Chapter 1 - Table 7
"Table 7 is here."
Three words killed every sound in the kitchen at Il Canto.
Chef Romano stopped yelling over a pan of burning butter. A dishwasher froze with two plates in his hands. Even Marco, the manager, lowered his voice.
"Who is taking it?"
Chloe Bennett reached for a tray.
"I am."
Marco stared at her. "You have been here eleven hours."
"I noticed."
"Costello brought family tonight."
Chloe tied her apron tighter. "Family still eats."
Marco caught her wrist before she could push through the door. "Chloe, do not joke in there."
"I am never funny."
"You are funny when you are nervous."
"Then pray I am relaxed."
She entered the private dining room with a smile she did not feel.
Gabriel Costello sat at the head of the table.
Thirty-nine. Broad shoulders. Black suit. Dark eyes that made people explain themselves before he asked a question. Six men surrounded him, all dressed like they had never checked a price tag in their lives.
Beside Gabriel sat a tiny white-haired woman wearing pearls.
Beatrice Costello.
Chloe poured water while one of the men spoke quietly.
"Shipment arrives at midnight."
Gabriel opened a folder. "Any problems?"
"Union representative complained."
"And?"
"He stopped complaining."
Chloe kept her eyes on the glasses.
Then Beatrice raised both hands.
Chloe nearly dropped the pitcher.
ASL.
Where is the bread?
Gabriel was reading the folder.
Beatrice tapped the table.
He glanced at her. "Not now, Ma."
She signed again.
I don't want bread now. I want wine.
"Bread is coming," Gabriel said.
Chloe stared at him.
He did not understand her.
His own mother.
Dinner continued.
When Chloe returned for the appetizers, Beatrice signed again.
I hate veal. I want seafood risotto.
Gabriel sighed. "Ma, please."
Then he looked at Chloe. "She will have the veal."
Beatrice's hands dropped into her lap.
The expression on her face punched straight through Chloe.
Her younger brother Leo used to look like that. At school. At restaurants. At family gatherings. Whenever hearing people decided understanding him was too much work.
Leo had been deaf.
Chloe learned ASL before long division.
Two years ago, a drunk driver killed him.
She had not signed since the funeral.
Gabriel noticed her staring. "Is there a problem?"
Six men looked at her.
Chloe had seventy-two dollars in her bank account. Rent was four days late.
Walk away.
She set down the plates instead.
Then she stepped toward Beatrice and raised her hands.
Hello. My name is Chloe.
Beatrice's eyes widened.
Chloe's fingers shook.
The veal really is terrible. You made the right choice.
Beatrice stared at her for one long second.
Then she smiled.
You know sign language?
My brother was deaf.
A chair scraped behind Chloe.
"What are you doing?" Gabriel asked.
Chloe kept signing.
Beatrice answered fast.
Seafood risotto. Red wine. And tell my son he has the manners of a goat.
Gabriel stood.
His hand closed around Chloe's shoulder.
"I asked you a question."
Chloe turned slowly. "She does not want veal."
Gabriel stared.
"She wants seafood risotto. And she asked for wine twenty minutes ago. You kept ordering bread."
Nobody moved.
"You understood all of that?"
"Yes."
His grip stayed on her shoulder.
Chloe looked down at his hand. "If you are going to break my collarbone, can you wait until after I put in her order? The kitchen closes soon."
One man choked on a laugh.
Beatrice slapped Gabriel's arm.
He released Chloe instantly.
His mother signed furiously.
Chloe swallowed. "She says your manners are atrocious."
A second man coughed into his napkin.
Beatrice continued.
"And she says you need to stop treating her like she is stupid just because she is deaf."
Gabriel's face changed.
Barely.
But Chloe saw it.
He looked at his mother. Beatrice looked away.
"Risotto," he said.
Chloe blinked. "What?"
"Bring her the seafood risotto. And Barolo."
Chloe signed the order to Beatrice.
The older woman's face brightened. She caught Chloe's wrist.
Thank you.
Then she added:
My son is an idiot, but he tips well.
Chloe laughed before she could stop herself.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes. "What did she say?"
"Nothing."
"Translate."
Beatrice shook her head hard.
Chloe picked up the plates. "Sorry. Confidential communication."
She reached the door.
Behind her, Gabriel said, "Wait."
Chloe turned.
Beatrice was no longer smiling.
Her hands moved beneath the table, hidden from the men around them.
Do not leave me alone with Vincent.
Chloe's eyes shifted to the man sitting on Gabriel's right.
Vincent Costello smiled at her.
May you like
And under the white tablecloth, Beatrice signed one more word.
Danger.
