Table for Two

by Brandy Bruce

  “Mandy told us about your father’s illness, Leo. That must be difficult for you. How is he?” Mandy’s mother asked delicately. Leo’s throat constricted.

  “He’s...struggling. We were lucky that for a long time, his symptoms were almost nonexistent. But over the past few months things have progressed. Still, he’s a man of faith. I think I’m learning as much from him now as I did growing up.”

  The truth in his own words struck Leo.

  He felt weak with sadness at that moment and he hated it. Without thinking, he reached for Mandy’s hand beneath the table. She held his hand tightly, and her immediate response strengthened him.

  She makes me stronger. She helps me.

  Leo could hear his mother’s words to him, implying that Mandy could be God’s gift to help him through this hard time.

  “So what do you think about Mandy’s new job offer, Leo?” her father asked.

  Mandy paled and dropped Leo’s hand. “I haven’t mentioned it to Leo yet, Dad. We’re not...”

  “What job offer?” Leo interrupted, hoping to keep Mandy from explaining that they were supposedly just friends and therefore she wasn’t obligated to tell him such important news as a job offer.

  Even though the thought bothered him.

  We were together all afternoon on Wednesday. Why didn’t she tell me?

  “Um, well...you’ve probably never heard of the network Take Me There—” Mandy began.

  “I’ve heard of it,” Leo said curtly.

  “Oh. Well, I’ve been offered a job as a columnist. I’d have a regular feature on the website. I would be doing reviews for restaurants all over the country, maybe even in other countries. I’d also be reviewing resorts and hotels and that type of thing.”

  “And Mandy would be on TV!” her mother exclaimed with a glowing smile.

  Mandy looked embarrassed. “That’s only a possibility. It would depend on how the readership responded to my articles.”

  “That sounds like a lot of travel,” Leo said in what he hoped was an even-toned, just-curious voice. Mandy sipped her water and then nodded.

  “Yes, it would be. I haven’t decided whether to take the job or not,” she said, her eyes safely on the dish in front of her.

  Leo knew his ill-temper was irrational. He’d told Mandy he couldn’t pursue a relationship with her. Why, then, did he feel so angry that she wouldn’t tell him about a new job opportunity? More than that, why did he feel so desperate at the thought of her taking a job that would take her even farther away from him?

  He inhaled and mustered all the composure he could. “Well, that sounds like an incredible opportunity for you, Mandy. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you, Leo.” Mandy didn’t even look at him.

  They were both silent. Leo could feel Mandy’s parents looking from him to Mandy and back to him.

  “I need to go check on the kitchen staff,” Leo said finally. “It was so nice to meet you, Mr. Seymour. Claire, it was a pleasure.” Leo stood up. “Mandy,” his voice faltered.

  The rigidness in her face spoke volumes.

  What does she want from me?

  For a moment their eyes met and they just looked at each other in silence.

  What do I want from her? I’m purposely holding back...but I don’t want her to do the same. It’s not fair. I know it’s not.

  Mandy forced a fake smile. “It was nice to see you, Leo.”

  He wondered how those words could sound so sad.

  * * *

  Mandy appreciated her mom’s light chatter on the way back to her apartment. She hated that the evening had ended so awkwardly and the last thing she wanted to do was talk about it with both of her parents.

  Taking Mom and Dad to Romano’s was a terrible idea. What was I thinking? Leo tells me he doesn’t want a relationship with me, and yet I still decide to take my parents to his restaurant, hoping to see him? I’m pathetic.

  When they reached her home, Mandy’s parents came inside for coffee. Knowing her mother would be visiting, Mandy had cleaned her apartment from top to bottom. She turned on her coffeemaker as her father flipped through the television channels and her mother joined her in the kitchen, trying to inconspicuously find something to clean.

  “I’m sorry that your father brought up the job, Mandy. We didn’t realize you hadn’t told Leo yet,” her mother said as she opened a cabinet and began straightening pots and pans.

