CHAPTER 16

 

Grace tried not to let the disappointment of knowing Sal wouldn’t be there all morning take from the excitement of adding her new dish to the Sunday brunch. She knew this was huge. There were many waiting to be seated already and her newest dish would be out there. Sofia had tried it and loved it. Alex was coming in just to try it. Her dream was slowly being realized.

She was showing the cooks the basics on how to make it just like her grandmother had always taught her. A quick but informal lesson, and they had it. Unlike Sal, she believed in their ability to make it work. The recipe wasn’t that complicated and she hadn’t even written it down.

Sofia walked into the kitchen after a couple of hours. “Grace. They’re loving it. It can’t be replaced fast enough. Mexican shrimp fried rice is the bomb! Angel is gonna be so pissed!” She laughed.

Grace didn’t think her week could get any better. “Are they really?”

“Would I lie?” Sofia walked over and hugged her. “Sal is gonna flip!”

After Sofia walked out she was still walking on air then Alex walked in with a plate in his hands. “Are you shitting me with this?”

Sofia looked up from the stove she’d been cleaning off. “You don’t like it?”

“Hell yeah, I like it! It’s delicious!”

Just as she was allowing the awesomeness of this day to sink in, there was a commotion out in the restaurant. Someone was complaining a little too loudly. Alex turned around and put his plate down. “I’ll be back.”

Melissa didn’t look like her usual power chick self. She wore denim shorts and a tank top. But her hair and make up were still flawless.

“Your brother’s blowing me off, Alex. I don’t get blown off. He tried throwing the ‘I’m seeing someone else now,’ crap on me. I don’t buy that.”

Grace’s days of going nose to nose with bullies came back to her in a flash. She’d kicked some ass back in her day. She had to. Being new to the states with an accent had made the kids tease her endlessly. When the words didn’t come fast enough to defend herself, the fists went flying.

If Sal actually did tell this bitch he was seeing someone, then he was serious.

“I don’t know anything about it, and he’s not here,” Alex insisted.

“When will he be? Because he if he thinks he can just blow me off, he’s sadly mistaken.”

Before Alex could respond, Grace walked up from behind him, pulling off her earrings off one by one. “He’s seeing me now. Do you have a problem with that?”

Melissa seemed stunned for a second then she smirked. “No way. I knew he probably did the help but to tell them he’s seeing them?” She turned to Alex and scoffed. “That’s just low.”

Grace almost jumped at her but she felt Alex’s hand around her waist and before she knew it, he was in front of her and spoke through his teeth. “Get the fuck out of here, Melissa.”

“I’m not going anywhere until I talk to Sal.”

Sofia got in front of Alex and he pulled her back too. “No, Sof.” Melissa had the attention of everyone in the restaurant. Alex turned to Oscar, who stood by the bar. He still held both Grace and Sofia back. “Help me out here. Walk her out, man.”

“Tell your brother he owes me.” Melissa glared at Alex. Then she looked at Grace. “You’re a joke. What on earth could your wetback ass have to offer Sal, besides an easy lay?”

Grace tried but there was no getting around Alex. Sofia almost did though. “Get her out!” She screamed, surprising Grace. “Before I throw her ass out!”

“Stop, Sof!” Alex obviously had a good hold on Sofia because she didn’t budge from his side.

Oscar managed to walk Melissa out, but not before she made quite a scene, flinging her arms and shouting obscenities at his attempts to take her by the arm. Grace walked back into the kitchen still reeling from the sting of Melissa’s words. Her entire life she’d been judged by her looks and accent. This was not the first time she’d been referred to as a wetback. Having it spat at her in front of Alex and Sofia and the rest of the staff was humiliating.

“You okay, sweetheart?” Alex hurried into the kitchen behind her.

She nodded unable to even look at him. One of the other kitchen helpers touched her arm. “No te aguites por esa pendeja.”

Grace put her earrings back on but didn’t respond. She was surprised she didn’t feel the emotion that lately had overwhelmed her. Instead, she felt the same anger that had consumed her for so many years when she was younger. Anger of having been forced to come to a country where she always thought people like Melissa would never take her seriously. People who assumed an accent meant she was stupid or less then them somehow.

She watched as another tray of the Mexican shrimp fried rice was prepped to go out into the dining room.

“Grace, you can be sure I’m telling Sal I don’t wanna see that bitch in here ever again,” Sofia said, standing behind Alex.

Grace turned to both Alex and Sofia who were staring at her looking very concerned. She’d put it out there so they knew. Hell, anyone within hearing distance knew now and Sal said he didn’t care if anyone found out. She didn’t either. Joey would be proud. “I’ll be sure to tell him, too.”

 

~*~

 

Sal got the call just as he drove up to the restaurant. He had a few voicemails but hadn’t bothered to listen to them, assuming they were from Melissa since he had so many missed calls from her number. “What?” He brought the car to a grinding stop.

