by Brandy Bruce
“Mandy?”
Mandy’s face was filled with concern. “Isa texted me. What happened?”
Leo was so relieved to see her. The waiting room was only a few steps away so they made their way to one of the sofas. Leo sat down, feeling depleted from the rush of emotions. “He was confused and angry. He couldn’t seem to remember why Mom had moved some furniture around. He was snapping at my mother and Isa, which is unusual for him. So we came in. They’re going to give him medication to help with anxiety.”
Leo took a ragged breath. “He’s getting worse. He’s getting weaker. He’s...”
Mandy moved closer to Leo, wrapping her arms around him. He buried his face in her neck, trying not to cry.
* * *
Mandy held her breath as Leo tightened his arms around her.
“I’m here, Leo,” she said soothingly.
She felt empty when he finally released her and sat back. He was hurting and there was nothing she could do.
He took her hand and pulled her up with him.
Mandy hesitated. “Leo, you go on without me. I know you need to be with your family right now. Why don’t I go get some coffee for Isa and your mom? Would they like that?”
He didn’t let go of her hand. “My dad adores you, Mandy. He won’t mind that you’re here.”
The words touched Mandy’s heart, but he didn’t quite say what she needed to hear.
What about you, Leo? Do you adore me? Do you want me here?
Of course, she was glad that Isa had thought to text her. But would Leo have? Would he have shared this with her?
She didn’t feel like she could ask. Not at this moment when Leo looked so far beyond stressed. She just let him lead her into the hospital room. Rosalinda immediately crossed the room and hugged her.
“Thank you for coming, Mandy,” she said warmly. Mandy hugged her back, feeling out of place yet thankful to be included. Isa reached for her next.
“Thanks for texting me,” Mandy whispered. Isa leaned close to Mandy’s ear.
“You’re family, Mandy. Leo’s always the last to know these things.”
After spending a couple of hours at the hospital, eating dinner from Styrofoam boxes and watching TV in Gabriel’s hospital room, Leo walked Mandy out to the parking lot.
“Will you stay the night?” Mandy asked.
“Yes. Isa’s working tonight.” He still held her hand loosely as they walked. “Thank you for being here,” he said.
Mandy shook her head. “You don’t have to thank me, Leo. I care about your family. I want to be here for all of you.”
He looked down and Mandy waited, hoping he’d say something, anything. She wanted to take him in her arms and hold him and comfort him. She also wanted to yell at him for pushing her away.
“Are you taking the job?” he asked. Mandy blinked.
Really? You want to bring this up now?
“I’m not sure, Leo. I’m praying about it.”
He looked at her with bloodshot eyes, exhausted, stressed.
It was not the right time to have this discussion.
“Why didn’t you tell me before? We spent so much time together that Wednesday, but you didn’t tell me about the job opportunity.”
Mandy didn’t respond for a moment. “I’m not sure why I didn’t tell you that day when we were looking at all the photos. I really wanted to.”
“You didn’t have to,” Leo admitted.
“I know,” Mandy agreed. “The fact that I didn’t tell you, is that why you seemed upset that night at the restaurant?”
“It frustrated me. And then the realization that you might be traveling all the time just...I don’t know. It’s hard to explain.”
No, it’s not.
They were both quiet.
“You made the decision not to be in a relationship with me, Leo,” Mandy tried to sound stronger than she felt at that moment. “I have to make decisions based on what’s best for me.”
He nodded, not quite making eye contact. “I know. But...I still wish you had told me.”
Mandy hated that they were having this conversation.
“What would you have said?” she asked, trying to keep the edge out of her voice.
He sighed. “I don’t know.”
Mandy felt a wave of impatience rush through her. “It’s been a really long evening. Let’s talk about this another time,” she said.
“You see the stress I’m under, Mandy. You know it’s not that I don’t want to be in a relationship with you. It’s that I can’t.”
“I’m not asking for that, Leo. Especially since you keep so kindly reminding me that you’re unable to be in a relationship.” Mandy bit her lip.
You’re at the hospital! Give the guy a break.
Leo closed his eyes, shook his head and exhaled, obviously annoyed.
“Can you tell me whether you’re leaning toward accepting the job offer?” he asked.
Mandy didn’t even try to mask her exasperation. “Leo.”
“I need to know, Mandy. I know I’m not your boyfriend, and I know you don’t have to tell me anything, but please, tell me.”
“Fine. Yes, I’m leaning toward taking the job,” she answered. Leo looked at her, his expression almost wounded, but he only nodded. Mandy felt a lump in her throat.
“This isn’t fair to me, Leo.”
“I know. I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t know what to do. There’s too much... I’m not handling everything very well.”
“You don’t have to ‘handle’ me. I’m just here as your friend, Leo,” Mandy said, hoping the hurt in her words wasn’t coming across as fiercely as it felt.
Leo looked at her. “I want more than friendship from you, Mandy.”
She shook her head, her emotions flooding her. “Leo, I can’t hear this. You say you can’t be in a relationship with me, and then you say you want to be more than friends. I feel like a yo-yo!”
