“Acting classes helped, too. What about you, are you from around here?
“No, California actually.”
“Really? I just moved from there myself. L.A. girl.” I say holding up my pen with one hand.
“Is that so? I lived there too for a bit, but then I started a business in San Francisco, and now I’m retired.”
“Retired? You don’t look a day past forty.”
He chuckles lightly. “Thank you, but I’m old enough to be your grandfather.”
“Oh, I doubt that. Dad, maybe.” I say, tapping my pen on my chin.
“Did they teach how to be charming as well in acting class?”
“No, that’s all me.”
He smiles up at me, and warmth spreads across my chest. He had an endearing smile, one that made you feel comfortable and safe.
“I have a daughter about your age, so the dad category sounds about right.”
“Why isn’t she joining you tonight?”
He tears his gaze away from mine and fiddles with his napkin a bit. When he returned his gaze back to mine, I saw the pain behind his eyes. “She doesn’t live here, and well, we aren’t that close.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe you should try calling her.”
“It’s a long story.”
Silence filled the air, before the man said, “Alright you sold me on the Modino D’Angnello. I’ll take that. And another glass of Merlot.”
I grabbed the menu off the table and said, “You got it. “Would you like your glass now or with your meal?”
“With the meal, I need something to wash it down with.”
“Not a problem, sir.”
When I came to get the man’s credit card, he was already gone. He must have paid with cash, which was rare these days. Mostpeople charged their meals on a card and would occasionally pay their tip with cash. But, guess this guy believed in money all the way. Cleaning up the table, I stack the silverware, dirty napkin, and wine glass onto the plate while opening the black book to take his payment. I nearly gasped at the sight of the three crisp hundred-dollar bills in the black billfold. This man’s dinner was expensive but not two-hundred-dollar-tip-worthy.
“You okay, Mel?” Sophia’s voice had me tearing my gaze away from the cash I stared at way too long, to meet hers.
“Ya, I'm fine, that guy. He just left me a two-hundred-dollar tip.”
“Dang girl. What kind of magic are you working tonight? And I would convince your husband to keep that all to yourself. Besides, he wanted you to have it, and who knows, he may become your regular.”
“I hope so. Then I would only have to work a few hours a week.”
“With my brother being a workaholic, good luck with that one.” She says as she starts to bite one of her nails.
“I think the rush has died down by the way. I haven’t had to seat you since after mr. generous.”
“Ya, I noticed. I need to get home and…” I paused. I wasn’t ready to tell Nick’s family about my mom. Not yet anyway, not until I figured out what she planned to do, now that the cat was out of the bag.
“Check on Loco and soak these sore feet into a bath, and curl up with a good book.”
“Oh, that does sound good.”
“It’s my favorite thing to do.”
