AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She narrowed her eyes at me. “No.”
“Good. I have something a little bit special planned for tonight."
"Ooh, what is it?"
"Come on out back, and I'll show you," I said, leading her by the hand. "It's not much, just a little something to celebrate your good interview."
Her eyes widened in amazement when she saw what I'd organized. "Cole, this is . . . wow. You really shouldn't have gone to all this trouble."
I'd set up the outside space of my trailer to look something like a New York Italian restaurant. I'd borrowed Ida's portable pizza oven, and I'd set the table with a red and white checked tablecloth. Strings of twinkling lights hung overhead, casting a warm, romantic glow over the makeshift dining area. I’d also hung up a sign I made saying “REALLY FRICKIN’ Little Italy” over it using the girls’ craft supplies.
"Where did you get all this stuff?"
"Ida, mostly. But the tablecloth was all my idea. We're going to have New York-style pizza. At least that's the plan. I’m making it from scratch, so—"
"Are you proofing the dough?"
"Let’s just say there’s some dough covered in plastic wrap doing . . . something inside right now. It's the first time I've ever baked anything, I think. Except cookies with the kids."
Elara seemed genuinely touched. “Cole, it’s so nice of you.”
"Take a seat, ma’am," I said, pulling out a chair for her.
"You're going to get a very big tip if the service is this good all night."
"Ma’am, would you care to sample the wine?" I unscrewed a bottle of red.
"Ah, a screw-top! Excellent choice, garçon!"
I poured out a glug of wine and Elara sniffed it then took a small sip. She gargled with it noisily then swallowed. "Supple, rich, full-bodied. Excellent."
“How wonderful to see you gargling with it, ma’am,” I said politely. “It’s the best way to drink wine in public.”
Elara snickered.
I hit play on my phone, and cheesy Italian music started to play from Bluetooth speakers. "This must really take you back to New York."
Elara smiled. "Actually, the pastry school was in Little Italy. So the resemblance is uncanny."
"What's the real Little Italy like?"
"You know, lots of old restaurants, spilling out into the streets. Old gentlemen smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. The air smells like garlic. Pizza all over the place. Lots of Frank Sinatra being blasted out."
"It must have felt good to be back in the city?" I asked, pouring myself a wine and taking a seat. “Does it feel even smaller here now?”
Elara looked down at her wine, then up at me. "It was kind of strange, actually. I was nervous about the interview, so I really didn't take it all in." Her voice was tinged with sadness.
"Strange good?"
"Just strange," she shrugged, taking a sip of her wine.
"And how are your friends? Did you have fun on your night out?"
"I, uh, didn't go out in the end."
"Really? How come?"
"I was tired. I got off the phone to you and fell asleep."
