Dinner Dates
Chapter 3
oOoOo
As Frank and Edna made ready to leave, other dinner patrons noticed this unusual couple, perceiving it was a more solemn occasion by their quite glum facial expressions. Other couples were oblivious, being besotted with their partner or distracted by their phone, or distracted by someone else's partner! How times have changed. Frank didn't care. He'd had a tasty meal and the company was fine. He held a new respect for his mother-in-law. He called for the bill and paid in cash, closing the folder.
The fact that he was finally his own person was literally quite liberating. As Edna had so eloquently put it to him last week, "It's about damn time that you found your cojones and grew some!" Shaking his head, he had to grin at her candidness. She was never one to mince words.
He smiled at where Edna had indicated. Pulling out Edna's chair for her, together they walked over to the booth with a young couple talking quietly to each other, his hand on hers, rubbing little circles on the back of her hand.
"Daddy!"
"Sh. Sh. Sit. May we join you, just for a moment, before we leave?"
"Sure, you can. Hi Grandma. Where's Mum?" she asked looking expectantly behind him before he sat down as they both scooted over on the booth seat to make room.
"At home … probably more than three sheets to the wind."
"And what are you not telling me?" asked Valerie suspiciously.
"I served her with the divorce papers, today."
"Oh Daddy, that must have been hard. But, honestly, even Blind Freddie saw it long ago."
"Congratulations, Sir," Albert shook his hand and gave him a consolatory pat on the shoulder. They both knew very well how bad things had become.
"Well, don't look so glum. It was about time you crept out of that hole in denial land. I am proud of you, Daddy. So … You moved out?"
"Yes. Your grandmother already two weeks ago and me as of yesterday. We are living in a duplex in a retirement community, not in the Burg."
"So, you got a night off together? Where are the girls?" Edna asked, her eyes twinkling.
"With my Mum. For a sleep over," Albert remarked softly, smiling sweetly at Valerie.
They sat there, quietly pondering the ramifications and all the misery that went before. Normally, well, previously, Helen would have looked after the girls. She felt rather a strong degree of propriety over the girls and the rivalry was fierce, yet one-sided. She was jealous if Albert's mother had priority at any time. She had always made such a tedious dramatic fuss, but that all changed by her own actions. It was so much easier with her in-laws. And no drama. No lectures. No criticising her husband. Valerie sighed.
"That's wonderful," he said sincerely.
There was a slight pause in the ambient music and Frank's ears pricked up. He held his hand up, made the universal "Sh" gesture and indicated to the booth behind them, hidden by potted plants and palms. The booths had been placed back to back at this end of the restaurant creating discreet romantic zones. The grin on Frank's face grew mischievously. Edna was about to say something but Valerie warned her with a firm shake of her head as she put her hand down on her grandmother's hand. Albert's eyes were begging for information since he didn't recognise the voices. Valerie grinned at him and indicated the 'wait' signal with one finger.
"But Ma," he bleated, "it was supposed to be just the two of us." He whined and it was obvious that he was saying it through gritted his teeth.
"Well, I really couldn't let your grandmother be home alone, now, could I? I took the liberty of changing the reservation to four and they said they could accommodate that readily since you booked one of these nice booths," his mother countered.
"Besides, this is the first time ever, that I have been out to dinner, and on Valentine's Day. Thank you for the flowers, and the chocolates, Joey. Your father never did this, ever. I was pregnant with you, Anthony. So, it never happened." She sighed wistfully.
Valerie's eyes almost bugged out. She clasped her hand over her mouth after counting on her finger tips one, two, three and four.
"Omigod!" she mouthed.
Frank nodded with a shit eating grin. Realisation dawned on Albert's face, while Edna sat there, ears straining, rubbing her hands salaciously. Yes, she had given up her gossiping ways after Stephanie told her off, in no uncertain terms, and remarked bluntly, that she was just as bad as her own daughter. Yikes. Edna always thought that Helen was so much worse. It was a sobering pinnacle in their relationship. From then on, she made it her mission to deflect and support. The threat of being disowned hit her hard and she apologised most sincerely. But this, this conversation, was not out of bounds. She winked at Valerie. It was golden. She could tell.
"But why did I have to come?" muttered Anthony sullenly.
"One, because, Antonio, like your father, your grandfather was a shit. Stronzo! He never bought me flowers, ever! But I don't get any chocolates? Pfft. And, two. You are cheating on your wife again, just like your father and your grandfather. Bastardos!" It was obvious that she had hit him upside the head.
"Ouch!" he whined like a chastised child.
