The Complete Where Dreams - Volume 2 of 2

Chapter 13-3

Jaspar took Ms. Williams’ hand and led her forward without any hesitation about coming in contact with a “girl.” He knew that’s what was expected of him tonight. His job was to be the “little grownup gentleman” and do whatever the adults said. He could see how important this was to everyone, except him. He was like a chorus member in an opera; kill him off in Act I and no one really notices whether or not he rejoins the villagers in Act III.

A glance back showed Tammy all dressed up in her girl dress as if she was already an adult, her hand on Dad’s arm like they were on a date together. Well, she wasn’t fooling him. Jaspar knew for a fact that spiders still creeped her out and she hated most kinds of fish. “Dog food,” she called it when Dad wasn’t listening.

A pretty lady, dressed in a neat black dress that didn’t make her look like she was all on display or all pretending to be grown up, greeted him with a pleasant, “Ciao.” It was an Italian restaurant. He’d missed that. Carlo should be here. He’d like it.

“Ciao,” Jaspar’s reply made her smile like she really meant it. He dug for Carlo’s Italian lessons and tried to make complete sentences without stumbling over them too much. “Quattro per la cena. Il nom...nome? Cullen.” Then he remembered to add a polite, “Per favore.”

Ms. Williams said something that sounded like a compliment, but he didn’t care. The waitress’s smile grew, “Bueno sera, Signor Cullen. Benvenuto a Angelo’s. Mi chiamo Graziella.” Her accent was different than Carlo’s. It was lighter and fit a girl. Even a grown up one. And she’d spoken slowly enough that he had time to translate “good evening,” “welcome,” and that her name was Graziella.

Jaspar eyed Ms. Williams without really looking. She was so tall and her hair was still that weird color that had made Tam stop wanting to be around him. The waitress, with her long dark hair and quiet face would be better for Dad than Ms. Williams. And she already spoke Italian and had treated him like an adult.

“You, boy!” Ms. Williams had said when they tore up the drawings. Sure, she’d made it fun, but everyone kept calling him “boy,” like a baby. No one was calling Tam “girl” anymore. It was all of a sudden “young woman this” and “young woman that.”

The waitress greeted Ms. Williams and Dad like she already knew them, and then led them to their table. She wore a ring, but it had no big diamond. And lots of girls wore rings, it didn’t mean they were married.