27- Don't go

something she’s going to regret and only you can stop her.”
“Then we must talk.” Tony beckoned him toward the back. “However, you
will have to explain while I work. I am making pasta and I cannot stop without
ruining it.”
In the kitchen Mr. Lee drew in a deep breath, savoring the aromas of garlic
and tomatoes, oregano and basil, flour and eggs. He also took in the aging but
spotless appliances, the floor that looked asif it had just been mopped to a shine.
If this was where Hazel had learned the basics of the restaurant business, she had
learned from a man who obviously took pride in his work. The room was both
cozy and efficient.
“Sit,” Tony said, gesturing toward a stool. “If you would like coffee, you
will have to pour it yourself,” he added, already working with the dough again,
stretching it with nimble fingers, then putting it through a pasta machine to form
perfect fettuccine noodles.
“No coffee, but thanks.”
Tony glanced at him. “What is wrong with our Hazel?”
“She said she had told you about her business difficulties,” Mr. Lee began
cautiously, in case she hadn’t been astotally forthright with Tony as he had been
led to believe.
Anger brought bright patches of color to Tony’s cheeks. Mr. Lee couldn’t
translate the word he uttered, but it was evidently not complimentary toward
Bobby.
“If he were here, I would toss him in a pot of boiling water myself,” Tony
said with a huff.
“Join the club,” Mr. Lee said.
Tony seemed taken aback by the ferocity of hisresponse. “I was under the
impression that you thought our Hazel shared the blame.”
“I wassuspicious of her, yes,” Mr. Lee
admitted.“And now?”
“I’m all but convinced that she had nothing to do with anything that
happened.”
“But not totally convinced?” Tony asked, scowling at him. “Then you can
go. I have nothing to say to you, and you have nothing to say that I wish to
hear.”
Mr. Lee smiled. “But that’s why you must listen, because you believe in
Hazelunconditionally, because you will want what is best for her.”
“Of course,” Tony said at once. “But how? What help can I give her? She
would never take money from me, even if I had enough to fix the problem
Bobby has created.”
Mr. Lee thought of her display of pride and knew Tony wasright. “Not
money,but I do think she is going to come to you for a job. In fact, I think she is
going to tell you that she wants to move back here and work with you.”
“She came here yesterday and said precisely that.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That she would be welcome, but that she should think about it. Obviously,
you think the decision is as impetuous as I do. You think she made the offer not
because it is what she truly wants, but because she thinks it is her only option.”
Mr. Lee admired the man’s quick thinking, as well as his understanding of
Hazel.“Yes, that is exactly what I think. She’s giving up, Tony. I think a lot of
things have been piling up the last few weeks, including the death of her
friend’s husband, and she’s throwing in the towel, taking the easy way out.
She’s convinced herself that she has an obligation to stay here for her friend’s
sake. I admire that, and in the short term it makes sense. But a permanent
move?” He shook his head. “I don’t think so. I just thought you ought to know
that, so you don’t take what she says too seriously.”
Tony’s hands stilled. “You want me to turn her down, even if she comes back
and says she is certain it is what she wants?”
“No, of course not. Just don’t count on her staying forever. She lovesthat
restaurant in New York. She’ll regret it if she gives up on it. She just needs a
breather until her fighting spirit comes back.”
Tony’s gaze narrowed. “Is this some ploy to get her back in New York where
you can drag her into court?”
“Absolutely not,” Mr. Lee said, offended, even though on some level he could
understand the man’s suspicion. He had not come here with good intentions
toward Hazel. Only in recent days had that changed.
“Then what makes you think you know what is best for our Hazel? Do you
care for her?”
Mr. Lee debated lying, but Tony’s knowing eyes would see straight through
him. “More than I have any right to, given my role in all of this,” he finally
admitted.
The back door opened just then and Hazel stepped inside, a look of grim
determination on her face. When she caught sight of Mr. Lee, she frowned.
“What are you doing here?” she asked suspiciously.
“He islearning how to make pasta from a master,” Tony said, giving Mr. Lee
awink.
“I had no idea you were interested in the finer points of making your own
noodles,” Hazel said, her gaze locked with Mr. Lee’s.
“It’s a recent interest,” he said easily.
“I see.”
“What brings you by, Hazel mia?” Tony
asked.“Do I need a reason to visit?”
“Never, but you usually have one. It has not been long enough for you to
have given careful thought to what we discussed yesterday.”
Once again she regarded Mr. Lee with suspicion, but then she turned to Tony.
“Istill want a job.”
“You have a job,” he replied. “In fact, it seemsto me you have been away
from it too long, all things considered.”
Color bloomed in her cheeks and she whirled on Mr. Lee. “What have you
beentelling him?”
Tony interceded. “I do not need anyone to tell me things where your best
interests are concerned. This business of yours does not run itself. Mine certainly
does not and yours is more demanding, yes? Especially now.”
“Are you saying you don’t want me here?” she asked, a hitch in her voice
revealing just how close to tears she was. “I thought you just wanted me to think
it over. Are you saying now that you don’t want me at all?”
“Never!” Tony said. “You have a place here always. I just don’t want you to
use my kitchen to hide out from your troubles. I want you to face them like the
brave woman you are.”
Her gaze flew from Tony to Mr. Lee and back again. “Isthat what the two
ofyou think, that I’m running away, that I’m hiding out?”
“Aren’t you?” Mr. Lee asked quietly. “That call from Bobby yesterday
morningwas the final blow, wasn’t it?”
“No, the final blow was finding you in here conspiring with a man I’d
alwaysthought was my friend,” she retorted angrily, then ran for the door,
slamming it behind her as she left.
Tony started after her, but Mr. Lee stopped him. “I’ll go. It’s me she’sfurious
with.”
Tony nodded. “The job is hersif she doesn’t change her mind. You
understand that, don’t you?”
“Of course,” he said, then went to try to undo some of the damage he’d
caused, not this morning, but over the past few weeks.