Table for Two Read online

  "My pleasure." He told her, then slammed the door.

  Isabella winced at the sound, and ran back to the bathroom for another round. It was going to be a long day.

  *****

  Isabella sat in her office with a big bottle of grape Gatorade and a package of saltine crackers. She had been popping Advil all day, and was finally starting to feel somewhat human again. She glared at the phone when it rang, not wanting to talk to anyone, but answering it anyway.

  "Morning Mary." Jason drawled into the phone with great enthusiasm.

  "You stupid ass! How could you get me so trashed and then let me leave with that dickhead!?" She yelled at Jason.

  "Whoa, what happened? Are you all right?" He asked, starting to get concerned. He thought the sex would be good for her and loosen her up a little.

  "Physically fine, mentally not so much." She told him, then remembered that he didn't know anything about the explosion with Parker Davidson the day before. "Sorry, I didn't mean to take it out on you, but that was the last person I should have ended up with last night." Isabella apologized, then told the story of what had happened, starting with Parker at her restaurant and ending with him slamming the door that morning.

  "Yikes. If I'd known, I would have run after you and stopped you." Jason told her sincerely. "But the question of the day is, was the sex worth it?"

  Isabella laughed. Was the sex worth it? "From what I remember, and that isn't too much, I do believe it was quite enjoyable."

  "Then don't let the knowledge of who it was with taint the good sex." Jason advised.

  She laughed again. "Thank you oh wise one." Leave it to Jason to be able to cheer her up.

  "So what do you think? Want to go out again tonight?" He asked quickly, knowing the answer before she even said it, but figured he'd try anyway.

  "Not on your life gay boy. Besides, I still have laundry to do, thanks to you. Plus, it's Friday so I need to prepare my linen order for next week. See what happens when you mess with the schedule? Everything gets backed up." Isabella was feeling a little better about her escapades, thanks to Jason. She should have known that he would get her to see the bright side of the tragic episode. "Well, dinner rush should be starting soon, so I have to run. Call my cell later and tell me everything that happened with Paul."

  "Will do Mary. Smooches!" He said and hung up.

  Isabella shook her head and laughed, heading to the kitchen to help.

  *****

  Later that night, the chefs and the kitchen help seemed to have everything under control, so Isabella made her way to the dining room to make sure her customers were all having a good time. She checked on a few tables before making her way to one of the best tables in the house, that just so happened to have one of her favorite regulars sitting there with two other women.

  "Sasha! How nice to see you again!" Isabella said as she approached, leaning to give the older woman a kiss on her cheek.

  "Bella! How nice to see you dear. Please sit for a moment and meet some of my dearest friends, won't you?" Sasha Winters offered the vacant seat to the restaurant owner.

  "It would be my pleasure, as long as I'm not intruding?" She asked the two other women and when she got their consent, she pulled out the chair and sat down. She signaled to their waiter to bring them another round of drinks, before turning her attention back to the women.

  "Isabella, I would like for you to meet Bunny and Manda, two of my oldest and dearest friends." Sasha introduced the two other women.

  "It is very nice to meet you both. I hope that you are enjoying your dining experience here." Isabella told them sincerely.

  "Oh yes. Actually, Manda and I were talking to Sasha and told her about this wonderful restaurant that we ate at last week, thinking that we had this delectable little secret, and weren't we surprised when she said that she not only knew of the place, but that she knew the owner too." Bunny Davidson told Isabella as if it was the greatest story in the world. "I have done nothing but rave about this place to everyone that will listen since we ate here last week."

  "Well thank you. I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I will definitely let my staff know that we are receiving the highest compliments. After all, none of this would be possible without them." Isabella said with a genuine smile. Their waiter came and brought their drinks to the table. "Please accept this round of drinks with my compliments. Your desserts are also on the house tonight." She said, making sure their waiter heard that part too.

  "You are too kind." Manda told her.