He stepped closer to her but Mandy backed away. “I need to go.”
“Mandy, I’m begging you. Please try to understand.”
“I do!” Mandy cried out. “I do understand. I see your life. I see what you’re going through. But you’re the one who won’t let me in.”
Leo stared at her for a moment. The silence and darkness of the parking lot surrounded them.
“She promised me everything. Her whole world. And then she walked away.” His words were raw and broken.
Mandy could barely breathe. Finally she said, “I’m not Carol Ann, Leo.”
“I know. Mandy, to me, you are so much more than she could ever be.”
Then choose me. Choose us. Let me in.
Leo looked down and wiped his eyes. Mandy paused, overcome by the sight of him crying. It hit her that maybe Leo needed more than she could give.
Father, he’s so overwhelmed right now. He needs Your peace. He needs Your strength.
Neither of them spoke, and Mandy finally pulled out her car keys and left.
Chapter 16
Two days had passed since the emotional showdown with Leo when Mandy drove out to Evergreen. “I’m here!” Mandy yelled, walking through her parents’ home. “Mom?” she called out.
“Upstairs!” her mother responded.
“Of course,” Mandy muttered, climbing the stairs.
“All right, Mom,” Mandy said, walking into her parents’ bedroom. “What is it you just have to tell me?” She stopped short, her eyes widening at the mound of suitcases piled on the bed.
“What do you think?” her mother asked, twirling around in a black dress.
“Um, where should I start?” Mandy queried. “What’s going on here?”
Her mom laughed. “I’m packing. I wanted you to be the
first to know. Your father and I are going on a two-week Alaskan cruise. Doesn’t that sound exciting? I bought this dress because apparently there are formal dinners on the ship.”
“Wow! When are you leaving?”
“In a little over two months.”
Mandy motioned to the suitcases. “And you’re packing now?”
“I certainly don’t want to leave everything for the last minute, Amanda. Plus, I have to take inventory and see what we need to buy for the trip. For example, your father hasn’t bought a new suit in more than a decade. If I’m going to be seen with him at a formal dinner, that has to be addressed.”
Mandy’s smile went ear to ear. “You’re going on an adventure!”
Her mom nodded. “The first of many, I hope.” Claire stepped toward Mandy and hugged her closely. “And I have you to thank for it. You reminded me that I’m not too old for adventure, for fun, for new experiences. You inspired me, Mandy.”
Mandy could hardly speak.
Her mom twirled again in her black dress and then disappeared into her closet.
“What did you decide about the job? Did you take it?” her mother called out from the closet. Mandy began folding the pile of her father’s shirts and stacking them on the bed.
“It’s not official yet, but I’m planning to take it.”
Her mom emerged from the closet with two pairs of shoes. “Are you sure?”
Mandy pushed aside one of the suitcases and sat down. “I think so.”
Her mom leaned against the closet door frame and tilted her head.
“Are you happy, Mandy?”
Mandy nodded, but it didn’t feel completely true.
I’d be a lot happier if Leonardo Romano took me in his arms and professed his undying love for me.
“What about you, Mom? Are you happy? You look happy.”
Her mom looked at the jumble of clothes and luggage and smiled. “I feel blessed.” She moved to the bed, kicking rolls of socks out of the way as she did so, and sat down on a pile of shirts, her gaze fixed on Mandy. “I’ve wasted a lot of time, Mandy, allowing discontent to bother my heart.”
Mandy listened intently. “Do you want to know something, Mom? I have, too. Not discontent, necessarily, but insecurity and self-doubt. I allowed those feelings to take root. But I’m letting them go. I don’t want to live under the shadow of those things anymore. They don’t belong in my life.”
A look of relief crossed her mother’s face. “I’m letting go of my discontent, too. It has no place in my future. And I want you to know, Mandy, that I support your decisions. Whatever you decide to do about your job—I support you. Whatever happens with Leo—I support you. You don’t need my approval for anything, of course,” her mother said.
“But I do,” Mandy contradicted. “Well, maybe I don’t need it, but I want it, Mom. I’ve always wanted it.”
To Mandy, the happiness and pride in her mother’s eyes spilled over and engulfed the space around them. Her mom wrapped her arms around Mandy. And for the first time in as long as Mandy could remember, she relaxed in her mother’s arms, laying her head on her shoulder and allowing herself to be loved.
* * *
Leo hated the way he’d left things with Mandy. He wanted to erase that conversation they’d had in the hospital parking lot. Every time he thought about it, he wished he hadn’t brought up Carol Ann. He needed to somehow apologize without giving the impression that things could be different. After a week of texting and calling Mandy with the most minimal of responses, Leo decided to take a different approach. Armed with a brown bag holding a ham-and-cheese croissant from Myra’s Coffee House, along with a regular coffee—one creamer, two sweeteners—Leo stopped by the Denver Lifestyle offices. The administrative assistant led him to Mandy’s office.
He set the coffee and brown bag on her desk. “Peace offering?” he asked.