“She made a fucking scene and she insulted Gracie.” Alex was his usual furious self.

He felt his own rage begin to go off. “How’s Grace? Is she still here?”

“Yeah, she’s still here. She actually handled it pretty well. I had to hold her back though. Dude, I hope you’re done with that chick. If she ever comes back in here and Sofia is here it’s gonna get ugly. She was ready to go at her today.”

Alex filled him in on the rest of the morning as Sal sat in his car, resting his forehead against his hand. His other line had been beeping the whole time. As soon as he hung up with Alex he answered the other line.

“You can’t be serious with that girl, Sal. Are you? What does she work for free or for food? I mean—”

“I’m gonna pay you for those fucking tickets and then you’re going to disappear, you hear me? I’ll give the money to Jason. I don’t want you anywhere near the restaurant or my place.”

She laughed. “I just wanted to talk to you. Her ghetto ass is the one that came at me. But what do you expect from someone who probably just came over the border. It’s laughable. What can you possible see—”

“She has the one thing you’ve never had, Melissa. My respect.”

He hung up on her and got out of his car. Rushing into the restaurant, he scanned it, looking for Grace. He didn’t care who knew now. All he wanted was to make sure she wasn’t upset. He hurried into the kitchen, his heart fluttering when she came into view. She was smiling, talking to one of the other cooks. As much as it irritated to him to see how chummy the cooks had gotten with her so quickly, he was glad she didn’t look upset. He walked to her with only one thing in mind. She looked up when she heard one of the other cooks greet him.

She nodded, smiling even bigger, making it impossible for him not to kiss her right there in front of everybody. Someone whistled while a few others sniggered and made jabs. He pulled his lips away from her, giving them all a warning look and they all pretended to go back to being engrossed in their work.

“The rice is a hit,” she said.

“I heard. I knew it would be.” He pulled her by the hand through the kitchen door and into the back room. Alex and Sofia were in there, looking at something on the computer. Alex turned when he heard them walk in and smiled when he saw Grace’s hand firmly in Sal’s. “I just finished the schedule for next week. You said you’ll be at Angel’s on Mondays and Tuesdays right?”

Sal squeezed her hand. He didn’t even wait until they were completely out the door before sitting on the edge of the desk and pulled her to him. He spread his legs placing her in between them, cupping her face. “Listen to me. I promise you. That’ll never happen again.”

“You said you never had feelings for her right?”

“Never.”

She leaned in and kissed him. “I was a little surprised when I heard her say you told her you were seeing someone, but I was happy to hear it.”

“I told you. I don’t give a shit who knows. In fact,” he pulled her closer, “the babies are coming home this week. My mom’s already planning that shower she never got to throw. The whole damn family and half of La Jolla will probably be there. I want you there. I’ll make sure you get Saturday off. So you won’t be off tomorrow. Is that all right? You can come with me tomorrow to Angel’s restaurant and catch his cooks up on the new recipes. I’m sure he’s gonna love the rice, especially since it’s shrimp and seafood is their thing.” The whole time she listened intently, her bright eyes getting wider with everything he said. “I wanna meet your family, too.” That’s when her eyes lost their excitement and he had to ask, “What?”

“I want you to meet them, too,” she said. “It’s just that… ”

“Too soon?”

“No. It’s not that… my step-dad isn’t exactly the most dignified person out there and my mom… well. I told you she’s not my real mom so we’re real different.”

“I don’t care—”

“I mean real different, Sal. I wouldn’t want you to get the idea that I think like them.”

Sal laughed. “Sweetheart, my brothers are ticking time bombs. Not to mention my pistol-whip of a sister. Just because we’re related doesn’t mean their personalities reflect on me. I would never judge you by your family. I’m not gonna judge you period. I already know enough to be convinced that I wanna be with you. That’s all that matters. Don’t worry about anything else.”

“I’d love for you to meet Rose. I can bring her to the shower if that’s okay?”

“Absolutely. I can’t wait to meet your little shadow.”

That made her smile. “That reminds me. Since you’re closing and I’m getting off early today, Taylor and Joey are picking me up. We’re taking Rose to the mall. She got invited to the prom so we’re helping her pick out a dress.” She played with the buttons on the front of his shirt. “I can introduce you to them today when they pick me up. They’re not family but they mean the world to me.”

Sal swallowed hard, knowing he shouldn’t have an issue with these two guys meaning the world to her. Now that he knew the truth, he saw it in Joey who was a little more obvious. But Taylor had really struck a nerve, especially the way he called Grace beautiful. Still, he took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Sure. I’d love to meet them.”

After their talk and a few more lustful kisses Sal finally had to let Grace go back to work. Sofia left and Alex came in the back to have a word with him. “So I see you made a move?”