  "See ladies, I told you that she would be perfect for my Thomas." Sasha told her friends, making Isabella blush.

  "Isabella, Sasha told us that you were single, how can this be? She must be mistaken?" Bunny asked her.

  "Sasha's right, I am single, but I'm married to my restaurant. I really don't have the time or energy to devote to finding Mr. Right. And even if I found him, I spend so much time here that I worry he would feel neglected. There aren't many men willing to share their girlfriend or wife." She explained, as she had so many times in the past.

  Bunny smiled. "I think you'd be perfect for my son. He's busy a lot too, so I think he'd understand your other commitments."

  "Well, I have to agree with Isabella, at least in the case of my son Peter. He is very spoiled and wants his girlfriend around all the time, I'm afraid." Manda told the other women. "Such a mama's boy." She snickered.

  "I guess it's between our sons then." Sasha told Bunny.

  "Hold on, wait a minute." Isabella laughed. "You ladies are incorrigible. I never agreed to anything."

  "You'd be singing a different tune if you met my son. He's cute, successful, and such a sweetheart when he wants to be." Bunny told her with a wink of her eye. "All he needs is a good woman to put him in his place, and I think you could be that woman."

  The women at the table were all laughing as Dylan approached Isabella. He crouched down so that he was more at their level before addressing them. "Excuse me for interrupting ladies, but Bella, they need you in the kitchen." He sent a wink towards the older ladies and walked away.

  "Ooh, he's a cutie. Tight buns too." Manda said when he walked away, causing another round of laughter at the table.

  "Have you hit that yet?" Sasha asked Isabella, and when she saw the look of shock register on Bella's face, she grinned. "Isn't that what they are saying these days?"

  Isabella's side hurt from laughing so much. "Dylan is just my friend and my employee. Nothing more. Besides, he always goes for the model types. Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I better get back to work. It was nice meeting you both, and anytime you need anything, just ask for me."

  After Isabella left, Sasha and Bunny kept the debate going about whose son would be a better match for her. They kept it up well through dessert and into the ride home. Either woman would be happy to have her as a daughter-in-law, if they could only get their sons in gear to meet her.

  *****

  Parker spent most of his day in the recording studio fighting with the record executives about the lyrics of the songs on his upcoming album. He brought in his journal of the lyrics that he wrote, hoping that they would take some of his songs, rather than the ones they were intent on using.

  After a lot of shouting, with a few threats peppered in from both sides, they came to an agreement. Only one song on the album would have the bubble gum lyrics, and they would be using some of Parker's material to replace the ones that they trashed.

  Finally feeling better about the situation, Parker was able to lay his vocals to some of the tracks that were already agreed upon. Just the rush he got when being in front of the microphone was enough to ease the burden of what he had woken up to earlier in the morning.

  His hangover was subsiding thanks to the adrenaline rush, and he felt better than he had in a while. If all went right, he'd be able to get his album out in just a few short months. Then he'd be able to tour again, and get out in front of his fans, something he couldn't wait to do. He loved to travel, and he loved to perform. Staying in one place for too long seemed like it was starting to get to him. It was the only way he could explain the debacle of the night before. Beer goggles were one thing, but to sleep with someone he despised so much? It was hard to understand how it could have happened.

  All he knew was that his life and his career looked to be back on track and there was no looking back anymore. What happened in the past was meant to stay there and he just hoped that Isabella wouldn't try to use the media to damage his reputation for her own gains. She had embarrassed him once, and he hoped that she wouldn't try to do it again. From now on, he was going to be smarter about who he slept with, drunk or not.

  Chapter 4

  "Guys, you need to pay attention to what you're doing. This is the third dish that I've stopped from being served because it's looked like shit." Isabella snapped at her kitchen staff. "You've all been here long enough to know that dishes that look like this are absolutely unacceptable!" She pointed to the plate of clams casino, then made a show of dumping the whole thing in the garbage can. "Start it over, and don't make them wait forever."

