Gianni: The Ciprianos of Kellington, #3

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to a dear friend of mine who believed in me when others never really did. She stood by me through thick and thin and always gave me word of encouragement and love.

To Carol Goodwin aka Chris aka Hellodarlin

I will miss and love you always my dear sweet friend

CHAPTER ONE

Moon beams peeked through the blinds of his window while Gianni lay sprawled out on his bed. He was completely comfortable as he slept. When he first got inside his apartment, he put bags on the floor, making his way straight to his bedroom while taking off his clothes to get into his bed. The warmth of his covers against his skin made him sink deeper into the bed. When he looked over at the nightstand where he kept his clock, he realized it was only 6:52, and that was when the phone rang. He grabbed for it. Hello. His voice still in sleep mode.

Hey, man, I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for days, Federico said.

Gianni sat up in bed, his hand running along his face and toward the back of his head while he tried to wake himself up a bit to talk. Man, I’ve been here, asleep. What day is it?

It’s Tuesday, man. Mom was worried because she said that she talked with you back on Sunday.

He’d slept three whole days straight, which for him wasn’t new. Once he came in from trips like this, he would often sleep an entire week—he needed it though. Damn, I forgot to call Mom to let her know I made it in.

Well, she knew you were tired, she even told me you sounded drained. But she had wanted me to try and call you to see if you needed anything.

Not really. I might go down to the restaurant and grab something there. He got out of bed, going to the bathroom to start the shower. Thanks for checking up on me, bro, and I’ll talk with you later.

Okay, bro, see ya.

After taking a long hot shower and getting himself dressed, he headed out to Filomena’s, the restaurant his brother Renzo named after their mother. He knew it wouldn’t be too busy on a Tuesday evening and if it was, he still would at least be able to get in without a problem. It took him about ten minutes to get into town and thankfully, he was right about the fact that there wouldn’t be many people there. Once he made his way inside, he was greeted by Linda, the hostess.

Why hello there, Gianni, you want to see Renzo?

I want a table, but you can tell my brother that I’m here. He smiled as she grabbed a menu and took him toward one of the booths in the corner.

She walked away as his waiter’s came to fill his glass of water. Would you like something to drink, sir?

Yes, some red wine, please and make it one of your best. The waiter smiled, leaving him alone once more as he looked at the other patrons.

After a couple of minutes of waiting, the waiter along with his brother Renzo walked over toward his table. Hey there, bro, did you have a good sleep?

Gianni got up to hug his brother before sitting down again as the waiter poured some wine in his glass. Just leave the bottle here, please. I’ll have the arancini con ragu and tell Warren to make them big. Turning to his brother, Gianni said, So, how are things going with you and Jaslyn?

Doing pretty good as always, did Mom tell you about Delia and Simone?

Yeah, it’s about time those two got together. I’m glad for them both.

Soon, he heard laughter from a child coming from the back where the bathrooms were. Mom, can I have dessert?

It was the little girl from his apartment complex, he realized as he looked over to the side and saw the little girl as she got into her seat at her table, which was in the middle of room. This time, she was wearing a purple floral dress with white sandals. Her little slender arms were nicely tanned by the sun. Her hair was accented with a small purple flower that was pinned to the side.

The mother, who wore a pair of blue jeans and a fuchsia peasant blouse, her hair was down this time, unruly with its curls held up with a hair band. Why sure, baby, you can. You can pick whatever you like. The little girl was giddy with laughter and started to clap rapidly while the mother smiled right along with her.

Who are you looking at, brother? asked Renzo, gazing over at the mother and daughter. Oh, you’re looking at the little one and her mom. You know what, she came running up to me when she saw me talking with someone and thought that I was you. I thought it was the cutest thing, she said, ‘Gianni, Gianni!’ They both laughed as Gianni kept his eye on the two of them. I had to tell her that I wasn’t Gianni but I knew a Gianni. I asked her what this Gianni guy looks like though. She told me, and this is what I thought was even cuter, she said he looks just like me but with the prettiest eyes she had ever seen.

That really got him to blush a bit, which for Gianni was a first. They moved to my apartment complex, her name is Saoirse. I don’t know the mother’s name yet, but I know Saoirse. Can you bring her over here, so I can say hello?

I’ll see what I can do. Renzo winked.

Gianni watched his brother walk over toward the table, he started to talk a bit with the woman who at first looked apprehensive but when Renzo motioned with his head toward Gianni’s table, she nodded. Renzo pulled out Saoirse’s chair and escorted her toward his table.

When she saw him sitting there, her precious hazel eyes flickered with excitement to see him. Gianni, you are here!

Hello there, little one. I see you met my brother Renzo here.

She peered up at Renzo as he sat down to see her eye to eye. I thought he was you but I saw his eyes and knew that it wasn’t you. Where have you been?

Both brothers chuckled.

I was asleep. When you saw me I had just come from out of the country on a photo shoot.

"Photo shoots? Do you take pictures?

No, my dear, people take pictures of me. I’m a model.

I knew you were a model, you look like one. Mom and I came to have dinner, but we are going to have dessert now.

Do you know what you’re going to get? Renzo asked.

No, what do you like, Gianni? Her face brightened up magically in front of the two men.

