CHAPTER NINETEEN
MELANIE
We were now less than an hour away from the great grand opening of Esposito’s new downtown Phoenix restaurant, and suddenly it seemed like there were a million things to do. I still needed to double-check some details, from the presence of first aid kits to the required emergency and inspection signs. Over in the dining room, a couple of the servers were running through a quick inventory of all the plates, glasses, and flatware.
“Remember,” I said as I passed by the built-in cabinets where the servers were busily counting, “any chips or cracks or other flaws, and the item is to be removed from circulation immediately. Place all rejects in the gray bin beneath the register, and I’ll make note of it later.”
“Melanie.” Isaiah, one of the new dishwashers, appeared and looked around at all the activity with confusion. He was the youngest staff member, still in high school. “What should I do now?”
“Um, why don’t you go to the kitchen? I think Dominic’s running through the dish sanitizing process again.”
“Sure thing.”
Fifteen minutes before we opened the doors, Gio gave a rousing speech that made everyone cheer like we were about to kick off a playoff game instead of a restaurant opening. I smiled and clapped along with everyone else, though, because it was fun and exciting and I was happy to be a part of it all.
“You could have been a motivational speaker,” I told him.
“Thanks. It’s good to know I’ve got some skills to fall back on if this whole pizza thing doesn’t work out,” he joked. I could see some angst in his face, though. He looked like his brother, and they both had similar habits that betrayed signs of worry; furrowing his brow, squeezing the back of his neck like it hurt.
“It’ll work out,” I said confidently. “For the last week we’ve had a steady stream of would-be customers arriving at the door to see if we’re open yet. I’ve seen a lot of interest in the social media ads I’ve been running, and just look at that line right outside the door.”
“I’m sure you’re right, Melanie,” he said. Then he snapped his fingers. “Oh, I keep forgetting to mention this, but you remember that reporter from the Sun Republic?”
“Becky Baller.”
“Yeah.” He snorted. “Becky Baller. She called and said the short piece she’s been working on was delayed for a few weeks, but it’s still on.”
“Nice. That’ll definitely generate some buzz.”
“Hopefully.”
“So what’s the verdict?” Dominic asked, emerging from the kitchen. “We ready to open?”
Gio glanced at me and nodded thoughtfully. “We’re ready.”
Then the Esposito brothers took a deep breath and opened the doors to their brand-new restaurant. As the crowd poured in, Dominic returned to the kitchen, but Gio stayed in the dining room, taking orders and stopping by tables to make sure everyone was satisfied. It was like the friends and family opening in that we were ridiculously busy, except these were paying customers.
Tara stopped by with baby Leah, and I was glad to take a two-minute break and greet them. Every time I stopped by the kitchen, Dominic was up to his elbows in flour and pizza dough. After only a few hours, I could tell that our numbers for the night were going to be phenomenal, eclipsing our most optimistic estimates. The only vaguely unpleasant event all night didn’t involve burned food or server mishaps or anything so ordinary.
“I’ve seen you before,” said a young woman who squinted at me across the hostess desk.
I smiled at her. “I’ve been down at the other restaurant in Tempe at times, so you might have seen me there.”
She tapped a manicured nail against her bright-pink lips. “No, that wasn’t it.” Then she blinked as recognition dawned. “I remember now. You were the girl who fell on that movie star bride and then everyone started fighting. I work at McAffey’s over by ASU, and we played the TMZ clip over and over again. Everyone laughed their asses off. You were only in there for a second, but I watched it a million times.” She elbowed her companions. “Look, it’s the girl from that crazy wedding video.”
It was difficult to keep a smile pasted to my face. “Table for three?” I said. “What name is it under?”
“Kelsy,” she replied, and then started to ask me questions about the event, but I was able to brush her off pretty easily since there was a line of people waiting behind her.
I carefully avoided any more eye contact with Kelsy and her friends. When they walked out the front door an hour later, I felt relieved. Sometimes I forgot the initial, humiliating catalyst that left me unemployed and with no good prospects. As I watched Kelsy depart, I realized none of it bothered me that much anymore. Much worse things happened to people every day. Anyway, I wasn’t going to feel sorry for myself. I was in a good place now.
