“I wonder if you’ll still be thinking that when I get big and fat with this baby.” She picks up her menu so she’s not looking at me.
I take her hand to make her look at me. “I don’t care if you weigh four-hundred pounds. You will always be beautiful.”
She rolls her eyes but is smiling.
“I’ll order for us, if you don’t mind,” I say.
“I can decide for myself, thank you,” she says.
“It’s not an infringement on your rights, you know. It’s just dinner, especially considering—”
“No, thank you,” she says.
“Suit yourself.”
The owner walks over with an open bottle of Chianti and a bottle of water. “Sergio. It’s always good to see you here.”
“Good to see you, too. How are things?”
“Quiet. Thank you.”
I nod. He raises the bottle to pour for Natalie but she stops him. “Just water for me, please.”
He looks at me and I give him a nod so he pours a glass of wine for me and water for Natalie.
“Usual?” he asks in his broken English, setting both bottles down on the table.
“Natalie?” I say.
“Um,” she’s still looking at the menu, which by now she’s realized is in Italian and I know she can’t understand a word. “This one.” She points to something.
He reads out what she ordered and I have to grin. I can’t wait to see her face when her meal arrives. After handing her menu over, she clears her throat and sits back.
“Usual for me,” I say.
He nods and walks away.
“So, what did you order?” I ask. From the look on her face, I know she has no clue but she’s way too stubborn to admit it.
She picks up her water. “I’ll surprise you.”
“Didn’t know you read Italian,” I say, picking up my wine, holding it up. “Cheers.”
“Cheers.”
I drink, then put my glass down and watch her.
“Do you have to be gone for three nights?” she asks. I know it’s been on her mind. It’ll be the first time I’m away since we got married. She’s not comfortable in the house yet and she’s still fighting me over the bodyguard trailing her when she’s not home or with me.
“It’ll go by fast. Dad isn’t focused right now. Not with mom like she is.”
“Salvatore can’t go alone? Or Dominic?” She can’t say his name without making a face.
“Salvatore’s coming with me, but it has to be me. It’s important.”
“I know, it’s just I wish you didn’t have to go.”
A waiter comes to the table holding two steaming plates with the edge of a towel. He sets them down and I see from Natalie’s face she did not expect what she gets.