  Dylan had walked in halfway through her rant. He looked at the plate before she had rid the contents and notice that while it hadn't been the best presentation he'd ever seen, it wasn't horribly hideous like she had made it out to be. Something had her on edge lately, and Dylan wasn't sure what it was. She hadn't been herself for the past couple of weeks, and he knew that it had to be something big because it looked like she hadn't slept in over a week. Her face was pale, and the dark circles under her eyes had become a permanent fixture.

  He looked over to the dessert station, where she busied herself with a Baked Alaska. He could see the red color in her skin start at her neck and rise up to her forehead as she prepared to yell at the sous chef for something else.

  Dylan quickly rushed over and grabbed her arm, telling one of the guys to take over for a minute. He dragged her into her office, and shut the door behind them. "I'm not trying to tell you how to run your business, but you need to lay off them a little bit. You've been riding them pretty hard lately." He watched as she crossed the room and sat in the chair behind her desk. She reclined as much as her chair would allow, and started rubbing her temples. "Is there something wrong? Anything that you want to talk about or anything I can help with?" He asked her, now as a concerned friend, rather than employee or business consultant.

  Isabella just looked at him with a blank expression. "You know I expect perfection." She said dully.

  "It's more than that, and you know it. What's going on? What's bothering you?" He asked her, getting really worried. He went to her and knelt beside her, taking her hand in his.

  It was just what Isabella needed to push her over the edge. Her resolve softened, and she broke. The tears came in streams down her cheeks, not able to stop them for all the money in the world. "I don't know Dylly." She sobbed. "I know I'm being horrible, but I can't control it. It's like I'm a completely different person sometimes, like something inside of me snaps, and even though I know I'm being harsh and unreasonable, I can't stop it."

  Dylan took a tissue from the box on her desk and handed it to her. She used her free hand to dab at her eyes and nose.

  "I'm scared Dylan. What if I'm going insane? What if I'm becoming schizophrenic or something? I don't want to be known as the crazy lady with multiple personalities." She told him with a seriousness that made his heart ache for her.

  Dylan pulled Isabella into a tight embrace. "Shhh…sweetie, you don't have multiple personalities. There has to be some sort of reasonable explanation for this." He soothed, rubbing her back. "Don't hit me, but maybe it's just a really bad case of PMS?"

  Isabella pushed him away, ticked that he would even suggest it. The look on his face was priceless though, and made her laugh. She thought about it for a minute. It had been a while since her last cycle, so that could very well be what it was. She wasn't the kind of woman to keep track of something like that. She tried when she was in high school, but it was so erratic that she gave up. It was one area of her life that she wasn't able to control and schedule, so she tried to put it out of her mind and not pay any attention to it.

  "Maybe you're right. I've just never felt this out of sorts before." She grabbed another tissue and blew her nose.

  "Well, if this isn't the most attractive sight I've ever seen." Dylan teased.

  Isabella smacked him, laughing. "Thanks Dyl…for everything. I feel better already. And thanks for making me feel a little less crazy."

  "Hey, what are friends for?" He kissed her cheek softly, both of them heading back to work.

  *****

  "Parker honey, when are you leaving to tour the country?" Bunny asked her son as she talked to him on the phone.

  "Well, the dates aren't set in stone yet because the album isn't finished, but most likely in about a month and a half or two months. Why?" He asked, almost not wanting to know the answer.

  "I know you hate it when I do this, but there is this absolutely delightful woman that I want you to meet. I think you two would be perfect for each other, and don't worry, she runs a successful business and it keeps her quite occupied so she won't be complaining about how you're too busy." She told him.

  "Mother! Do you remember what happened the last time you set me up on a date?" He asked, not wanting to get into it with her again over Melinda Sue. They had a pretty explosive argument two days after that date, mother upset at how he had treated her, and son upset that the girl was so obnoxious.

