to see him?
The fact alone that she chose his restaurant answered that question for him. Mandy introduced Leo to her father, whose warm handshake and friendly smile put Leo further at ease. Leo was quick to tell Mandy’s mother how glad he was to see her again.
“Can you join us for a few minutes?” Mandy asked. Even if he had been working in the kitchen, the hopeful tone in her voice would
have been enough for him to face chaos rather than say no. As it was, he slid into the booth next to Mandy.
“I would love to join you. I’m not cooking tonight.”
“Oh, dear. And we’ve heard so much about your Lobster Magnifico!” Mandy’s father joked. Leo enjoyed the light flush that crept up on Mandy’s cheeks.
“I can assure you that our chef tonight will do an excellent job,” Leo said, nodding at their server, Kelly, when she held up a pitcher of water. She brought Leo a glass of water, behind her was a server in training, carrying the family’s order.
“Would you like anything, chef?” Kelly asked as they distributed the plates.
“Just water, thanks.”
“You never told me, Leo, is the Lobster Magnifico one of your creations? Or is it a family recipe?” Mandy asked.
He was very aware that they were sitting so close in the booth that Mandy’s shoulder was pressed up against his.
“It’s mine, actually. It was a dish I created for a class when I was in culinary school. It was part of my end-of-the-year exam. We were all charged with coming up with something new, and we were graded on taste, appearance, and creativity.”
“You created that for a grade?” Mandy reiterated, surprise evident in her voice.
“I did.” He didn’t want to brag and tell them that he’d been given a perfect score—the only one in the class.
“Well, I hope you received an A.” Mandy grinned.
Leo just nodded nonchalantly. “As a matter of fact, not long after opening this restaurant, one of my old professors asked if he could bring in his new class. They crowded into the kitchen to watch me make the sauce.”
“So you’re the kind of chef who shares his recipes?” Mandy’s father said.
Leo chuckled. “Not exactly. But that professor already had the recipe since I’d been required to turn it in for the class. And out of respect for me, he had every student sign an agreement not to duplicate my recipe for the public. To be honest, there are several old family recipes that we want to keep just within our family. And while many of our dishes are common Italian foods, my father spent years experimenting with different spices and sauces to make his version of those meals unique in some way. I do the same thing. And we usually keep those additions to our recipes out of the public knowledge. We have what we call our Romano family cookbook, where my father writes down his recipes—some of which are not used in our restaurants. Many were derived from his time spent in Italy, given to him by my great-grandmother.”