All in all, the opening night of Esposito’s new restaurant was an unqualified success. Since it was the first night, we kept seating new guests later than we usually would and finally shut the doors for the night an hour after the official closing time.
Cleanup seemed like a breeze, because everyone was in such a good mood. I hung around until everything was done, and then waved a fond goodbye to the staff. I was proud of them, proud of myself.
Dominic finally emerged from the kitchen. He smiled at me, and it was like the sun emerging from the clouds, brilliant.
“All squared away in the kitchen?” Gio asked his brother.
Dominic nodded. “All good. Place got a hell of a workout tonight. So what’s the final verdict?”
Gio ginned. “I think our future here looks pretty damn spectacular.”
Dominic looked my way. “What do you think, Melanie? You think our future looks spectacular?”
I knew he was talking about the restaurant, but the way he said the words our future gave me the chills.
“I do,” I said. “Actually I don’t think the big picture could get any brighter. And who knows, maybe this time next year, we’ll be talking about opening another new place in Scottsdale or on the west side. Frankly, I believe every neighborhood deserves an Esposito’s.”
When I stopped talking, I saw that the brothers were staring at me, each for presumably very different reasons. I cleared my throat. I had something important to say to one of them, and the prospect made me feel a little humble.
“Gio,” I said, “I really want to thank you for taking a chance and hiring me.” I paused. “This experience has been more than a job. It’s like I joined a family. And I’m grateful. I just wanted you to know that. Getting fired ended up being the best thing that happened to me in a long time.”
“Thank you, Melanie,” Gio said softly. He glanced at Dominic, but he was looking down at the floor. “I think I speak for both of us when I say that we’re glad you joined us. Right, Dom?”
I thought I caught an edge in Gio’s tone when he asked that last question, but it could have been my imagination.
“Absolutely,” Dominic agreed without hesitating. “We definitely got lucky.”
Gio seemed to throw his brother a brief warning look, but that could have been my imagination as well because in the next moment he was smiling and telling me to have a good night. When I returned from grabbing my purse out of the office, Gio was in the dining room alone. There was some noise coming from the kitchen, so I figured Dominic must have headed in there.
“You staying awhile?” I asked Gio, trying not to glance toward the kitchen for a glimpse of his brother.
“Yeah, a little while,” he said. “Promised Tara I wouldn’t be too late.”
“Oh, she mentioned that she hoped to bring your grandmother here one day next week. I feel bad because Tara keeps inviting me for a girls’ night out, but I’ve been so busy.”
“Yup, it’s been a busy time,” Gio said, a little absently. There was a clatter of pans in the kitchen, and Gio frowned in the direction of the sound.
“Well, good night,” I said cheerfully. “Today was a good start.”
“It was,” he agreed and moved to hold the door open for me. I was surprised when he followed me out to the sidewalk.
“Melanie,” he said. “Thanks for what you said in there. I’m glad you feel like you’ve joined a family. I hope you always feel that way, no matter what happens.”
What the hell is going to happen?
“Thanks,” I said. “Good night, Gio.”
I had tried to sound cheerful, but I felt somewhat unsettled as I got behind the wheel of my car. But on the drive home, I quieted that little flare of initial alarm. Gio’s words were just something people said to be nice. I didn’t doubt that he meant them, but there was no hidden significance there. He had no idea that Dominic and I had started something. For now I liked it that way. I enjoyed feeling like Dominic and I had our own private world that no one else could interfere with.
As soon as I pulled into my parking space, my phone buzzed. I smiled when I saw the text.
Missed you all day.
I texted back.
Missed you too.
He replied seconds later.
Can I still see you tonight?
I smiled.
You’d better.
His answer was immediate.
Can’t wait to hold you. It’s all I’m thinking about.
I ran into my apartment and raided my lingerie drawer, smiling all the while. I wondered if I was in danger of falling too hard and fast for Dominic Esposito. We hadn’t made each other any promises. But I didn’t want to slow down. I couldn’t slow down.
It was like I was running downhill with my arms in the air, hoping the wind would make me fly.