Mandy looked shocked at the sight of him. She recovered quickly and peeked into the bag.
“Nice choice. Thank you.”
Leo nodded, standing in front of her, unsure of what to say.
“Leo,” Mandy began softly. “Why are you here?”
He sat down in one of the chairs across from her. “Because I’m sorry for that night at the hospital. You were there to support me and I brought up things I should have just let go.”
Mandy picked up her coffee cup. “It’s okay.” She looked down for a moment and then shook her head. “Actually, it’s not. I mean, everything you said was fine. I want you to tell me what you’re thinking and feeling. But you can’t keep doing this to me. I can’t take the emotional seesaw. I like you, Leo.”
Leo felt his heart tug at the sound of her words.
“But I can just be your friend if you need that right now.”
Just my friend.
“Is that what you want from me?” Mandy asked, her voice guarded.
No.
Leo knew she was right. He couldn’t keep going back and forth with her. It wasn’t fair.
He didn’t answer so she kept talking. “You have to decide, Leo. If we’re just going to be friends, then stop making me feel like you want more than that.”
Father, what do I say right now?
“I’m sorry, Mandy. I’ve been unfair to you. I want you in my life, even if right now it’s just as my friend.”
He could see her dissatisfaction, but she took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay.” He could see that there was more she needed to say. He waited silently.
“Leo, we’ve talked about how I’ve struggled with insecurity for a long time. But I’ve made a decision to let that go. It’s time for that to change in my life.”
Leo wanted to reach out and pull her to him. But he just leaned over and rested his elbows on his knees, listening to her. He realized that rather than instilling confidence in Mandy, he’d been confusing her. Maybe even making her feel less secure. The thought was disheartening.
Mandy hugged her arms to her chest. “I’m going to call the people at Take Me There and accept the job.”
Leo nodded.
“Say something,” Mandy insisted. Leo reached over and took Mandy’s hand.
“If you can be my friend, I can be yours, Mandy. You will do a great job and I’m proud of you.” He kissed her hand and willed his words to be true.
* * *
Two days before the party for his dad, Leo climbed the stairs at his parents’ home. He’d spent the day helping his mother and Isa with last-minute preparations. It was late afternoon when he found his mother in the study, her laptop in front of her.
“What’s going on?” Leo asked. His mother looked up, wiping a tear from her eyes.
“Mandy’s announcement was posted today, Leo,” she said.
Today?
“Sit here, son,” his mother said, standing up from her seat. “Read this,” she told him before leaving the room.
How do you measure a man’s life? Is it in dollars and cents and buildings and awards? For myself, I don’t think so. I have the privilege of sharing with you the news that the great chef Gabriel Romano is hanging up his hat and taking a much-deserved retirement. Over the past few weeks, I’ve spent time with Gabriel and his family, and he’s given me a glimpse into his life. Like me, you may know him as the owner of award-winning restaurants, as a successful entrepreneur and as a generous philanthropist.
But here’s what I’ve discovered about Gabriel Romano: He’s real. He’s the type of man who, at the age of twenty-one, married the love of his life and told her this on their wedding day: “There are many dreams and goals in my heart. But no matter where this life takes us or what I endeavor to do, remember this—all of my dreams and goals begin and end with you.”
He’s the type of man who started a restaurant with nothing more than a hope and
a prayer. His children grew up playing in their father’s kitchen. It was his dedication and perseverance that turned Romano’s into a name associated with respect, quality and success. But it was more than just dedication and perseverance—Mr. Romano is a man of faith, whose life is a picture of belief, hope, truth and love.
Gabriel Romano has given me permission to share with you that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. His family is surrounding him with love and support at this time. At Mr. Romano’s request, his son, Leo, has assumed responsibility of both Romano’s establishments in Denver.
Leonardo Romano is much like his father. It seems that he, too, has been blessed with the innate culinary sense that his father was given. As a chef, the younger Romano has the creative genius that made Gabriel Romano’s dishes so unique and flavorful. But it pleases me more to say that Leonardo Romano has his father’s work ethic, compassion and integrity. As Gabriel Romano said to me, “Romano’s is in good hands.” I believe him.
Thank you, Mr. Romano, for all the years you’ve given us.
Leo exhaled, undone by Mandy’s words.
“It’s a beautiful tribute.” Leo turned around, shocked to hear his father’s voice. He stood in the doorway, holding a cane. Leo jumped up.
“Dad! Shouldn’t you be lying down?”
“I’m all right, Leo. The new medication is helping today. The doctor said I should be moving around, within reason.” Leo helped his father sit in the leather chair by the window.
“How do you do it, Dad? How do you keep trusting, keep holding on to hope, keep believing?”
His dad looked at him with concern. “Don’t you understand, Leo? I can’t do those things on my own. Neither can you, son. And you don’t have to, so stop trying.”
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Leo recognized the familiar voice in his head, the one voice that could reassure him when everything seemed bleak. The one that kept coming back even when he tried not to listen.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened.