"No chocolates for you, Bella, because of your diabetes. We discussed this. Those are lovely flowers Anthony. From the gas station, I see." The condescending tone was obviously blunt.
Our little eavesdropping foursome stifled their laughter. Yes. It was a golden moment. But it wasn't over yet. Frank was about to bid them goodnight when he heard a new revelation. Sweet Jesus!
"Joseph, I'm so sorry you couldn't get a date. I'm sure they must have made a mistake with your medical test results. You'll see. Anyway, genital warts can be treated, you know."
"Ma! For Chrissake!"
Frank snorted, and quickly covered his mouth with a cough. Edna and Valerie had tears in their eyes, squeezing each other's clasped hands whilst trying desperately to stifle the giggles that threatened. Albert nodded happily. He was enjoying this so much and grinned at his father-in-law.
The waiter arrived with their main course. Perfect timing, as it seemed the four behind them were also being served their main course.
"Come on Edna, I'll take you home," he smiled. "Goodnight you two. No, don't stand. Enjoy your evening and Happy Valentine's Day," he said softly, kissing his daughter on her temple.
"Night Daddy, Grandma." Valerie kissed and hugged her grandmother and Albert shook hands firmly with Frank.
"Thank you, Sir. Goodnight." Frank was pleased with his son-in-law.
As they stood, Frank pretended to just notice, with pseudo genuine surprise, a table of four, with gloomy faces. They were definitely not in a celebratory mood it seemed. And there they were, Joseph Morelli, his mother Angie Morelli, his brother Anthony and of course, Bella Morelli, his infamous grandmother. They looked miserable. Only Bella glared, directly at Edna who had a wicked gleam in her eye.
"Oh. What a surprise to see you all here, together. Buonasera. No date for you, Joseph? On Valentine's Day? How nice that you take your mother out for dinner. How are you Angelina? Bella? So nice to see you both. Anthony." He was smooth and polite, smiling cordially at the Morelli women, and just giving Anthony a curt nod.
Frank usually said very little. Edna watched in awe as her son-in-law held the high ground. His tone held the right amount of condescension under the ruse of Burg courtesy. He knew the rules. Joseph Morelli scowled at him. But Angie, maintaining Burg courtesy, replied just as politely and curtly, of course.
"Buonasera, Frank, and Edna. I hope you had a nice evening, together. And where is Helen?" The smugness was barely contained.
"Oh, Helen? Hm. Probably three sheets to the wind. We're getting divorced."
He said this so matter-of-factly, that Angie almost missed it with his conversational candidness. Before she could counter, Frank cut in deftly with a very sincere manner.
"Geez, Joseph. I'm really sorry to hear about your medical tests. Sucks to be you. Genital warts at YOUR AGE? Tsk, tsk. The apple did not fall far from the tree. You had better get yours checked too, Anthony."
While they were aghast at what he had said, loud enough for other patrons to hear, he turned to Edna.
"Come on, Edna. Let's take you home."
Bella Morelli let out a slew of Italian curses, pointing with her finger at her evil eye. Edna countered her curse in mid-air, having taken out her compact mirror and deftly deflecting the curses back on the wicked sender! In reply, she muttered her own Hungarian curse in a calm assertive manner. No hysterics at all, unlike Bella Morelli. Bella's eyes went wide in shock, and held her heart tightly. The other patrons were dismayed at Bella's not so quiet outburst, and those who spoke Italian were shocked. But hearing Edna's quick retort, they clapped. Frank chuckled. Only Edna.
"Leave that Morelli scum to wallow on their own," he said softly to Edna. Then, turning to the Morelli foursome, "May the rest of your year be just like today, alone and miserable. You reap what you sow. But then again … tsk … your Morelli men were always so busy sowing!"
Shock and awe, and not just from the Morelli table. From the other patrons, sniggers and chuckles and a few high fives acknowledged their approval of Frank's sharp comeback.
Holding his head high, Frank led Edna to the entrance, his hand in the small of her back, gently directing her. He helped her with her coat and donned his. He gave a casual wave to Valerie and Albert, knowing that the red-faced Morelli's would see it too, as he wound his woollen scarf around his neck. Valerie and Albert were beaming so proudly. The shit eating grin on Frank's face said it all.
"That was so much fun, Frank. Your inner Bitch was so powerful."
"Yeah, well, I learned from someone, an expert I believe, but now just the fallen Queen Bitch."
Laughing, arm in arm they walked to the car as the valet held the door open.
oOoOo
TBC
Touché to Frank.
More to come.
Who will it be?
Happy Valentine's Day to you all. BTW Loving all the reviews and follows and favourites. Thank you.