Gianni had to admit that this little girl was a complete delight. Do you like plums? he asked her.

I love plums, do you like plums too?

Indeed I do, I always get the plum crostata with some cream, it’s like a tart and it’s absolutely tasty. I know you’ll like it.

It sounds good, let me go and tell my mom. She ran back to her mother as the two men chuckled even more.

Gianni then noticed the mother was smiling at her when she pointed toward them. Then she pulled at her mother’s arm, trying to get her up from her chair. After a couple of tugs, the woman seemed to cave in as they walked over toward the two men. Gianni, I want you to meet my mom. Mom, this is Gianni remember?

* * * *

Anais glanced over at her daughter when she came back from over at the table. She felt apprehensive about letting her go since they were new to the town and didn’t know anybody. But Saoirse had met the man at their apartment, how was she to know that his brother owned the restaurant? As they made their way over to the table, she saw both men stand up, both smiling so happily at the two of them. She had to admit, they both were very handsome. Good evening,

Good evening, they said.

I’m sorry if my daughter interrupted your dinner, but she’d been asking about you when she saw Mr. Cipriano here.

No problem at all, Gianni and I are often mistaken for the other, Renzo joked, poking his brother on the side. I’ll go and see about them making your dessert, little one. He walked away leaving the three still standing in front of Gianni’s table.

Would you like to sit with me? Gianni asked.

Oh no, we don’t want to pry but thank you though,

But, Mom, please? I want to sit with Gianni. He’s a model and I have to ask him more about what does. It must be exciting to be a model, Saoirse told him, smiling ever so brightly at him.

It was the first time she had really seen her smile so big, especially at a man. All right, sweetheart, I’ll go and grab our drinks and bring them over here. After grabbing their drinks, she came back and saw her daughter had the poor man immediately in what she liked to call ‘interrogation mode.’ This was when she would bombard a person with question after question. Even though her daughter was eight, she was extremely smart for her age.

I’m sorry, but I never did introduce myself, my name is Gianni, Gianni Cipriano.

I’m Anais Cormier and you already know Saoirse here. She rubbed her daughter’s hair while she smiled over at Gianni. So your brother owns this restaurant then?

Yeah, he also has another one too, both named after our mother.

Your mom, is she pretty too? Saoirse asked.

She watched him smile as he took out his cell phone from his pocket, watching his finger glide along it a few times before he could find whatever he was looking for. Then he turned it to face them. This is my mom Filomena, and you see me and my brother Renzo there. Next to my brother Renzo is my brother Simone and next to me is my brother Federico.

Her daughter grabbed the phone to really get a good look at the picture. Wow, your mom is beautiful, just like my mom is. And you have two more brothers too, that must be fun having so many brothers.

Well, when we were growing up it wasn’t all that fun, Gianni told her,

Anais noticed his eyes gazing over at her.

But now that we are older, we get along pretty good.

The waiter came over and brought Gianni’s food and soon, Renzo brought over Saoirse’s plum tart with a big dollop of cream on the top.

Thank you, she said.

You’re most welcome, little one, I hope you enjoy it, Renzo said with a smile as the three of them watched her use her fork to cut into it to grab a bite along with the cream. Her face lit up like the sun on a beautiful summer day as she giggled.

It must be good then, huh?

She cut another piece from the tart and said, Open wide, Mom.

With that command, Anais did just as told. She had to admit the tart was delicious and nodded with approval as she watched her daughter continue to eat.

So what brings you to Kellington?

Anais knew the question of why would come up, but of course she had an answer for that. Needed a change.

Well, that’s what most people come here for is for change.

Mom, can we come here all the time?

Anais smiled. We can try, sweetheart, but don’t you want me to at least cook for you sometime?

Yes, I do, but I like it here, too. Can we at least come here like every other Friday or something, Mom, please?

Sweetheart, we shall see, first Mom has to find herself a job then we can figure out about coming back here to eat.

Where are you looking for a job? he inquired.

Well, I’m looking for just about anything. We have a bit of a nest egg right now from when we moved, but of course that won’t last us for long. So, I’m planning on looking for a job tomorrow.

You can’t take a child with you on a job interview though. Don’t you have anyone that can watch her? Gianni replied.

Well, I—

What about Gianni?

Anais looked at her daughter, whose face was messy with plum juice and cream. Grabbing her napkin, she wiped her smiling face.

Ask him, he could watch me. Couldn’t you, Gianni?

The expression on his face was that of utter confusion.

Once again, her daughter was trying to play matchmaker with another random guy.

CHAPTER TWO

Gianni had been around a lot of women in his lifetime, but he had never been so quickly captivated by one as beautiful as this Anais was. I know a lot of people here in town that you could get in contact with tomorrow about a job.

Really? Well, that would be very helpful I appreciate it. She smiled.

He then got up to get some paper from Linda at the hostess podium. When he came back, he immediately went to his phone and began writing down names and numbers of people that he thought could help out.

So, how’s everybody doing, I see you love that tart. Renzo walked over to their table once more.

Say, Renzo, do you know of anybody around town that is looking to hire someone in need of a job?

"Megan over at Tilly’s is looking for help. You can try over there as well as over at Mulligan’s bar, they need a waitress. Do you have any experience as a receptionist because Peter over at his law office needs one