Chapter 151: Returned Plates

Dorian reached into his wallet. "I’m Dorian Heathcliffe."

Her eyes widened slightly.

He pulled out his ID and showed it to her. "So, if you would please," Dorian continued, lowering his voice, "I just came here to surprise my wife. Any table would do. Just for both of us."

"I’ll see what I can do, real quick."

Dorian nodded. "Thank you."

The woman started to turn away.

"Uhm... Please don’t tell her I’m here. I don’t want to ruin the surprise."

"Of course, sir. Let me just speak with the manager," the attendant said.

"Thank you so much." Dorian slipped his wallet back into his pocket and stepped aside with Ethan.

They waited near the entrance while the restaurant continued buzzing around them.

Dorian glanced toward the kitchen again.

Busy didn’t even begin to cover it. Waiters hurried past carrying plates. Conversations layered over one another. Every table seemed occupied, and people were still coming through the door.

Naomi had not exaggerated when she said she would be working late.

Actually, she might have underestimated it. A few minutes later, a man came out from the back.

He spotted Dorian immediately and smiled. "Mr. Heathcliffe, as I live and breathe." The man extended his hand. "I’m Vale. I manage the restaurant."

Dorian shook it. "I’m so sorry to bother you, Mr. Vale."

"Nonsense." Mr. Vale waved that away. "Please, if you would just wait five minutes. One of our patrons is about to clear the bill and leave."

"Of course. Thank you."

Mr. Vale smiled again and disappeared.

Dorian glanced at Ethan.

The boy still looked uncomfortable, but at least he had stopped staring at the door like he might bolt.

Within a few minutes, exactly as promised, a table opened.

Dorian and Ethan were shown over and settled in.

Ethan placed his school bag carefully beside his chair.

Dorian sat across from him and picked up the menu. "So," he said, lowering the menu, "how would you want to mess with Naomi?"

Ethan looked up. "I like Naomi." He said thinking you only messed with people you didn’t like.

Dorian smiled. "I like her too."

That much was probably embarrassingly obvious these days.

"But I can play pranks on her sometimes. She does the same to me."

Ethan looked unconvinced.

Dorian leaned slightly forward. "It’s part of the marriage. Got any ideas?"

Ethan shook his head.

"I do."

A waitress approached their table before Ethan could decide whether he wanted any part of whatever Dorian was planning. "Good evening, gentlemen."

Dorian tried to get Ethan to say what he wanted without any prodding from the waitress.

Once the waitress had written everything down, Dorian reached into his wallet.

He pulled out a couple of bills and slid it discreetly toward her. "How would you like to help us with something?" Dorian nodded subtly toward the kitchen.

The waitress leaned down to listen...

*****

Naomi was completely swamped.

And somehow, she was having the time of her life. This was what she loved. Not the noise, not the endless tickets stacking up faster than anyone could print them, but the work itself.

Creating something beautiful with food. Taking ingredients that meant nothing on their own and turning them into something people remembered.

The kitchen was hot, loud and chaotic, and Naomi was thriving in it. Which was why, when one of the waitresses suddenly returned with a plate of food and told her a customer had complained, Naomi didn’t immediately panic.

It was a busy night. Someone could have missed something. A sauce could have been forgotten.

Whatever.

Mistakes happened.

"What’s the complaint?" Naomi asked while still plating another order.

The waitress hesitated. "He just said it wasn’t right."

Naomi frowned. "Fine." She pushed the next order toward the pass and took over the returned plate herself.

This time, she made a fresh serving personally.

"There." Naomi handed it over. "If he complains again, ask him specifically what the problem is."

The waitress nodded and disappeared.

Naomi immediately went back to work.

Three minutes later, the same waitress returned with the tray.

Naomi slowly looked up. "You have got to be kidding me."

The waitress pressed her lips together like she was trying very hard not to smile.

Naomi narrowed her eyes. "What?"

"The customer requested that the chef serve the meal personally and apologize."

She did not have time for this nonsense.

There were enough orders waiting.

Still...

She loved her job. She wanted to keep her job.

More importantly, she planned on asking Mr. Vale for a raise soon, and she had to put on her best customer service side on.

"Fine." Naomi took the tray.

The waitress turned away suspiciously fast.

Naomi frowned after her.

Something was off.

She carried the tray out of the kitchen and into the dining area, weaving between tables.

Then she spotted Dorian sitting there with the biggest grin on his face.

She considered launching the tray directly at his head.

Of course he had done this.

She started toward the table, already preparing several creative ways to threaten him.

Then she saw who was sitting across from him. Every irritation disappeared.

Naomi reached the table and carefully placed the tray down. She pointed one stern finger at Dorian. "You? Later."

Dorian’s expression said he had absolutely no regrets.

Naomi turned toward Ethan. Her entire face softened. "Hey, Ethan..."

The boy stood immediately and hugged her.

Naomi barely had time to react before his arms were around her. She wrapped him up without asking questions. "Baby, it’s all right."

Ethan held on.

Dorian’s smile faded. He sat back slightly, watching the two of them.

How had she known?

Ethan hadn’t told her anything.

Yet Naomi had taken one look at him and somehow understood.

"Would you hang out with Dorian while I finish work, and then I can take you home?" Naomi asked gently.

"I don’t want to go."

"Oh... babe. Your mum will be worried. You know how she gets."

Ethan shook his head.

She tilted her head, studying him. "That bad, huh?"