by Chelsea Hale
“All of the above!”
“Great. We’ll give you the grand tour then!”
Over the next few days, Mandy acquainted herself with the city. They’d gone to three Broadway shows, the MET, Central Park, and Ellis Island.
Now walking the Brooklyn Bridge back to the city, Mandy’s mind wandered to Derek again. They were both in the same city. The odds that they’d even run into each other were so slim. She knew he spent most of his waking hours in his office or in meetings, but that didn’t stop her from looking at the faces of everyone who passed by them.
Maybe she’d call Adam after all. It was a silly thought, but maybe there was a way to see Derek. They entered the Financial District. A place where Derek was every day. She turned in a circle, admiring the skyscrapers and wishing she knew the window Derek looked out of.
“The city grows on you, doesn’t it?” Liz stood next to Mandy, a wistful look on her face.
“It really does.” That, and the man she’d fallen in love with was somewhere here. Ignoring her still. He probably hadn’t thought about her at all once he’d gotten back to work. She needed to stop pining. But she couldn’t. Maybe she could get his information from Alice. Would that be too weird?
They headed down another street, filled with more people. Mandy marveled at how packed it was. And then she saw the reason. It wasn’t just people walking, they were standing in line for an Italian restaurant with red, white and green decorating the windows and the store front.
Renaldi’s.
Mandy held her breath. Here was Derek’s favorite little place to eat. A place not far from his office. She spun in a circle as if she could sense which building might be his. She supposed a google search would have told her, but she couldn’t bring herself to appear desperate.
But Renaldi’s could be her answer. He said he always stopped by for the special on Wednesdays. That was tomorrow. She placed a favorite on her map app on her phone so she could get back here tomorrow. She glanced at the special for today. A sausage calzone. But the other days weren’t listed. Suspense would be her companion until tomorrow when she’d finally find out what the special was on Wednesdays.
The next morning Mandy got ready for the day. Today they were going to the observation deck from One World Trade Center. Liz said it was one of her favorite spots in all of New York and Mandy had anticipated the view from the top all week.
A knock sounded at the bathroom door, and she opened it to Liz. “Hey. You look extra nice this morning. A new shade of eyeshadow?” Liz asked.
Mandy had taken extra care with her makeup, because she was silly, and she might see Derek today. Excitement rolled through her stomach like the thrill of being on a rollercoaster. “Is it too much?”
Liz shook her head. “Never. You always have the perfect touch. But hey, I have some bad news. I need to go into the office for a few hours today. Tyler says he can still take you up to the observation deck at One World Trade Center, and we can all meet for lunch by my work afterwards.”
Mandy’s stomach knotted at the thought of missing the lunch rush at Renaldi’s. She’d have to get there early. “Maybe I’ll try and catch up with someone while I’m here today, or go and sketch in the park for a few hours, and then we can go to the observation deck at sunset.”
Liz gave a sassy smile. “You should have told me you wanted to see other friends. We’ve been monopolizing you since Saturday.”
“Oh, he’s not really a friend,” Mandy said, rushing the words together. “I mean. He is, I guess. He’s the grandson of the companion I went on the Panama Canal cruise with. I told you about Derek.” She wasn’t avoiding telling Liz more details, not exactly. Liz just had a knack of setting people up and sensing when things would work out. Mandy wasn’t sure if she was ready for Liz’s analysis on it.
“Right. You mentioned him—the workaholic, right?”
“He’s the one.”
Liz raised her eyebrow.
“I mean, not that I mean he’s the one, I just meant, yes he’s the workaholic.”
“Well how nice that he has time to hang out with you.”
“I’m not sure if it will work or not.”
Liz wiggled her eyebrows. “I’ll expect details later. Have a fun day!”
Mandy approached Renaldi’s twenty minutes before it opened for lunch. Try as she might she couldn’t focus on sketching in Central Park and had ended up wandering around all morning, her mind lost in thought. She tried to focus on the surrounding architecture and not on what she’d say to Derek if she saw him today.
She wasn't the first in line, but joined in the excitement of waiting for her food. As the doors opened to the restaurant, oregano and the smell of garlic hit her senses, making her mouth water and her stomach rumble for the food. She sat at a small two-person table at the far end of the room.
“Welcome to Renaldi’s. What would you like today?” the waiter with curly dark hair asked in a thick Italian accent.
She looked around the room. Derek wasn’t here, and she had no idea how long it would be before he came, if he came at all. If she ordered too soon she might miss Derek completely. She stalled. “This is my first time here,” she explained. “What do you recommend?”
“Ah, for you I will bring the menu, and then you can look it over." He came back a few minutes later with the menu and garlic bread. The bread melted in her mouth and she savored the garlic and oregano flavors. If she wasn't careful she’d be full from the appetizer and not have any room for lunch.
She looked over the menu but couldn't decide. The special wasn’t listed and when the waiter came back her curiosity piqued. “What's the special for today?”
The waiter chuckled. “Ah, you truly have not been here before? Then you came on the right day. Today the special is our very famous homemade elbow noodles covered in a delicate premium aged cheese sauce.”