  Mandy shrugged. “It’s okay. He’s not my boyfriend or anything. It’s not a big deal.”

  Her mother turned around and gave her a look that told Mandy she didn’t believe a word she said.

  “I’m serious! He’s too busy right now for a relationship. We’re just friends.”

  “He paid for our meal tonight, Mandy,” her mother reminded her. Mandy stared at the coffeepot.

  “He’s that kind of friend.”

  “What kind is that?”

  “The considerate and generous kind,” Mandy said brusquely. She pulled spoons out of the drawer and set the sugar bowl on the table.

  “Well, he seemed miffed that you hadn’t told him about the job,” her mother pointed out. “That seems like a reaction from someone who wants to be more than friends.”

  I know.

  “Even so, I told you, he’s made it really clear that he’s not looking for a romantic relationship right now. So that’s that.” Mandy pulled a carton of creamer out of the refrigerator.

  Her mother touched her arm.

  “Mandy, he drove to Evergreen to cook you dinner.”

  “To cook us dinner,” Mandy corrected as she got out three mugs.

  “You might not be able to see it, but from where I was sitting tonight, I would say that Leo Romano is crazy about you.”

  Mandy’s heart pounded like a drum and she looked at her mom.

  “What makes you say that?”

  Her mother smiled. “Oh, the way he looked at you. The way every time you moved, he noticed. The way his entire demeanor changed at the possibility of you traveling all over the world. The chemistry between you two was probably only surpassed by the tension after he heard about your job offer. You need to talk to him.”

  Mandy sighed and sank into one of the kitchen chairs. “I do. I mean, I want to. But at this point, I’m waiting for Leo. If he wants to be more than friends, he’s going to have to make that clear to me.”

  Claire sat next to her. “What are you going to do about the job?”

  The sound of the coffeemaker clicking off caused Mandy to stand up, pull out the coffeepot and fill the three cups. She took her time answering. When she did, she tried to sound more positive than she felt.

  “Mom, I think I’m going to take it. It’s a great job. An incredible opportunity. I’ve always wanted to travel, see new places, experience new things, try exotic foods.”

  Her mother nodded. “I see. Would you say it’s your dream job?”

  Mandy poured cream into her coffee and then stirred in two spoonfuls of sugar. “In some ways, I guess.”

  “What do you mean?” her mom asked.

  What do I mean? What am I trying to say?

  “Sometimes dreams change,” Mandy said quietly.

  Understanding filled her mother’s eyes. “Yes. Sometimes they do.”

  Chapter 15

  Ree Drummond’s voice filled the room from the television. Mandy had just watched “the Pioneer Woman” cook pork chops with pineapple fried rice, her stomach growling at the very thought of it. During a commercial break, Mandy picked up the invitation on her coffee table and looked at it for maybe the tenth time. “You are invited to a reception in honor of Gabriel Romano.”

  Mandy sighed. Of course, she would go. She wouldn’t think of missing Gabriel’s party, but the idea of
seeing Leo caused a swarm of butterflies to rush through her stomach. They hadn’t spoken since the semi-disastrous dinner at his restaurant more than a week ago. The disappointment settled into Mandy all over again.

  It was my fault.

  But why did he get so angry about the job offer? Is he annoyed because I didn’t tell him earlier? Is he frustrated with the idea of me being gone all the time? What’s his problem?

  Those questions played on repeat in Mandy’s thoughts, but she wasn’t about to actually voice them to Leo. Mandy felt certain it was Leo’s turn to make a move, if he were so inclined.

  I feel like I’m playing a game of cat and mouse. Unfortunately, I don’t know whether I’m the cat or the mouse.

  Mandy muted the television, unable to concentrate. She kicked her feet up on the coffee table and rested her head back on the sofa as she stared at the ceiling. Ms. Bernice St. James wanted an answer and Mandy didn’t have one for her yet.

