"Russo?" is called from the hostess at the front. I instinctively look. The pretty hostess is smiling scanning for the Russo party. Victor moves forward, "Party of four?" She asks. Victor nods, "Okay, right this way!" She’s delighted and full of enthusiasm, leading us to a smoke-tinted glass table on the right side. The high back chairs match the tables but have blue plush cushions. It all looks so fancy.
We each take a seat. Chase sits next to me, followed by Victor, then Melissa on the other side. "This is so neat!" I squeal. "Do you guys come here often?" I ask Melissa and Victor.
"Every once in a while," Melissa says, "My father holds his company's parties here."
"Nice," I say, impressed, "Victor, how is your job going?"
"Good. Great, actually!" Victor beams, "Working with Greg is an amazing experience. I'm learning so much."
"I'm so happy for you!" I’m full of pride. At the same time, Chase says, "That's great!"
"Thanks, it'd be better if I didn't have to work with this one asshole. He's probably one of the biggest douche bags I've ever met. He walks around the office like he's the only one who pulls in new clients." Victor complains, "I don't understand what your dad sees in him." he directs to Melissa who's looking at the menu.
"I don't know, Victor. You know I don't pay any attention to my father's business," she brushes his comment off, effortlessly.
"How come you don't work for your father?" I ask, curiously.
She smiles, "Not my thing. Believe me, he wanted me to, but I want to do something I enjoy and...it's nothing he provides."
"V's going into business." Victor says proudly, then looks to me, "Right? That's still what you're going to major in?"
"I think so," I shrug, "I'm still a bit undecided."
"Uh oh. Does Dad know?" Victor eyes me warily.
"No. It's not for sure."
"Wait, do Mom and Dad know about you two?" Victor points his finger between the two of us.
Chase smiles, "Your mom knows."
"And Dad?" Huh. Dad's so wrapped up in work, even though he's 'retired', I hadn’t even thought of him. Surprisingly, Dad isn't as protective as my brothers, and maybe that's because my brothers are like guard dogs.
"I may have done it backwards but honestly, I'm way more afraid of your mom than your dad." Chase answers. "But I had a conversation with Vivian. She approves." This makes me laugh a little.
"Yeah, Mom definitely wears the pants." I joke.
"I think Dad likes that." Victor puts in.
"Gross. Moving on, what's good here?" I implore before picking up the menu to take a look. Even the menu is fancy and there are no prices to be seen anywhere. I lean forward, "There's no prices." keeping my voice low.
"Don't worry about that." Melissa offers. My gaze turns to Chase, who shrugs and grabs my hand, so I return to looking over the menu. Roasted Salmon, Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin, Filo Wrapped Vegetable Wellington...I have no idea what this stuff is. I lean into Chase, "I don't know what half this stuff is." I whisper.
"Me either." He laughs.
I am definitely a product of small-town living.
A waiter approaches the table. He’s a tall, thin, and clean shaven young guy. "Good Evening, my name is Andrew. Any special occasion we're celebrating tonight?" He glances around the table. Melissa speaks up, "New condo." she points to Victor and herself, then gestures to Chase and I, "New Relationship." she smiles at us, "And good life."
"Wonderful!" Andrew gushes, "Can we start with any house wine?"
"Yes, please!" Melissa happily agrees.
"Fabulous, White, or Red?"
"White."
I watch the whole exchange and can't help but think that I'm the only minor sitting at this table. He doesn't bother to ask for ID.
"I will be right back with your wine." He smiles then saunters away from the table.
"What are you having?" I ask Chase.
"The Filet," he answers simply. I should've guessed. Steak always has been the way to his heart. "What about you?"
"I don't know." I sigh. Ordering food’s a big deal and it's stressful especially when you don't know what half the menu means. "The scallops sound good, but I don't know if I want seafood." I ponder my options. Chase laughs lightly.
The waiter, Andrew, returns to the table with a bottle, tucked into a silver bucket, in one hand and four glasses between his fingers in the other hand. Impressive. He places the flutes on top of the table along with the bucket. I continue to watch his swift movements. It’s like he's done this a million times, and presumably, he probably has. He expertly removes the cork with a ‘pop’ and pours wine in each of the glasses, then distributes them around the table while everyone mumbles a ‘thank you’. I meekly take a sip, almost afraid that he would know I'm not of drinking age, and my face cringes from the taste. Thankfully, no one notices.
"Have we decided yet?" Andrew asks.
Victor looks around the table, and we all confirm that we are ready to order. Andrew, the waiter, removes his pad and starts with Melissa. He moves to each of us, happily writing in his pad. I like him. Once he leaves, Melissa excuses herself to the bathroom, and when she's out of sight Victor pulls out a maroon small box.
"What is that?" I ask, knowing my eyes are bugging out of my head.
He smiles and opens the box to reveal a beautiful, massive diamond ring. "Whoa." Chase says, while I let out a little squeal, "Victor! Seriously? Are you doing it tonight?"
"No, no. Mom would kill me, but I wanted to tell you."
"Why are you carrying it around? Let me see!" I stretch out my hand to take it from him, he obliges surprisingly. It's so shiny and sparkles with even the tiniest of movement. The massive diamond is surrounded by smaller, sister diamonds that then stretch out into the silver band. Chase leans into me, glances at the ring, and then lets out a whistle. "Nice man. This had to have cost a fortune."
He shrugs, "She normally cleans on the weekends, so I keep it on me. Can’t have her accidentally finding it. Then, I put it in my sock drawer the rest of the week." He doesn't say anything about Chase's comment.
I close the velvet box and hand it back to Victor, "When are you planning to do it?"
"Melissa wants to have a ‘post-Christmas, pre-New Year, condo housewarming’ party, or something. Her father already knows. I've mentioned it to Mom, so I think it'd be a good time with all our friends and family there."
"That's so sweet!"
"Incoming," Chase informs us, causing Victor to quickly tuck the box away.
"Okay. What'd I miss?" She takes a seat and scoots her chair closer to the table.
"Ah, nothing." Victor dismisses with a large smile, and I can't help but smile knowing the big secret.
"Why are you all smiling?" I look at Chase who looks amused.
I shrug my shoulders, "This is just exciting." I gush, and then lower my voice to a whisper, "I've never had wine!"