Mandy looked at the waiter skeptically. “Are you saying that your special today is macaroni and cheese?”
The man smiled at her with the big toothy grin that showcased the cleft in his chin. “Indeed it is, ma'am, and it's not the kind for the little kids. It is the best you will ever have.” He enunciated each word with feeling.
She closed her menu. Derek loved this place, and she wanted to know why. “I will have the special. And anything else that you think I should try while I’m here.”
The man's eyebrows rose over his kind eyes. “That is a lot of trust a place in a waiter that you have only just met.”
“I have it on very good authority that your Wednesday special is the best.”
“You haven't heard wrong. Your order will be out soon. Grazie.”
Mandy casually looked around the restaurant about a dozen times as she continued to eat the garlic bread. No sign of Derek. There was an upstairs seating area, so she kept an eye on the door to make sure that she didn't miss him.
When her macaroni and cheese arrived, she could hardly believe the presentation. It looked like it could be served at the finest restaurant in New York. Derek was right, this little place was amazing. It rivaled anything that she had seen or experienced on the cruise. No wonder Derek had missed it while he was gone traveling.
Mandy barely contained her moan as she enjoyed the delicious noodles and cheese. Everything was perfection. The waiter had brought some marinara sauce for dipping garlic bread and a strong aroma of fresh parsley filled her senses.
She was nearly done her bowl of food when the waiter came back to ask about dessert. She glanced around the room. Still no sign of Derek. But she realized even without him showing up the experience of this amazing place was worth the chance.
That was what she wanted—a chance. A chance with Derek to be able to prove to him that they would be good together. Even amidst his crazy work life and hers, they could make things work.
“What do you recommend? The special was amazing. Can dessert actually top the entrée?” She looked at the waiter in all seriousness. She could just order another bowl
of macaroni and cheese for dessert and be happy.
“I know just what to bring you, as long as you like chocolate,” he said, his eyes thoughtful as he waited for her to respond.
She smiled. “Chocolate sounds delicious.”
She savored the last few bites of her macaroni and cheese though for a split second she considered taking the rest of it home to enjoy later. Maybe she would order a serving or two to go so Liz and Tyler could try some too.
Wiping her bowl clean with a piece of bread, she glanced up from her food and her fingers stilled. Coming through the door and sitting on the opposite side of the room from her was Derek. Her heart fluttered—he looked good.
She’d waited for months to see him, and here he was.
Mandy stood up to go say hi, when a woman in a bright red blazer and pencil skirt came up to him. He stood, and she leaned in for a kiss on the cheek. She patted his arm sitting across from him, and Mandy's heart sank. This was why he hadn't called her. She was a fool for coming so far and thinking that he might have feelings for her after it had been so long. She pushed aside the plate in front of her just as the waiter came back with her chocolate gelato.
“Now be honest with this dessert, there are other flavors but this one is my favorite.”
Mandy tried to school her face into a pleasant expression, but she was sure that the waiter’s comment was because she looked sad. But it wasn't the dessert’s fault. “Thank you.”
The waiter turned to leave but then turned back to her again. “Is there anything else I can get for you, ma’am?”
She drowned herself in a chocolate gelato, but she’d also want to drown herself in more of that macaroni and cheese. “Can I get three more servings of your Wednesday special to go please?”
The Italian waiter’s smile grew, stretching from one side of his face to the other, pushing his cheeks up into his eyes. “Coming right up,” he said.
Mandy kept her face to the wall, trying to avoid looking over at Derek just in case he might see her. It would be too humiliating if he saw her here. She finally worked up the courage to glance his way. He talked very animatedly to the woman across from him. He wouldn't have noticed her even if he looked in her direction.
The waiter came with her macaroni and cheese right as she finished her chocolate gelato. She thanked the waiter and left him a huge tip once he ran her card. She carried the paper bag with her leftovers and walked out. Before the door shut behind her she glanced back for a second, to see Derek for the last time. He kept his eyes on the woman with the dark-brown hair in front of him.
Mandy sighed as she walked down the street, realizing that she had lost two things today. The possibility of seeing where things would go with Derek and the ability to have the most amazing macaroni and cheese in the world the next time she was in New York.
He hadn’t made contact with her since the cruise, and he’d had his assistant contact him about the gift. And she wouldn't dare go to a place that Derek frequented every week. It was too bad that the macaroni and cheese was only served on Wednesday.
Derek glanced up from his business meeting at Renaldi’s just as the door closed behind a customer. The short blonde hairstyle reminded him so much of Mandy's hair. He had to stop doing that to himself. He saw her everywhere he went—the downside of living in such a busy city with so many people. All of them looked like Mandy. And he could never tear his gaze away from them.
The blonde glanced through the window looking at the restaurant and Derek about dropped his fork. Unless his brain was getting even better at creating a mirage of Mandy in front of him he could swear that this woman outside his favorite restaurant in the entire world was Mandy, or her twin.
His heart thudded against his rib cage. Was it really her? And if it was, what in the world was she doing here? His brain couldn’t process any of it.
Rachel, his marketing director, waved her hand in front of his face. "Hello? Mr. Thompson? Where did you go?”
