Culinaria L'amore Chapter Four*

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Chapter Four

"Oh, wow, um hi guys... I'm so so so sorry. It's been a really long day and I guess my actions have become a bit repetitive." I blushed at my statement, glad that one, I hadn't stuttered, and two, my mom wasn't here to listen to my nearly incoherent mumbling.

Unaware that I was doing this, I looked around the small table, and stopped to look at Garrett. He looked just as nice as before, wearing a short sleeved yellow polo shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans. He didn't seem to notice me looking at him, but only stared intently down at the menu, as if in deep thought and didn't want to be disturbed.

I cleared my throat. "So, um, what are you all doing tonight at L'amore?"

Yivanni looked at me, surprise etched into her youthful looking face. "Well didn't your mother tell you? We were going to have a little rendevous at your restaurant tonight and talk about you coming to the institute next semester."

As if on cue, a waft of my mother's favorite perfume came rushing at me, and seconds later, my mom's voice called out to the Bianchis. "Oh lord, I'm so sorry I'm late. The traffic was absolutely terrible coming this way. And Kirsten, why did you not pick up your phone? I must of called you at least ten times!"

Mrs. Bianchi smoothly interjected, "Why, I was just telling Kirsten about our little meeting. And do sit down Rosemary, you look a little shaky. Pull up a chair please."

"Um so is this going to take very long? I'm not sure my boss knows that you're here and I don't want to get in trouble for not working."

"Oh it's fine," Garrett muttered dryly, not taking his eyes of the menu, "If convincing doesn't work, my parents can bribe him with money."

Shocked silence followed his statement before Yivanni replied smoothly, "Garrett doesn't mean that. Please sit down Kirsten, it'll be fine. I'll only need you for a minute."

"Yes I do." Garrett argued right back, glancing up to survey everyone.

Yivanni ignored him.

I relented and sat down in an empty stool, smoothing down my black skirt and awaiting their verdict on whether or not I could attend.

"We would love to have you Bianchi Culinary Institute for the next year or two. Your mother told me this morning that you had expressed interest in attending. Is that statement correct, Kirsten?" Yivanni asked with a small smile on her face.

"Um, yes that's correct. I do want to attend." I replied, awkwardly, trying to sound much more professional like Yivanni was.

"Wonderful. Here's a packet giving you the general information." Mr. Bianchi fished out a thick pamphlet out of his black briefcase, handing it to me. "Don't bother with the dorm agreement part because I'm pretty sure you will be staying with us."

"She is?" Garrett questioned, just as I asked, "I am?"

My eyebrows raised at this statement and I looked at my mother for confirmation. She nodded her head in agreement and gave me a timid smile.

"Why of course darling. You deserve care since you'll be far away from home. Denver is around 70 miles from here. We wouldn't want you running back and forth in your car. Our car service is the top so there is no chance of you getting hurt and we would love for you to stay with us. Plus, Garrett and you can get to know each other better!" Yivanni exclaimed cheerfully.

Garrett snorted at this but I managed to ignore it. I did wonder, however, why he seemed so hostile to me and his family tonight. Bipolar much?

"There's one more thing. I want to make sure that you are okay with being in a class with much older people in your class. The average age is around the late twenties to thirties. Since you're only nineteen, it may be more difficult to adjust." Mr. Bianchi said, smoothing his napkin over his legs.

"She's only nineteen?" Garrett asked, looking at me. There was shock evident in his face as he examined me.

"Yes, Garrett." Mr. Bianchi replied tiredly. "You'll probably be the closest in age to her. Garrett's twenty-three if you didn't know that, Kirsten."

There was an awkward silence before Mrs. Bianchi cleared her throat and said, "So now that that is taken care of, I guess we'll just enjoy a nice dinner and brush up some of the small details. What do you suggest to eat?"

I was still in a bit of shock and only managed a, "anything on the menu is delectable." Then I fled to the kitchen doors, the booklet heavy in my hand. From behind me, I could feel Garrett's grey-eyed gaze burning into my back.

Back in the kitchen, I stood in one of the corners out of the way of the chefs, shakily scanning through the paragraphs, enough to see how amazing this was. The paper was even made out of something thick and the calligraphy was written with gold ink, making everything look fancy.

"Kirsten! Allons-y alloys-y, what do you think you're doing in here? I told you specifically to get outside. Wait, what in your hand?"

I turned and gave Pierre a big smile. "It's my acceptance into the Bianchi Culinary Institute. Pierre, I got in!"

Pierre managed a small smile but then gave me a frown. "But what about your father's restaurant? What are we going to do without your marvelous cooking?"

Too over the moon to worry, I just laughed and said, "We'll figure something out. Anyways, you seem to be doing fine without me tonight."

Cue dryness of tone.

***************

An hour later, the Bianchis and my mother stopped by the front desk.

"It was marvelous seeing you again tonight." Yivanni said, giving me an air kiss on both cheeks. "I'll give your mother all the small details later. We'll give you a week to pack and say your goodbyes even though you're going to be seventy miles away, if that's alright."

"Yes, it's fine." I replied wearily, more worn out from work than anything else.

Garrett stepped forward and cleared his throat as Yivanni and my mom chatted with Sarah, the hostess, asking in a low tone, "can I talk to you in private?"

I frowned. What did he want now? "Sure. Follow me."

Leading him into the hallway that was a small extension off of the kitchen, I turned around and crossed my arms. "What's up?"

"I just want to say sorry for what I said the other night?" Garrett's voice sounded genuinely apologetic and I looked up, surprised beyond words.

"It's accepted." I replied stiffly.

"Seriously. I'm sorry." Now his tone sounded more guarded. Looking up into his eyes, I saw a hint of sadness in the solid grey mass and couldn't help but feel bad for him, whatever his mysterious predicament happened to be.

"But a tip, Kirsten. Next time you check out a guy, be a little more discreet, alright?" He smirked and all my sympathetic feelings vanished.

After they left, Jackson came up to me with a rag in his hands. "Who was that guy?" He asked in a curious and slightly angry tone, wiping his hands on his towel.

I hesistated, not wanting to bring any attraction to the Bianchis. "A friend." I muttered stiffly, realizing that Jackson was probably jealous.

"Really? Aren't friends usually nice to one another? He looked like he was going to gobble you up for dessert or something."

"Lay off Jackson." I said tiredly. "I've had a busy day. I don't need to be ridiculed."

"Alright. But just saying, we'll miss you here."

'More like you'll not be getting another chance of getting laid with me.' I thought mentally, walking away from Jackson to go greet the next customers.

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