Chapter 3
Ten minutes later, Leo was sitting quietly beside his father.
He wasn't eating.
But he wasn't screaming.
Clara stood several feet away, pretending to polish silverware.
Rico watched her.
Finally he said:
"Clara."
She approached.
"Yes?"
"Sit."
She looked at the empty chair.
"I'm working."
"I own the restaurant."
"I still have tables."
"I'll pay for your lost tips."
Clara hesitated.
"How much?"
Rico almost smiled.
"Sit down."
She did.
Leo immediately reached for her hand.
Rico watched.
"Why him?"
Clara looked at the boy.
"What do you mean?"
"Why did you walk over?"
She was quiet.
Then she said:
"Because I know what it feels like when adults decide you're supposed to be okay because they don't know what else to do."
Rico leaned back.
"Who did that to you?"
"My mother."
"She was abusive?"
Clara shook her head.
"No."
"Then?"
"She was grieving."
Rico waited.
"My father died in a fire."
Leo was listening.
Clara continued:
"My mother couldn't accept it."
"She blamed herself?"
"Everyone."
Rico said nothing.
"She kept waiting for him to come home."
Clara looked toward the entrance.
"Every night."
Her voice softened.
"She would set the table for three."
Rico's eyes lowered.
"And eventually?"
"Eventually, I learned that grief doesn't always look like crying."
She looked at Leo.
"Sometimes it looks like screaming."
Leo rested his head against her arm.
Rico watched him.
Then asked:
"What happened to your mother?"
"She died."
"How?"
Clara hesitated.
"She stopped taking care of herself."
Rico's expression changed.
"She gave up."
Clara nodded.
"Something like that."
Leo suddenly whispered:
"Mommy."
Rico froze.
Clara froze.
The word was barely audible.
Leo hadn't said it in months.
Rico's eyes filled.
"Leo?"
The boy turned toward Clara.
"Mommy?"
Clara gently touched his hair.
"No, sweetheart."
She looked at Rico.
"I'm not your mommy."
Leo frowned.
Then he pointed at the empty chair beside Rico.
"Mommy."
Rico closed his eyes.
That chair had belonged to Elena.
Every Friday, she had sat there.
Even after she died, Rico couldn't bring himself to remove it.
He looked at Clara.
"Why did he call you that?"
"I don't know."
Rico stood.
"Everyone out."
Marco stared.
"Mr.
Moretti?"
"I said everyone."
The restaurant emptied in less than three minutes.
Employees disappeared into the kitchen.
May you like
Customers left without asking for checks.
Only Rico, Clara, Leo, and Dante remained.
