by Holly Rayner
Anna grilled him relentlessly. “Why do you want to reopen BienVille?”
“Because the restaurant is Maggie’s. Because she needs her own place to create and thrive.”
“Mm-hmm. And what do you expect her to do after you reopen it?”
Raffaele responded, “Make it the top restaurant in New Orleans.”
“And in return, you get…”
Raffaele shrugged. “The chance to make her happy, to give her something back.”
“And what will you do once the restaurant is open?”
“I don’t know. I hope Maggie and I can talk about it, but I want to do what’s best for her and the baby.”
Anna nodded. “And what about the baby?”
Raffaele was a little confused at that question. “She’s our daughter. She’ll never want for anything.”
Anna held his gaze. Raffaele looked back steadily, knowing that Anna had the power to make or break his plan. Finally, Anna nodded slowly.
“What do you need us to do?”
Raffaele leaned forward and explained his plan. Anna and Joshua made a few suggestions, and then all three went to work.
Anna introduced Raffaele to Coral, who also agreed to come back to work for the restaurant. The three advised Raffaele on taking out ads in the local papers and a few online bulletin boards that restaurant staff frequented. Joshua reached out to former kitchen staff, finding several who were available to come back, including Elise, Maggie’s former pastry chef.
Raffaele interviewed staff himself, and then hired the best of the applicants. Coral worked with him to order enough stock for the restaurant through New Year’s Eve. Raffaele charmed dishware and linen suppliers to get dishes, glasses, silverware, tablecloths, and napkins delivered in time.
The Prince started calling contacts in the city—people he knew, friends of friends. He found the food editor at the city’s newspaper, and talked her into writing a story about BienVille’s reopening. It wouldn’t be published until after Christmas, but the woman promised to put something on social media about it before then.
He wasn’t worried that Maggie would find out what he was doing. He learned from talking with Anna that Maggie didn’t have much time outside of taking care of the baby and work. Her parents helped out where they could, but Maggie was still busy enough that the chance she would learn anything about his effort was small.
Raffaele was thrilled when, the day before Christmas Eve, he got a call from a host at one of the other big restaurants in town asking if it was true BienVille was reopening.
“You know, we’re full up for Christmas Eve, but I still have guests calling to see if they can make a reservation.”
“That’s a good problem to have,” Raffaele said politely, not sure where the conversation was going.
“It is, and I hate to disappoint customers. If I could send them somewhere else, another outstanding restaurant…well, I’d be happy to do that.”
Raffaele inferred, “Are you asking if you can send customers to BienVille?”
“If you’d like them. It will be great to see Chef Bechet cooking in her own house again, and I’m delighted to share our bounty.”
“Yes, thank you!”
A few other restaurants did the same thing, and between all of them, the restaurant was booked for Christmas Eve and for the entire week leading up to New Year’s Eve. Raffaele still wanted to surprise Maggie, so he convinced all the staff and suppliers to keep the reopening a secret.
Joshua wrote the menu for that first week. He stuck close to BienVille’s old menu, adding a few specials that Maggie had created for past holidays. Raffaele had new menus printed up—heavy sheets of cream-colored paper with gold edging that everyone agreed were beautiful.
Raffaele even helped out in the kitchen, practicing some of the skills he’d learned in Clarissa and Stefano’s restaurant, and earning Joshua’s respect.
Coral recommended a sommelier, a young woman who had just finished her training, but who hadn’t worked in a big restaurant before. After talking with her, Raffaele decided that Maggie would probably like her and Anna agreed. Lauren took over the bar and Raffaele gave her permission to order whatever she needed.
By Christmas Eve, everything was ready. Food was being prepped in the kitchen, tables were set with sparkling dishes, flatware, and glasses, and greenery and lights adorned every nook and cranny of the restaurant.
Raffaele checked in with Anna, Coral, and Joshua—when they gave him the green light, he called Maggie.
“Hi, Raffaele,” she answered quickly, and he hoped she’d been looking forward to his call.
“Maggie, I know it’s Christmas Eve, but I’d like to see you and the baby tonight, if that’s all right.”
He could hear her smile through the phone. “I’d like that. Can I meet you somewhere?”
“Let me send a car for you. I’ll make a reservation and have the driver take you there. I know it’s a little early for dinner, but I thought that might be good with the baby.”
He could hear her laugh and it warmed his heart. “That’s an excellent idea; thank you. I can be ready to go soon.”
“Whenever you’re ready, the driver will be waiting for you.”
Raffaele hung up and went to nervously pace while he waited to see Maggie and their daughter. He planned to apologize for how he’d reacted on seeing her, and explain why he hadn’t contacted her, but he wanted to keep that separate from BienVille’s reopening. Tonight was about Maggie, and he wanted everything to be perfect.
His phone buzzed with a text from his driver, noting that he had just picked up his passenger. Raffaele did one last quick loop through the restaurant to make sure that everything was perfect, and then he went to wait outside the restaurant with the rest of the staff.
As he closed the door behind him, Anna and Coral held up a large red bow to put over the ribbon that hung from one side of the door to the other. Raffaele took it and fastened it in place, then stepped forward to wait on the top step.