  "You know, I've finally met Melinda Sue, and while she is rather loud and unpolished, she's quite nice." Bunny tried to rationalize.

  "Oh, come on!" He exclaimed.

  "Ok, fine. She grated on my nerves to no end. I apologize. I didn't ever have the chance to meet her and just went on what I was told about her." Bunny explained. "But I've met the woman I want to set you up with. She's very refined, intelligent, pretty, and did I mention successful?"

  "Yes Mother. You did mention that." Parker rolled his eyes, and though his mother couldn't see him, she knew that he had done it. "Listen, now just isn't a good time. I'm too busy recording, then I'll need to get ready for the tour. If you're still hell bent on me meeting her when I get back, then you can set something up for then. Okay?"

  Bunny took her turn to roll her eyes. "Sure, honey." 'Whatever', she thought. "Now tell me Mr. Rockstar, are you too busy to meet your old mother for dinner next week? It's been too long since I've seen you." 'No chance in hell am I going to let Sasha win this girl!' She thought to herself with a smile.

  "I think I can break away for a little while." He agreed.

  "Good, I'll pick you up next Thursday at 7:30. And please, dress nice. I don't want to look like I just picked you up off the street." Bunny chided before hanging up. She'd get her way, one way or another.

  *****

  Monday, Isabella still wasn't feeling any better, so she found herself sitting in the doctor's office holding Dylan's hand and waiting for her name to be called. Even though she thought there was something wrong with her mental health, Dylan talked her into seeing her family doctor before jumping into it with a psychiatrist. He just couldn't see something like that wrong with Isabella and figured there had to be a reasonable explanation for her recent behavior.

  When the nurse came to get her, Bella stood up, Dylan's hand still in her death grip.

  "Isa, you're going to need to let go of my hand sweetie. It's kind of attached." Dylan joked.

  "No, you have to come with me. I can't do this alone." She told him.

  He thought about it for a minute. Whatever was wrong with her was something that was private, but she would most likely tell him what was wrong with her anyway, so why not go in there and hold her hand while she waited?

  He rose from the chair, and the two followed the nurse to a small examination room, where she took Isabella's vital signs and left.

  The doctor eventually made an appearance, fifteen minutes later. Isabella explained her symptoms to him, and asked if it sounded like she had a multiple personality disorder. The doctor laughed at her, making her feel even worse, then told her that it was most likely something different. He drew her blood and told her they would run some tests and get back to her by the end of the day.

  Still not feeling much better, Isabella and Dylan left the doctor's office and went into work.

  *****

  By 4:00, Bella was going out of her mind wondering why the doctor hadn't called yet. She was going to have to leave her office and head to the kitchen soon, so she was praying that he would call her soon.

  At 4:15, Dylan knocked on her office door. "Any word yet?" He asked as he stuck his head in.

  Isabella shook her head. "No, nothing. Want to come in and wait with me? I've been playing this fun game… 'How Far Can I Chew My Nails Down Until My Nail Bed Bleeds?'." She laughed sarcastically.

  "That bad, huh?" He asked, smiling sympathetically.

  "Worse." She shook her head. Another knock at her door made her jump out of her chair.

  "Sorry boss, but the produce just came in and they need you to look over it and sign for it." Carter, her sous chef told her.

  Isabella nodded. She had called them the previous week and exploded over the phone saying that she hadn't gotten everything that she ordered. They reached an agreement that from now on, she was the only one authorized to accept their shipments, verifying that what she received was what she had ordered. "If my phone rings, answer it. I'll only be a minute."

  No sooner had Isabella stepped out the door did her phone ring. Dylan ran out to get her, but she was already wrapped up with the produce guy, so he ran back in and answered it.

  "The TigerLily, Isabella Violi's office." He answered professionally, just in case.

  "Good afternoon, this is Dr. Rush's office calling for Ms. Violi." The woman spoke through the phone.