LOVE PROBABLY

31.

After a long series of photos in front of the Westminster Hall and Big Ben clock tower, my godmother takes me to a restaurant nearby. The place is almost deserted at this hour and besides nobody comes to welcome us, which surprises me. That leaves me a few seconds to admire the room. With a vault in old stones, a section of wall housing dozens of bottles of wine, old mirrors as paintings, candlesticks and fresh flowers on each table, the setting is charming and romantic, the ideal place to dine with a lover. As a first experience, I couldn’t have hoped for a better place, but I will only be able to certify it when my stomach is full.

I’m going to surprise you again, but I’ve never eaten at a restaurant. My mother always said it was an unnecessary expense. “What’s the point of throwing money away when you have everything you need at home? If you want to eat outside, then let’s go out... in the garden!” she would say sarcastically when I brought up the idea.

A man appears, disturbing my thoughts:

“Hello ladies!” he exclaims.

Rosie lights up when she sees him.

“Ah... Hello, Steve.”

“Rose! It’s been a while since we’ve seen you. How are you doing?” he said enthusiastically.

“I’m very well. I present to you my goddaughter: Maddie. This is her first stay in London. I thought having lunch here would allow her to get a little idea of the quality of English gastronomy.”

“What a great idea! Enchanted, dear Maddie! Welcome to our establishment. You are lovely, if I may say so.”

“Thank you…” I said, shyly, my cheeks flushed, hiding my bags behind me.

“Steve is a charmer, like most people who work here,” Rosie says. “By the way, the big boss isn’t here?”

“No, but he’ll be happy to know that you have come by. Will this table suit you?” he asks us, pointing to a nicely set table.

“It’s perfect!” Rosie replies. “I could hide Romeo,” she told him with a wink.

“Oh, at this time, Romeo will not disturb anyone. I’ll bring you the menu. There aren’t many people in the kitchen. To be honest, we were going to close but since you’re here and for the reasons you mentioned, we’re going to do everything not to disappoint you.”

“That’s very kind.”

The waiter or the restaurant manager, I don’t know what his title is – for this reason, I’ll call him by his first name: Steve – comes back with the menu. I almost faint when I see the prices. Could mom be right? Poor thing, just in heaven – I hope that’s where she is – she must be worried about me. After all, she was the one who sent me here. In twenty-four hours, I took a train, a taxi, a car with a psychopath cop, I risked prison and now I’m in a restaurant, where the prices defy common sense.

“Did you choose?” Steve asks, after a moment, disturbing my thoughts again.

“Uh... To tell the truth... Not yet, I hesitate between…”

“I want everything too,” Rosie cuts me off. “You know what, Steve, just make us an assortment of starters. This will allow us to taste everything. Is that okay with you, Maddie?”

“But Rosie, that wouldn’t be reasonable,” I whisper softly, embarrassed to think about my budget.

“Don’t worry, darling, it’s my treat to celebrate our reunion. Moreover, a small glass of champagne will be perfect for the occasion.”

“Very well, an assortment each, consider it done!” said Steve who hastens to slip away in case we change our minds.

Rosie doesn’t take her eyes off me. A kind smile glued to her lips, her eyes sparkling with joy, she makes me feel important. I had never been looked at in this way, even by my mother, rest her soul.

“You can’t imagine how your visit warms my heart. I know you didn’t come to London for me, but it doesn’t matter, I’m happy to be able to chat with you.”

“Yes, me too. Is your dishwasher fixed?”

“My dishwasher? Oh, yes! The repairman found the fault. But my dishwasher, who cares. Tell me a bit about what happened at Jacky’s, and then your transformation. Well, well, well, what a success! You’re going to make all the men c***k…”

I doubt it, I thought. Just because the packaging is nice doesn’t mean the inside follows.

“And then, how did you end up with the police? Tell!” continues Rosie, eager to know everything that happened down to the smallest detail.

That’s how I tell her everything. My throat is dry from talking too much. When Steve arrives at our table with the two glasses of champagne on a silver tray, I grab one and swallow it in one gulp under the dumbfounded gaze of Rosie who is indignant:

“Wow, Maddie! We didn’t even toast.”

“Oops, sorry. Good manners vanish when I’m thirsty!”

“Well, I had rarely seen that. Can I get you another?” suggests Steve.

Considering the price of the glass, I hope not, I’ll go with the water, it will cost my godmother less.

“If it’s offered by the house, I’m willing,” I say, already uninhibited by alcohol.

“Come on... No one will check, and then the bottle is started. It won’t be good by tonight…” he said as he went to get another glass.

“Well, my daughter. You seem like a negotiator,” Rosie whispers. “On the other hand, for politeness, there are probably two or three things to review.”

“Yes, excuse me. I was thirsty.”

“Champagne is to be tasted. So don’t rush it. Before putting your lips on the glass, you look the other in the eyes, otherwise, it’s rude. And only after the look and possibly the expression that goes well: “to your health” for example or “to you”, there, you can drink, in small sips, of course. Understood?”

“Okay.”

“Come on, continue your story. You were telling me about that extraordinary shopping spree.”

“Oh, yes…”