Table for Two

by Brandy Bruce

  “That was the best day of my life,” his father told him. “Well, one of them. The days that you and Isa were born were like none other. You know, we’re all hoping to hear wedding bells for you sooner rather than later, Leo.”

  Leo stared down at the wedding photos, studying his parents’ blissful smiles. “Don’t get me wrong, I want to marry Mandy, Dad. It’s just...well, the last time I wanted to get married, things didn’t end so well.” Leo sat back and crossed his arms.

  His dad closed the scrapbook. “She wasn’t the right one for you, Leonardo. If you feel as though God is telling you that Mandy is the right one, don’t be afraid. What have I always told you? Taste and see that the Lord is good. Leo, his plans for you are good. Trust him. Do you love Mandy?”

  “More than anything. To be completely honest...” Leo lowered his voice. “I love her more than I ever loved Carol Ann. The way I feel about Mandy—I don’t know. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I know God brought Mandy into my life. I know she’s the one I’m supposed to be with.”

  His dad smiled. “Then ask her to marry you.”

  Gabriel stood slowly and Leo helped him, supporting him as they climbed the stairs together.

  “Your mother and I will be moving our things down to the first floor tomorrow. We should have done it sooner. The stairs are too much for me. We’ll be moving into the guest room. Your mother spent the past two days turning the guest room into our new master bedroom. She’s so gifted when it comes to things like that. You should take a look at it tomorrow.”

  The thought of his parents moving out of the room they’d shared for so many years was a sad one for Leo. But he knew it was necessary.

  “I’ll help you move everything down tomorrow,” Leo promised him. His father leaned against him, his frame a little thinner and weaker than Leo had noticed of late.

  “I know you will, son.”

  After his father had disappeared into his parents’ bedroom, Leo headed to his old bedroom across the hallway. He lay awake in the same double bed he’d slept in as a teenager and prayed.

  God, help me help my Dad. Give me the strength to be strong for him. And give me the courage to follow my heart and offer all that I have, all that I am to Mandy. I need her in a way that I’ve never needed anyone before.

  * * *

  The next day Mandy winked at Leo as they passed each other in the hallway of his parents’ home. She’d been thrilled when he’d texted her, asking her to join him as he moved furniture from upstairs to the first-floor bedroom.

  Mandy carried a vase downstairs and found Rosalinda in the kitchen.

  “Rosalinda? Did you want this in the bedroom? Isa asked me to bring it down.”

  She looked up with a smile. “Yes. You know, that’s a vase my mother-in-law gave me. I was so nervous to bring it home on the plane. I held it in my lap for hours.”

  “It’s lovely,” Mandy agreed, holding it even tighter.

  “Why don’t you set it on the nightstand in the new bedroom and then come help me with dinner?”

  Mandy grinned. “I would love to.”

  A few minutes later, Mandy joined Rosalinda in the kitchen, pausing to wash her hands and slip on one of the many aprons hanging near the pantry.

  “What are we making?” Mandy asked.

  “Gabriel’s asked for pesto chicken Florentine for dinner. It’s one of Isa’s favorites. Leo makes it best, though. But as he’s moving furniture, I shall cook, with your help.”

  “My mother used to say that cooking for her family was one of her greatest pleasures,” Mandy said.

  Rosalinda smiled with agreement and understanding. “It’s true for me, too.”

  Mandy sautéed garlic before adding strips of chicken to the hot pan, while Leo’s mother created the pesto sauce. They cooked and laughed together until Leo came into the kitchen.

  “I’m starving. Is dinner almost ready?”

  His mother swatted at his hand as Leo reached for a chunk of bread. “Let me go check on your father. Yes, dinner is ready. Your Mandy has helped me.”

  Rosalinda left the kitchen, and Leo and Mandy set the table for dinner.

  “My Mandy,” Leo repeated with a twinkle in his eyes. Mandy loved the sound of that.

  Chapter 20

  Mandy reread the last two paragraphs of her article about a new Japanese restaurant in Castle Rock, Colorado, pushed the save button and closed the document. She stretched and leaned back away from her desk. The clock on the wall reminded her that it was after five o’clock and time to leave the office. Leo would be working by now. She knew he was running the Fifteenth Street kitchen all week.

  Mandy gathered her things and turned the light off in her office. As she drove home, she thought of Leo.

  Lord, does he want to marry me? I know without a doubt that Leo’s the one for me. But does he know that yet? If not, could you maybe help him along with that?

  Mandy picked up her mail before taking the elevator to her condo. Once inside, she dropped the stack of magazines and bills onto the coffee table. From the middle of the stack, a small postcard fell to the floor. She set aside her purse and jacket and loosened the scarf around her neck before picking it up.

  She read the word ALASKA in bright red letters in one corner; a picture of a whale jumping in the ocean covered the postcard. Mandy flipped it over.

  Mandy,

  I’m in our room on the ship right now, about to dress for dinner. But I had to tell you. I saw a whale today! More than one, actually. I was standing on a boat, mist from the water spraying over me, watching these gorgeous creatures, wishing you could see them, too, and I felt it. I felt His favor over me, Mandy. It was indescribable.

  We love you and wish you were here! Can’t wait to show you all our pictures!

  Love,

  Mom

  Mandy used a magnet to display the postcard on her refrigerator. She stood in front of it, just staring at that whale, a splash of joy coursing through her. In that moment, Mandy felt her mother’s favor over her, something she’d never experienced before. And it blessed her.