Sal nodded still facing the computer, he was switching Grace’s days off. “Not just a move. I’m having her come to the shower this weekend. I want everyone to meet her.”

“Wow. You don’t waste time do you? That’s cool though. Gracie’s pretty awesome. Just one thing.” Sal turned to look at him. “You better let all your little girlfriends know you’re off the market now, because you are, right?”

Sal frowned. “I don’t have girlfriends.”

“Well anyone else that might get any ideas about coming in here to face off with Grace. That wasn’t cool. She played it off, but I won’t have her being mistreated like that. She doesn’t deserve it.”

“You really think I’m gonna let that happen again? Melissa’s the only one that would do something like that and I already talked to her. She won’t be coming around here again.”

Alex didn’t seem convinced. “I really hope everything works out, Sal. Sofie was a little worried too when she realized what’s going on. I don’t think Grace will stick around if it doesn’t.”

Sal had every intention of making things work with Grace. It had to. “Trust me. I’m not taking this thing lightly, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

They talked a little longer. Alex was clearly concerned not so much about Grace leaving but about her feelings being hurt. He said he hadn’t even thought about how she’d handle all the women in Sal’s life.

It annoyed Sal that Alex and Sofia made him out to be such a player. Just because he’d never brought anyone home to meet the family didn’t mean all that. He just hadn’t found anyone he felt he wanted to and now that he had he was wasting no time. In that sense, he had to admit he was like his brothers. They both knew when they met the one that she was it. Even though it took his knucklehead brother Alex years to figure it out he’d been stuck on Valerie from the moment he met her.

The day went by too quickly. Before he knew it, Grace was in the back getting ready to leave. He walked in as she pulled her things out of the cabinet. He hated that he wouldn’t be spending time with her tonight like he had the last two nights.

“Joey couldn’t make it after all,” Grace said, looking up from her purse. “His mom showed up last minute from out of town so he’s spending the day with her. But Taylor is still picking me up.”

“You guys still going to the mall?” He asked, hopeful that it’d been cancelled and he could pick her up once he closed the restaurant up.

“Oh, yeah. My sister is dying to go and even though Taylor’s not the shopper of the two, he said he didn’t mind. We’ll probably catch a movie after.”

Sal let that simmer, reminding himself Taylor was gay and in a happy relationship. She turned back to the cabinet and Sal walked up behind her, kissing her neck. “So I’ll pick you up tomorrow and you can come with me to Angel’s?”

“What time? I have class in the morning.”

He sucked her neck now, feeling the tightening of his pants, but he couldn’t stop. Julie walked in the room and Grace pulled away, annoying the hell out of him.

“Uh… your ride is here, Grace.”

Grace was visibly embarrassed; her face even flushed a little. “Thanks. Can you let him know I’ll be out in a minute please?” Julie walked out and Grace turned to Sal, who reached for her hand. “I get off at noon. I can meet you there. I’ll just have to figure out the bus route.”

Sal hated thinking about her on the bus. No matter what she said, it was dangerous. He’d have to come up with a way to get her off it. As much as he wanted to he knew he wouldn’t always be able to pick her up and drop her off. He didn’t like her relying on anyone else either. “No, I’ll pick you up at school.”

“Oh yeah, that.”

She looked at him weird. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing I just forgot about it.”

They walked out of the office and took the dreaded walk to the front where Taylor stood near the front door. Sal hadn’t noticed the green eyes that first day he picked her up but now he noticed every detail, including the smoldering way he looked at Grace as they approached him. “You ready, beautiful?”

Sal didn’t want to hate this guy but he was really starting to. Hell, he hated him the first time he saw him leave with Grace. “Yeah, I’m ready, but I wanted you to meet Sal.” She turned to Sal, letting go of his hand to stand by Taylor. “Sal this is one half of my two best friends, Taylor.”

Taylor reached his hand out to shake Sal’s. “Nice to meet you. The other half is with his mommy.” Taylor sounded annoyed and that made Sal feel a little better. The guy was mad that his boyfriend flaked on their shopping date. Although, it didn’t help that his arm was now draped over Grace’s shoulder.

“Good to meet you, too. I’ve heard a lot about you and Joey.”

“Likewise,” Taylor smiled. “She’s talked our ear off about you as well.”

Grace seemed embarrassed by that. Sal took a step forward, reaching out for her hand. “Well, hopefully you’ll be hearing a lot more.”

Hell no. Sal pulled her back toward him before she could take a step. “Aren’t you gonna say goodbye?”

Her eyes went wide. Yes, he knew they were in the restaurant and everyone was around but after what happened today, he felt compelled to make a statement. So he brought his hand behind her neck and kissed her softly. Not too long but long enough. He would’ve kissed her even longer if he didn’t think it would make her completely uncomfortable. Everyone would know now and that’s exactly how he wanted it.