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“Surprise!” I yell with fifty of our closest friends.

Gio appears at the entrance of the kitchen to the Hedonist, apron in hand. His expression morphs from shocked to emotional after he takes everyone in.

I step to him first and give him a salacious kiss that has everyone catcalling. We laugh with our noses and lips pressed together. Someone fires off a confetti cannon, and shiny silver paper shreds flutter over us. Upbeat music flips on in the background.

“Congratulations on your new restaurant, Mr. Salucci.” I tug at the collar on his black button-up. His name is embroidered on the left breast. It’s reads: Chef Giovanni.

Now that we live in Chicago, I miss the days when he ran around shirtless, at least in public. At our home in Lincoln Park, it’s another story altogether. My cheeks blush at the thought of it.

“Gio! I’m so proud of you! I’m proud of both of you.”

Tina joins our hug, and all the kids pile in behind. I flew everyone here for the opening this weekend.

“What an amazing surprise,” Gio says, beaming.

I step aside to find his eyes glistening under the lights. My heart warms over my sentimental man. He’s the best kind of guy, and I’m so happy his dreams are coming true. He’s worked so hard. We all have. I rub his back as other guests gather around and congratulate him on the new place.

“Where’s Jaz?” Gio asks Tina.

“With that freaky Freddie kid. I’m not sure about him, Gio.” She nods in the direction of the hostess stand where the two are leaning in close chatting, or more likely plotting. Then Tina becomes distracted with the kids and steps away.

“Oh, hell no.” Gio moves to pull Freddie and Jaz apart, but I tug him back to my side.

“Relax. It’s a party. Let Jaz make friends. It’ll be good for her when she starts college here in the fall.” Apparently, that’s what she was saving money for all this time.

When Gio doesn’t look appeased, I say, “See? there’s Dex.”

I wave to my nephew where he’s carrying a stack of folded aprons. He sewed each one and painted simplistic nudes on the fabric exactly like I imagined. Dex is a genius clothing designer and artist. He even painted a mural on one of the walls.

Gio relaxes a little, but he’s still on edge. “I’m not worried about Jaz. I’m worried about Freddie. She’ll recruit him into her criminal network. He’s too good in the kitchen to lose to her.”

“Never thought I’d see the day when we’re all fighting over Freddie,” Jeanie says as she appears with her boyfriend, Nathan.

Both are glowing. We exchange hugs, and the men share a macho fist-bumping, shoulder-tapping handshake.

“Remember, Freddie’s helping Granny with dancing classes at the studio on weeknights,” Nathan warns Gio. “He’s only a temporary loaner until you get this place up and running.”

“We’ll see.” Gio bumps Nathan with his shoulder again in warning.

“Will you two calm down? You’re such brutes.” I turn to Jeanie. “Where’s your mom? Is she bringing Chester?”

“Chester was weeks ago.” Jeanie rolls her eyes. “She’s been on a man bender.”

“She was dating triplets from some circus act.” Nathan breaks in, his eyes wide with wonder. “Betty’s the original sex machine.”

“More like the inventor,” Gio says.

“Will you two stop it. She’s fifty-three, not two-hundred-and-three. I hope I can still get it then too,” Jeanie says, cutting in.

“Oh, you can get it all the time.” Nathan kisses her ear, making her giggle. I love seeing them so happy.

And I’m about to burst with a secret. Nathan is proposing soon. I helped him scope out the perfect ring setting. I roll my lips inward when I think about what he’s planned. It’s epic.

“See, Chef?” I eye Gio. “Your restaurant is already inspiring the fun.” I hand out glasses of champagne to everyone in the circle when a server stops beside me.

“Our restaurant,” Jeanie says, correcting me.

I raise a glass, and everyone follows suit. “To our new restaurant group, Landmark Entertainment. And to Chef Giovanni’s the Hedonist!”