He focused on her again. With his busy schedule today he was overbooked, and he’d been in danger of having a catered lunch today, which on Wednesday was absolutely out of the question. So he had dragged Rachel to join him so that they could have their meeting, and he could enjoy the food that he wanted.
He shook his head. "Sorry, where were we?”
She began talking again, but he didn't hear a word she said. If that had been Mandy, and she showed up at his favorite restaurant, what was he still doing inside the restaurant? Had she seen him here? Or had she not even noticed him?
He jumped up from the table. "Will you excuse me for just one moment, please?" And with that he bolted out the door of Renaldi’s and onto the bustling street.
He looked both ways following in the direction he thought she went when she passed by the windows. But as soon as he came to the intersection he had no idea which way to turn. He stood there for a few moments sure that he'd actually seen her this time. You should've moved faster. Should have followed her quicker. It was too late, she wasn’t anywhere.
With slower steps, he walked back to the restaurant trying to figure out what her presence in New York City meant.
“A middle of the day call again? What’s the occasion? It’s not my birthday.” Grams’ voice was lighthearted. Since the cruise Derek had called Grams at least twice a week during the workday to talk with her. Each time she answered the same way. Mandy didn’t know it, but she’d affected him, and it in turn had strengthened his relationship with Grams.
“You’ll never guess who I saw today,” Derek said, wondering if Grams had arranged it. Had she invited Mandy to the city?
“Who?”
“Mandy.”
Grams paused. “I didn’t know she was in town. Did you ask her if she wants to come to Martha’s Vineyard?” There was such hope in Grams’ voice and Derek didn’t want to squash that, but he didn’t have a choice.
Derek stared out the window, picking out a patch of blue sky in the distance. “No. I didn’t talk to her at all. You’re sure you didn’t ask her to come?”
Grams laughed. “Darling, I’m old but I still remember who I talk to. Why didn’t you say hi to her?”
“She left before I had the chance.”
“Well, maybe you should call her.”
Derek paused. How bad would it be to call her? A friendly hello? After all, she’d come to his city, to his favorite restaurant on the day of his favorite special. That had to be a sign, right? “Thanks, Grams,” he said before hanging up.
He began dialing her number when Adam came into his office.
Adam cleared his throat, shaking Derek out of his thoughts about Mandy. “Tom is on line three, he has some questions about…” Adam surveyed Derek and his desk. His usually clean desk was in complete disarray. “Is everything all right?”
Derek erased Mandy’s number. She would have to wait, he had business to attend to. He cleared his throat. “I’ll take the call.” He sat down at his desk, drumming his fingers on it as Adam headed toward the door. “Is your wife still happy with the art in the nursery?”
Adam whipped back around. “Are you kidding? It’s her favorite thing she received. I can’t tell you how many friends she’s invited in to see them. I mean, they come to see Caden too, but Kira shows off the art with just as much enthusiasm. In fact, she’d like to connect with the artist sometime. It’s been busy with a newborn.”
Derek nodded. “That’s a great idea.” His brain rushed to what that could mean for Mandy but pushed the distracting thoughts of Mandy aside. He would figure out later why she had shown up and then left without even talking to him. He needed to talk to Tom.
It wasn’t until Derek got home that night that he could allow his thoughts to drift back to Mandy. What had he decided in the bustle of the day? A call wouldn’t hurt. Just to see if she was really in New York and what her plans were.
Chapter Twenty-One
A New York number appeared on the screen, one Mandy didn’t recognize. She didn’t let her
heart get excited. She’d been okay with uprooting and moving to New York when she thought there could be something between her and Derek, but now, she didn’t know if New York City was big enough to get over him.
Her life felt solid when it took place on a rocking cruise ship. But on solid ground? The rocking of her emotions was nauseating. There’d be time to decide after a design studio had actually accepted her. Would The Edge call this late to confirm her appointment tomorrow? For now, she only had to answer the phone.
“Amanda Jones speaking,” she said, feeling very professional and New Yorkish for not answering with a customary hello.
“Mandy? Hi. It’s Derek.”
Her heart leapt into her throat, momentarily impairing her ability to breathe or think. She forced it back down. No emotions. Not after she’d decided to move on. He had the beautiful brunette from lunch in his life now. Who was Mandy kidding to think she’d be the kind of woman Derek would fall for? She was out of her league. She would never be the tailored power suit executive type. She liked her artsy, go with the flow life and job. “Hi, it’s been a while,” she mustered out.
“Work has been busy.”
She knew that would be his reply. Yet he somehow found time for a lunch date. “I can imagine.”
“So, um, it was the strangest thing today. I thought I saw you at Renaldi’s.”
“Did you?” Then he’d know that she could have seen him with his new girlfriend. He didn’t need to explain. She could save him that. It would be too painful to hear anyway. The same old blah blah breakup, but this time instead of it having to do with her work and travel, it’d be the distance and they lived too far away to make anything really work, and so finding someone local made sense.
“I did,” he said.
She wouldn’t confirm it for him. “Small world I guess.”
Derek cleared his throat. “While I have you on the phone I wanted to discuss a business matter with you.”