  And she felt it, too. Along with God’s healing and gift of reconciliation, she felt his favor over her. A stillness surrounded her and Mandy closed her eyes.

  If I have Your favor, Lord, then I can be patient waiting for Leo’s. If I have You, I know the rest will fall into place.

  * * *

  After the longest week of his life, Leo’s relief at turning the kitchen over to Jeremy was clear.

  “Can’t take the heat anymore?” Jeremy teased after his first night back at work. Leo laughed good-naturedly.

  “Only in small doses. Running the kitchen and overseeing the restaurants is more than I can handle on an ongoing basis. That’s why I’m thankful for you, buddy.” Leo patted Jeremy on his back.

  “Mandy wouldn’t be a factor now, would she?” Jeremy grinned. Leo shrugged but he knew Jeremy was right. He hadn’t spent any real time with Mandy all week and he missed her.

  “Okay, chef, everything’s ready,” Angie said, pushing through the kitchen door.

  “What about the meal?” Leo asked. Jeremy pointed to the cooler.

  “I set aside two dishes. There’s plenty of salad as well and a few desserts for you to choose from.”

  Leo clapped his hands. “Excellent. Thanks, guys. Now get out of here.”

  The rest of the staff filed out the kitchen door and Leo checked his watch. He’d asked Mandy to join him for an extra-late dinner after closing. He turned around at the sound of a tap-tap-tap on the kitchen door. As the last waiter left, Mandy walked through the open door.

  “You made it.” Leo walked over and pulled Mandy into a hug. She rested her head against his shoulder.

  “I’ve missed you, chef.”


  He tilted her chin up to face him and kissed her softly.

  “I’ve missed you, too. Let’s eat, you must be hungry. I’m sorry you had to wait so late.”

  Mandy set her things on the counter and pulled up one of the bar stools in the kitchen but Leo shook his head and took her hand, leading her out to the dining room.

  “No, no. We’re eating in style tonight.”

  Mandy gasped when they reached their table and Leo’s grin widened. Angelina had fixed up one table for two with special china Leo had borrowed from his mother. Two candlesticks glowed in the center of the table and a small vase of fresh flowers gave the table a display of color. A bottle of sparkling cider chilled in a bucket of ice on a side table and Leo filled two goblets for them, then pulled out a chair for Mandy.

  “Have a seat,” he told her.

  “Let me help you bring out our meal,” Mandy objected, but Leo shook his head, insisting she sit down.

  “Tonight, I’m serving you, Mandy,” he said simply before heading back to the kitchen. Once the food was properly heated, Leo lifted the serving tray over his shoulder, memories of his years as a server running through his mind. Mandy giggled as she watched him come toward her with the tray and then set the food on their table. After praying over the meal, Leo took a bite of spaghetti Bolognese, realizing how hungry he was. He hadn’t eaten all day—too nervous.

  “Jeremy cooked the meal,” Leo admitted. “I wanted to make you something extra special, but—”

  Mandy held up her hand. “Stop there. Everything about this night is perfect, Leo.” Her tone allowed for no argument. The light from the candles flickered across Mandy’s face and Leo felt overwhelmed by how beautiful she looked. She tore a piece of bread in half and handed one piece to him, the way he often did for her.

  Leo tried to steady his breathing and slow his heart rate, but his nerves wouldn’t settle down.

  After dinner, he brought out two slices of cheesecake and a pot of coffee for the two of them. He sat silently as Mandy told him all about her mother’s postcard and how much it meant to her. He loved the shine in her eyes and the happiness in her voice. Usually, he would feel content to just listen to Mandy talk, but not tonight. He felt the pressure of all the things he needed to say. Inside him there was an intense urging to have nothing left unsaid between them by the end of this night.

  As Mandy poured coffee for them both, Leo knew the moment was right.

  “Mandy, there’s something I’ve been thinking about for quite some time. Something I’ve wanted to talk about with you.”

  “Okay,” she said. “Tell me.”

  “I’m in love with you.”

  The words came out more bluntly and quickly than he’d intended. But there they were.

  There’s no going back now.

  Mandy’s eyes widened and she set down the coffeepot.

  “Are you sure?” she asked and he smiled easily, relieved to finally have said the words he’d felt for months.

  “I’m sure.”

  Leo watched as Mandy swallowed with difficulty. He could see her eyes welling up. “In that case,” she said with a small smile and a definite catch in her voice, “I’m absolutely in love with you, too.”

  In that moment, he knew that whatever had broken inside of him when Carol Ann left had mended completely.

  “Say that again, Mandy, if you don’t mind.”

  Mandy’s smiled widened. “I love you, Leo.” Her words came effortlessly.

  “Then will you marry me?”

  One tear cascaded down Mandy’s face and Leo reached over to wipe it away.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  Leo stood up, reached for Mandy’s hand and pulled her up next to him, where he sealed that agreement with a kiss.

  He thought of the ticket his parents had given him. He would need to buy another one.

  “Mandy?”

  She wiped her eyes and smiled. “What?”

  “I’m just thinking of our honeymoon.”

  Mandy laughed. “Already?”

  Leo leaned down to kiss her again. “How does a table for two in Italy sound?”

  Mandy pressed one finger to her lips and pretended to think it over. “It sounds like a worthy choice to me.”

  * * * * *

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  ISBN-13: 9781460328095

  TABLE FOR TWO

  Copyright © 2014 by Brandy Bruce

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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