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We turned our attention to the menus, and I helped Evie choose something she’d like. I loved going out to restaurants and comparing their operations with mine. Some would say there was no comparison between a pizzeria and a fine-dining experience, but I could take anything I learned and apply it to my business.
Every customer liked to be treated as if they were important when they went out to eat, no matter the price point.
After the waitress took our orders, Harper pulled out a coloring book and markers from her purse to give to Evie.
Harper said, “You’re examining everything as if you’re mentally taking notes.”
“That’s because I am,” I said, shifting my attention to her.
Her head tilted with interest. “What sticks out to you?”
I wondered if she was involved with marketing and customer service in her job at Happily Ever Afters.
“The one thing I’m big on is customer service. How can we treat our customers like they’re dining at a five-star restaurant?”
Her lips tipped up. “Interesting.”
“Papà runs a clean and efficient restaurant, but what if it could be even better? What if you felt like family when you stopped by?”
“Is everyone family?” Evie asked.
Harper turned her attention to her. “Leo’s just saying that it would be nice to feel like family.”
“Like how Leo feels like family?” Evie asked, and Harper’s startled gaze met mine.
“Exactly like that,stellina.”
“What does that mean?” Evie asked curiously.
I tipped my head toward her. “It means little star.”
“That’s sweet,” Harper murmured, as if she couldn’t help herself.
“Some things sound better in Italian,” I said, and her cheeks flushed.
She enjoyed it when I called herbellaandbellissima, pretty and beautiful; maybe it even turned her on. I tucked away that tidbit for later.
“Do you speak fluently?” Harper asked me.
“Not as well as I used to. When I was a teen, I decided I was too cool to speak another language, so I refused to converse with my parents unless it was in English.”
Harper pressed the heel of her hand over her heart. “That must have broken your parents’ hearts.”
“I’m sure it did, but that’s how teenagers are, and then they stopped speaking it around the house. I know phrases, and I’m sure I could relearn it easily, but I haven’t gone on their trips to Italy lately. We stay back so they can enjoy their trip.”
Harper traced a pattern on the tablecloth with her finger. “That must be amazing to visit another country.”
“You’ve never been?” I asked politely, even though I knew the answer.
She shook her head and focused on Evie’s coloring.
My chest welled with emotion. I wanted to show her Italy, and anywhere else she wanted to go. “Have you taken Evie to the beach?”
“I want to go,” Evie said, without looking up at us.
Harper shook her head. “I don’t really take much time off.”
We were only a three-hour drive from Ocean City and many other beaches in Delaware and Virginia.