  While the thought of traveling to new places enticed her, Mandy knew that even though she enjoyed a nice vacation every now and then, traveling usually exhausted her. What would it be like to constantly go from airport to airport, stay in hotel after hotel, live out of a suitcase and leave her family and friends behind?

  Ashley was right—always asking for a table for one gets old fast. Still, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. God, is this from you? Is this the right direction for my life? What about Leo?

  Mandy loved her job at Denver Lifestyle, but she’d always been open to the idea of leaving if something better came along. And wasn’t this offer from Take Me There better?

  A heavy feeling pressed on her heart.

  It’s a great offer. It’s just not the one I want.

  * * *

  Leo passed a bowl of salad to Angelina and accepted the plate of ricotta gnocchi that one of the waiters handed him. Once every quarter, Leo’s father served a staff dinner before opening. Leo intended to do the same. They’d pushed together tables at the back of the Fifteenth Street restaurant and enjoyed a family-style dinner of salad, bread and ricotta gnocchi. Leo listened idly to the conversation around him, but his thoughts kept going to Mandy and the awkward way things had ended between them the night she and her parents came to the restaurant.

  Every time he thought about his reaction to the news about her job offer—in front of her parents, no less—he wanted to groan. He wished he’d held back his frustration for a time when he could have talked privately with Mandy. Even then, she had every right to take any job she wanted, and since he’d decided not to pursue a relationship with her right now, of course she wouldn’t feel obligated to tell him about it.

  Everything about the situation felt wrong and Leo hated it. He wanted to be in a relationship with Mandy. The idea of her traveling for weeks out of the year didn’t thrill him, but even if she did take the job, he wanted, at the very least, for her to discuss it with him.

  Still, going back to her now and telling her he’d changed his mind seemed immature and indecisive. His situation hadn’t changed. Well, not much. Accepting the reality that he wanted to keep the restaurants—and feeling at peace with it—had made a difference. Delegating more of his responsibilities had lessened his burden, as well. His father’s illness, however, was a different matter. Leo just didn’t see how he could both accept that and have peace about it.

  “How’s Mandy, chef?” Leo heard Angelina ask quietly, interrupting his reverie.

  “She’s fine, I guess.”

  Angelina reached across the table for a pitcher of iced tea and refilled both their glasses. “Leo, you know, the family really liked her.”

  “I really like her. It’s just not good timing,” he said in a voice that he hoped communicated his desire to talk about something else.

  “For you, cousin, the timing will probably never be ideal,” she said matter-of-factly. Leo looked over at her.

  “What do you mean?”

  She gave an easy shrug. “Leo! You know restaurant life better than anyone else. There’s always going to be stress. Your schedule will always be a little unpredictable.”

  “That’s true to an extent,” Leo agreed.

  “To more than an extent,” Angelina insisted. “What there will not always be is a Mandy Seymour in front of you.”

  Leo swallowed hard. “I know. But right now, my dad...”

  Angelina cut him off. “Your dad’s situation is something our family will continue to deal with. We’ll trust God. You are not in this alone or shouldering the sole responsibility for your dad’s health. We’ll all help take care of him for as long as he needs help. That’s what our family does, Leo. You know this. A few years from now, another family member might become ill. Will you continue to put your life on hold because of these things?”

  That thought hadn’t occurred to him.

  “I don’t know, Angelina!” Leo’s temper flared. Rather than back down, Angelina narrowed her eyes and kept her voice even.

  “Well, you’d better figure it out. You should take a lesson from your father, Leo. Do you know why Uncle Gabriel has been so successful? The restaurants alone would never have been enough to make him happy. It was you and Isa and Aunt Rosalinda who made him successful. It was his faith that made him strong.”

  “He wasn’t always strong,” Leo said, almost to himself. He thought of the many nights his father had come home well after midnight, exhausted. The times when finances were strained and his father’s brow was creased with worry.