The limo pulled to a stop, and Raffaele waited impatiently for the rear door to open. Anna laid a hand on his arm and said quietly, “Give her a second. Getting a baby out of a car isn’t easy.”
He took a deep breath and calmed himself. The car door opened and Maggie stepped out, holding their daughter in her arms.
Her first expression was confusion as she looked over the people gathered in front of her old restaurant. Her forehead crinkled up in question, but then she saw Raffaele and the big red bow. Maggie’s face lit up in a smile to rival the thousands of Christmas lights on the building, and Raffaele smiled in return.
Raffaele ran down the stairs and when they met, he took her hand.
“Chef Bechet, your restaurant is ready for you,” he said, trying to convey with his eyes what he felt with his heart.
He tucked her hand around his arm and escorted her up the stairs. He watched her take in her staff—old and new faces alike—and the giant scissors that Anna held.
When they made it to the top of the porch, Raffaele turned to Maggie.
“Let me take her so you can open your restaurant.”
“Raffa…” she started to say, but he shook his head.
“We’ll talk later. This is your moment.” He took his daughter and nodded toward the ribbon.
Anna stepped forward to hold out the scissors. “Chef.”
Maggie took the scissors and turned to the small crowd.
“Shouldn’t this be a chef’s knife?” she asked wryly, holding up the scissors.
The crowd laughed and Maggie took a moment to look at each of them.
“Thank you all. I don’t know the story behind this yet, and I can’t wait to hear it. Regardless, I appreciate each and every one of you.” She readied the scissors. “Welcome to BienVille!” she called and cut the ribbon.
Her staff cheered and applauded. Maggie turned to Anna and hugged her, then Coral and Joshua and Elise, then made her way through the rest of the staff shaking hands
and hugging people she knew.
After a few minutes, Coral started directing people back inside the restaurant so they could get ready for service that evening. Maggie waited until everyone else was inside, and when it was just her and Raffaele, she turned to him.
“You did all this?” she asked, barely getting the words out for the tears.
Raffaele nodded. “BienVille isn’t just a restaurant. It’s your dream. I didn’t want to see all your hard work undone. I couldn’t be there for you before, but I can now.”
“Raffaele, I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” He grinned at her and said, “Besides, I’m really being selfish here.”
“Oh?” Maggie asked, laughing a little at his teasing tone.
“I refuse to live without my favorite restaurant.” He winked at her.
That made her laugh more and she wiped her tears away.
“Of course, Your Highness.” She smiled brilliantly at him. “You know, you eating at my restaurant changed my life.”
“Mine, too.”
Maggie nodded and put a hand on their daughter’s back.
“The night we met was the best night of my life, and I wanted her to know that.”
Raffaele looked at Maggie, puzzled, and she gave him another beautiful smile.
“Her name is Mardi, Raffaele. After the night we met.”
The Prince pulled her close, overcome with emotion.
“I promise, she’ll hear stories about that night, from both of us. She’ll never be alone, and neither will you. I promise I will never leave you again.”
Maggie hugged him back, and in that moment, Raffaele knew that everything would be okay. Their little family was united and there was nothing they couldn’t handle together.
Chapter 24
Maggie
Maggie couldn’t stop doing laps of the restaurant. She must have hugged Anna and Joshua and Elise five times each, and the rest of the staff almost as much.
Joshua had insisted on managing the kitchen for the evening, noting that Maggie would have plenty of time to cook later, and that she should just enjoy having her restaurant back. He did have her approve the menu and taste everything before it went out, so she spent half her time in the kitchen and half the time walking through the dining room, talking to their guests.
She knew that Raffaele had thrown everything he had into getting BienVille back for her, and every time Maggie met his eyes, she saw nothing but love there. He held Mardi as he worked the dining room, introducing their daughter to all the guests and charming them.
Maggie stopped at the host stand and Anna nodded over her shoulder at the Prince and the baby.
“Maybe I should give him my job—he’s pretty good at this front of house stuff,” she said.
Maggie laughed. “I’m sure his parents would love that.”
Anna shook her head. “If they saw how happy he is right now, I don’t think they’d care.” She studied the younger woman. “You know, he was determined to make this right for you. He wanted so much to give you back your dream.”
Maggie nodded. “I know.” She turned to Anna with tears in her eyes. “Is this really all happening?” she asked her godmother.
Anna smiled. “Oh, baby girl, it is. That man is crazy about you, and he’s crazy about that little girl of yours. He’s not going anywhere.”
Maggie nodded again. “Okay.”
Raffaele caught her looking in his direction and walked toward them as Anna greeted a couple that had just walked inside the restaurant.
Maggie met him and pulled him off to the side. “Have I said thank you yet?”
Raffaele grinned. “I told you, I have a fairy godmother on staff.”
Maggie shook her head. “No, really. This took a lot of work, and I’m just…I’m overwhelmed, Raffa. I can’t thank you enough.”
He matched her serious tone. “You don’t have to. I’d do this again and again for you, because that’s how important you are—you both are—to me.”
Maggie reached out to touch his arm. “Why don’t you stay with us tonight? It’s Christmas Eve, and we’d love to spend it with you.”
