Immersion Playground
Book #1: The Proposal
Chapter 7
Rick and Giselle arrive at
Mangia!
at six forty-five—fifteen minutes early. Sal, the owner, greets them warmly, giving Giselle a hug and shaking Rick's hand before escorting them to a table in the corner. They are just sitting down when Rick sees Teri enter. Rick begins to rise to meet her, but Sal is quicker and makes his way to the front.
It always amazes Rick that Sal seems to be everywhere and do everything. Sal either does the cooking himself or supervises it, and also greets most of the guests and waits on a few tables, normally his regulars. All in all, it makes the small restaurant seem more like a large family than a business.
Sal walks Teri to their table. "Giselle, Charlie, and now this lovely woman," Sal says in his rich baritone and thick Italian accent. "My restaurant is full of beautiful woman." He smiles broadly and heaves a dramatic sigh. "I will care for this table personally. Please, Teri, have a seat," he says, pulling out a chair next to Giselle.
Rick and Giselle rise as Giselle holds out her hand. "Hello Teri. I'm Giselle and this is my husband, Rick."
Teri shakes each of their hands in turn. "Teri Shorr," she says in return. "I can't tell you how pleased I am to meet you." She acts as if she has more to say, but stops.
"Shall we sit down?" Rick suggests, helping Teri cover her awkward feelings.
"Giselle, I have a new wine I am thinking of adding to my cellar," Sal says. "I would like you to try it and tell me what you think. My brother, he sent me a case from Italy."
"That would be lovely, Sal. You know I love to try new wines."
Sal turns to Teri. "Giselle, she helps me choose my wines. Best advice Charlie ever gave me. Now my wines complement my food even better," Sal says with a chuckle. "I should pay her, but all she will let me to do is feed her."
"Sal, you give me too much credit," Giselle says, blushing lightly.
Sal chuckles again and pats Giselle on the shoulder. "You give yourself too little. I'll be back," he says, as he turns to greet a family walking in the door.
Teri looks at Giselle with wide eyes. "You're a wine expert too?" she asks, her voice full of respect.
"Hardly," Giselle says.
"Yes," Rick says at the same time.
A couple of minutes later Sal returns with a bottle of wine in hand. He opens the bottle and pours a small amount in a glass. Giselle doesn't make a big production of it, but she checks the clarity and bouquet of the wine before tasting. She holds the glass aloft.
"More please," she says with a big smile.
"You like, then?" Sal asks, beaming.
"This is very good. You should definitely add this to your cellar," Giselle confirms as Sal refills her glass.
Sal plops the bottle in the middle of the table. "This one is on the house," he says, then holds his arms open as if to give a hug. Rick is confused by the gesture, but then turns to see Charlie and Todd approaching. "Charlie," Sal booms out, "So good to see you again." He hugs her and kisses her on the cheek. "You're lucky man," Sal says to Todd, shaking his hand.
"I know, Sal. She reminds me of that frequently," Todd says, smiling broadly.
Sal laughs. "You listen to her," he says. "You listen to her good."
Sal begins passing out menus as Charlie and Todd sit down. Rick isn't sure where he got them, as he didn't think they were in his hand when he brought the wine, and they certainly weren't in his hand when he hugged Charlie. Rick glances around and sees a waiter walking away. Rick grins. That Sal, he's a smooth one all right. Sal takes their drink orders and scurries away.
"Sorry we're late. Traffic. I see you've met," Charlie says.
"We introduced ourselves," Rick replies. "Sal, he sort of fills as room when he's around, you know?"
Charlie smiles broadly. "He's such a sweetheart. Seems like I've known him forever. Todd and I started coming here right after he opened," Charlie says to Teri before turning to Todd. "How long ago was that? Ten years? Maybe more?"
"That's probably about right," Todd agrees. "You were still modeling, and I was just a flunky at Stern and Daniels."
Charlie returns her attention to Teri, trying to draw her into the conversion. "Everything here is good or excellent," Charlie says as Sal returns and begins setting their drinks around the table.
"You ready to order or do you need more time?" Sal asks.
"You want to order for us, Sal?" Charlie asks.
"Oh no. I could do that for you four, but I don't know what the young lady likes." Sal turns his attention to Teri. "Do you know what you want? Then I can know what to scrape out of the bottom of the pan for them," he says with a nod of his head to the rest of the table.
"Uh..." Teri begins. "I guess anything. But I prefer red sauces to white," Teri says demurely.
"Ah! I know just the thing then. You no like, I will fix you something else, but I think you will like it," Sal says with a big smile. "The rest of you lot, I'll see if there is something for you." With that he draws himself up with great dignity and bustles into the kitchen.
As soon as Sal is out of earshot the entire table begins to snicker. "Is he always like that?" Teri asks.
"Only if he likes you," Charlie replies.
"If he brings you the manicotti, you will think you've died and gone to heaven," Giselle adds. She pours the wine into everyone's glasses, pausing over Teri's glass in a silent question.
"A little, I guess. I'm not much of a wine drinker," Teri says quietly.
"Neither am I," Rick says. "But trust Giselle. She knows what she's talking about."
