THE SPACE BETWEEN WORDS🫥
940 Words
HIS POSSESSION
Chapter Twelve: THE SPACE BETWEEN WORDS
Thursday evenings always carried a different energy at Le Château.
The weekend had not yet arrived, but the city had already begun slowing its pace. Couples lingered longer over dinner, business meetings stretched into relaxed conversations, and the restaurant seemed to breathe a little easier.
Ethan liked Thursdays.
There was time to notice people.
Not just serve them.
“You’re smiling again.”
Noah’s voice interrupted Ethan as they folded linen napkins before service.
“I usually smile.”
“You’ve smiled three times already.”
Ethan looked puzzled.
“Is that unusual?”
“No.”
Noah grinned.
“I’ve just started counting.”
Ethan laughed, shaking his head.
“You’re impossible.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Chef Marcel stepped out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel.
“If the two comedians are finished…”
“We’re working, Chef,” Noah replied innocently.
“I can see that.”
The chef disappeared again, muttering something in French that made Ethan laugh even harder.
At exactly eight o’clock…
The entrance doors opened.
The hostess looked up with a familiar smile.
“Good evening, Mr. De Luca.”
“Good evening.”
She didn’t need to ask whether Adrian had a reservation.
She simply led him toward table nine.
As Adrian crossed the dining room, Ethan happened to look up.
Their eyes met briefly.
Ethan offered the same warm smile he gave every guest.
Yet somehow…
It felt just a little more familiar now.
“Good evening, Mr. De Luca.”
“Good evening.”
“The chef has already decided your dessert.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“I haven’t even ordered.”
“I tried telling him that.”
“And?”
“He ignored me.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“He seems determined.”
“He usually is.”
Dinner unfolded peacefully.
As Ethan recommended another entrée, Adrian listened with the same quiet attention he always did.
“You explain every dish like you’ve cooked it yourself.”
“I spend enough time around Chef Marcel.”
“So you’ve learned.”
“A little.”
“And if you weren’t a waiter?”
Ethan looked thoughtful.
“I’ve never really thought about it.”
“No?”
“I’ve been too busy trying to be a good one.”
The answer lingered with Adrian long after Ethan had moved on to another table.
An hour later, Ethan returned carrying fresh coffee.
“I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“You aren’t.”
As he poured the coffee, Adrian noticed a faint red mark across Ethan’s wrist.
It looked fresh.
“What happened?”
Ethan instinctively glanced down.
“Oh.”
He smiled sheepishly.
“I caught my arm on an oven tray.”
“You should have it looked at.”
“It’s only a small burn.”
“You said that very quickly.”
Ethan chuckled.
“I’ve had worse.”
Adrian frowned slightly.
“That doesn’t make this one unimportant.”
For a brief moment…
Neither of them spoke.
Then Ethan smiled.
“I’ll put some ointment on it after my shift.”
Adrian nodded once.
“Good.”
The conversation lasted less than a minute.
Yet Ethan found himself strangely touched.
Most customers never noticed things like that.
Mr. De Luca had.
Later that evening, Noah leaned against the service station.
“Can I ask you something?”
Ethan looked up from polishing cutlery.
“You always do.”
“When Mr. De Luca walks in…”
“…why do you always seem to know?”
Ethan blinked.
“I don’t.”
“You looked up before the hostess even called your name.”
“I heard the door.”
“So did everyone else.”
Ethan frowned thoughtfully.
Had he?
He honestly wasn’t sure.
Near closing time, an elderly gentleman struggled to put on his coat.
Before Ethan could reach him, Adrian quietly stood.
Without a word, he helped the man slip one arm into the sleeve before stepping back.
“There you are.”
The gentleman smiled warmly.
“Thank you, son.”
“My pleasure.”
The exchange lasted only a few seconds.
Simple.
Almost forgettable.
Except Ethan had seen it.
Most people assumed kindness belonged only to those in service.
Mr. De Luca had expected nothing in return.
As the elderly couple left, Ethan approached Adrian’s table.
“That was thoughtful.”
Adrian looked up.
“It wasn’t much.”
“It probably meant a lot to him.”
Adrian was quiet for a moment.
“I suppose small things usually do.”
Ethan smiled.
“I think so too.”
For the first time…
It wasn’t Adrian observing Ethan.
It was Ethan quietly observing Adrian.
Outside, the rain had finally begun.
Luca held the umbrella over Adrian as they walked toward the waiting sedan.
“You’ve been watching him less.”
Adrian looked mildly surprised.
“Have I?”
“I think so.”
Luca closed the car door.
“You don’t need to anymore.”
Adrian looked back through the restaurant window.
Inside, Ethan was laughing at something Noah had said.
A smile touched Adrian’s face.
“No.”
He answered quietly.
“I don’t.”
Because watching from a distance was no longer enough to understand Ethan.
Now…
He was beginning to know him.
And somewhere inside Le Château…
Without fully realizing it…
Ethan Brooks was beginning to know Adrian De Luca as well.
Not as an influential businessman.
Not as a regular customer.
Simply…
As a good man.
End of chapter Twelve 🖤
- Writer