  “Leo,” Angelina’s voice softened. “Don’t you see? He wasn’t strong on his own.”

  Leo didn’t answer but Angelina’s words reached their mark.

  “I think, perhaps, you’re trying to be strong on your own. That won’t work, Leo. You need your faith in God to sustain you. You need your family, all of us, to support you. And just maybe, you need Mandy Seymour to love you.”

  * * *

  Leo pushed Angelina’s words to the back of his mind as he cooked that evening, but they kept creeping up, inconveniencing him as he tried to work. The thought that Mandy and he were a good match had occurred to him several times. But the notion that he needed her, that she just might be the one person God intended for him, that she could make all the difference in his life... Leo couldn’t entertain those thoughts. Not when he’d pushed her away. The sound of a tray crashing caused Leo to wince.

  “What happened?” he barked out. Kelly rushed over to help one of the other servers who looked near to tears.

  “An accident, chef,” she said. “Okay, we need another plate of crab-stuffed ravioli, guys. And an order of chicken marsala. And we need it now!”

  Leo bit his tongue to keep from yelling out that he couldn’t handle any more accidents. He turned back to the stack of orders in front of him and zeroed in on what he needed to do next. In his pocket, Leo’s cell phone buzzed. He closed his eyes, the stack of orders looming over him, his neck aching from stiffness. He pulled out his phone and answered it.

  “Isa?”

  “Leo, can you come over to Mom and Dad’s?”

  The eerie calm in Isa’s voice caused him to freeze. “What happened?”

  “Dad’s okay. He’s just...confused.”

  “Should you just take him to the hospital and I’ll meet you there?”

  “I’ve tried. He won’t get in the car. Can you come?”

  Leo took a deep breath and exhaled, trying not to let the anxiety he already felt choke him.

  “I’ve got a couple more orders to finish and then I think Jeremy can handle it. Is it urgent or can I come in half an hour?”

  “Just come as soon as you can. I’ll try to keep things under control until then.”

  Forty-five minutes later, Leo was ushering his dad into his car. He understood what had Isa worried. Their dad was confused about wher
e he was. He seemed frustrated and angry. But after a lot of gentle coaxing, Leo managed to get him in the car.

  It was a new kind of fear for Leo.

  He talked calmly to his dad on the way; Isa and Rosalinda had followed behind them. The confusion seemed to make his father even more upset. Isa had called the hospital before they arrived. Dr. Rosas was unavailable so they would see the on-call doctor.

  They made it to the hospital and Leo stayed with his mother to help check Gabriel in while Isa went with their dad and the nurse. Rosalinda finished the paperwork and Leo walked with her to his dad’s hospital room. Leo tried to exude a calm and steady presence at the sight of his mother’s fearful eyes. She leaned into him, holding his arm. After Dr. Andrews saw Gabriel, he spoke with Leo, Rosalinda and Isa.

  “I think it’s a combination of things. He’s exhausted from lack of sleep. Insomnia is common in Parkinson’s patients. He also seems to be somewhat depressed. Mind you, I’ve seen patients who are severely depressed, and Gabriel doesn’t fit that pattern. But he is frustrated with his circumstances and fatigued. We need to consider medication for anxiety. His blood pressure is low again, so I will monitor that overnight. I’ll let him rest for now and come back and check on him later.”

  “Thank you, Doctor,” Leo said as Dr. Andrews left the room. Then the three of them moved to surround his father’s bed. Leo could tell from his father’s droopy eyes that his dad was exhausted. He patted his leg.

  “You’re going to be all right, Dad. Rest. We’ll be here when you wake up.”

  His father nodded and closed his eyes.

  Leo left to find a waiting room. He wanted to call Mandy. It had been nearly two weeks since he’d seen her, but he knew she’d want to hear about his dad’s health. And in truth, he needed her to know. He turned a corner and froze at the sight of her walking down the corridor.