“You are talented, Hannah,” he admits, and my mouth falls open.
“Then why did you drive me away?”
“I don’t know.That was the way I was trained, and I don’t know any different.It has worked for me for the last thirty years.It has helped me grow several successful restaurants.”
“You can’t tell me that I’m the first person to quit and tell you that your methods, well, suck?”He doesn’t reply, chewing on his lip as he mulls over what I’ve said.
“I don’t remember anyone quitting like you did,” he finally replies, making me laugh.
“Of course no one quit like me,” I joke, remembering my epic rant.
It feels like the tension between us is easing, and there have been no apologies passed around, which I’m happy about.I don’t think either of us are wrong in our methods and my intent when I showed up here wasn’t to make him apologize.It was to move beyond what happened and recognize that we can have a relationship that doesn’t include our past.
“I’m not the same guy who runs this kitchen as I am with my family,” Roy quietly adds.“I love my children and my wife, and I like the separation of my job and my personal life.”
I’m not sure where he’s going with this, but I hope it’s heading in the direction that I’m no longer included in his work life.That I’ll now be part of his personal life and that he understands how important Leo is to me.
“Don’t we all.Most people can’t make the two work, but Leo and I have found the perfect balance.I honestly love working with him and coming home and having him be there too.”I pause, hesitant to share my feelings.“I love Leo and I don’t want to lose him over this.”
I can’t hold it in any longer.It’s why I came here.I came here to save my relationship with Leo, and I came here to make sure his father sees that that’s what is important to me.
“And Leo needs you, Hannah.I’ve never seen him so happy,” Roy says, catching me off guard.“He hasn’t stopped talking about you and this,” he motions between us, “hit him hard.I’ve always wanted what is best for my kids and you’re what is best for Leo.”
He reaches out a hand toward me, extending a truce and I take it.Shaking his hand, we both smile at each other.
“Thank you for hearing me out,” I say, grateful that we were able to overcome this.I may have been nervous and worried for no reason, but at the time, it felt like a huge issue.It felt like my life was on hold and that all the happiness I found was nearly lost.
“Thank you for making me see that my children’s happiness needs to be bigger than my ego.”Roy’s smile is huge now, and I catch a glimpse of Leo in his face.If this man raised Leo, then there has to be some good in him too.
“We good?”
“We’re good, Hannah.Now please go home and tell Leo things are good.I can’t take another phone call with him crying about missing you,”
“Wait, he’s been crying?”
“Maybe I wasn’t supposed to tell you that,” Roy replies, sheepishly, shrugging and making us laugh.
“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Leo
I’m sitting in my office waiting.
Waiting for Hannah to show up at work.Waiting for her to answer her phone.Waiting for her to tell me what the fuck that damn note she left on the table meant.I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read it, but it doesn’t matter, because I still can’t make sense of her words or what the hell they mean.
She said she’d be back in time for work though, and I really want to believe her, but the more time that passes, the more I’m starting to wonder…and worry.
Where the fuck is she?
“Leo, you want me to prep the beef shin?”Tony asks.
I glance up and see him standing in the doorway, an expectant look on his face as he asks me about one of our signature dishes that’s been slow cooking for the past six hours.It’s always a best seller and it’s the one dish I always take responsibility for.Not because I don’t trust my staff to handle it, it’s just something I’ve always done.
“Yeah, sure, thanks,” I reply, giving him a quick nod before looking away again.
“Ah, okay great, no worries,” he says, rapping on the door frame, even though I know he’s surprised at my delegation.“Also, someone is here for you,” he adds, giving me a wink when I look back up to find Hannah now standing behind him.