Raffaele nodded. “Yes. I’d very much like that, too.”
Joshua and Anna chased them out before the restaurant closed, promising to take care of everything and see them on December 26. As Maggie left the kitchen, Joshua handed her a large bag filled with three take-out boxes.
“Because I know you didn’t eat tonight,” he admonished her with raised eyebrows. “Happy Christmas Eve, chef.”
Maggie hugged him one more time and gratefully took the food.
“Thank you. Happy Christmas Eve.”
When they reached the apartment, Maggie opened the door while Raffaele carried Mardi. As she flipped on the lights, she realized something.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, turning to him before he got too far into the apartment. “I haven’t decorated at all. I just haven’t had the time.”
Raffaele waved the apology off.
“I understand. You had your hands full with work and this little one.”
He tickled Mardi under the chin, making her giggle softly. Raffaele looked at Maggie, who knew she looked uncertain.
“Really, Maggie. It’s fine.”
Maggie nodded. “I need to put Mardi to bed, but once I do that, dinner?”
She held up the bag in question and Raffaele held out a hand to take it.
“Here. Why don’t you take Mardi, and I’ll get dinner heated up.”
Maggie passed him the food and took their daughter. “Deal.”
She carried Mardi into her little nursery and quickly got her changed and ready for bed. When she returned to the main living area, Raffaele had reheated and plated the food and set the table. He had glasses of wine waiting; when he saw Maggie walk into the room, he stood and held her chair out for her.
Maggie sat, glad to stop moving for a few minutes, even though the day had been wonderful.
“Thank you, again.”
Raffaele took a sip of wine.
“Thank you, for asking me to stay tonight. I know seeing me the other day was a shock. I’m sorry for that.”
Maggie shook her head as she twirled pasta on her fork.
“I’m sure it was a shock for you, too. Still, I’m so glad to see you.”
Raffaele was silent for a moment as they both ate, but finally, he said, “I wish I’d known. About Mardi.”
Maggie sat back with a little sigh. “I know. Me too.”
Raffaele leaned forward.
“I’m not blaming you, Maggie. You are amazing. You did everything you could, and then you made sure that our daughter was healthy and safe and cared for. I am in awe of you.”
Maggie blinked tears from her eyes.
“Thank you, Raffa.” She gathered her thoughts and then said, “But it’s not your fault, either. You had no way of knowing, and you did what you could when you sent me that letter last Christmas.”
She smoothed a hand over her belly, remembering.
“You know that’s when I went into labor? Right after I got your letter. It wasn’t the same as having you there with me, but it was something, and right then, that was enough. I knew you were okay and still thinking of me.”
“You mean she was born on Christmas?” Raffaele asked, his voice full of emotion.
Maggie nodded. “Just before midnight. My Christmas miracle.”
“I didn’t know when my letter would get to you. I made my father promise it would get to you, but they were still worried about my location leaking, so I knew it might be a long time before it arrived.”
Raffaele took a deep breath.
“I thought about you on Christmas. I was in the middle of the desert with my unit, and we didn’t have a mission scheduled for that day. I spent all day thinking about you—walking around your park and cooking elaborate meals at the restaurant—it was the only thing that got me through the day.”
&nb
sp; Maggie studied him for a long moment. “How was it?”
Raffaele was quiet and Maggie waited patiently.
“I’m proud of our role in the operation and the work my unit did. It wasn’t easy. But I have a deeper understanding of the work our military does, and endless respect for the men and women who serve in it.”
He sat back and sighed.
“Dust got into everything—and I mean, everything. The hours between missions were filled with busy work, or boredom. Even though I was on an active base, they wouldn’t allow me to go on active missions for the first year.”
He fell silent again, and Maggie asked a question. “What did you end up doing? Didn’t they train you?”
Raffaele gave her a small smile.
“They did. I learned how to fly helicopters.” Maggie’s eyes got wide and Raffaele nodded. “The second year, I flew doing mostly rescue missions. They decided it was safer than putting me on the ground in a firefight.”
Maggie tilted her head, studying him. She’d never seen him look quite like this—he had a calmness and a quiet pride that he hadn’t had before.
“You loved it, didn’t you?”
Raffaele laughed. “I did, actually. And I found out I’m pretty good at it.” He shrugged. “I guess all that time spent in jets was worth something. I like being in the air.”
Maggie hesitated before asking her next question. “Are you going back?”
“No,” Raffaele said firmly. “They won’t let me, even if I wanted to. The security risk is too great.”
“Do you want to go back?”
Raffaele paused and Maggie knew that his time in the military had indeed changed him. Finally, he nodded.
“My unit is headed back over for another tour. I’d go again to support them if I could.” Then, he looked intently at her. “But that was before I knew we had a daughter. All I want now is to be a family, with the two of you.”
He leaned forward and took her hand.
“I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to explain just how worried I was that you would take one look at me and slam the door in my face. Even with my letter, I disappeared for almost two years. You would be well within reason to not want to see me ever again. We were just starting our relationship, and if you’d found someone else or just given up on me…well, I couldn’t blame you for doing that.”