WAITING WITHOUT KNOWING 🙂🌚
1068 Words
HIS POSSESSION
Chapter Fourteen: WAITING WITHOUT KNOWING
Saturday evenings were always relentless.
Every table at Le Château had been reserved before sunset, and by the time the doors opened, the restaurant buzzed with elegant conversation.
Crystal glasses sparkled beneath the chandeliers.
The grand piano played softly in the corner.
From the kitchen came the comforting sounds of sizzling pans, clinking plates, and Chef Marcel calling out orders in rapid succession.
It was organized chaos.
Exactly the way everyone liked it.
“Ethan!”
Chef Marcel’s voice echoed from the kitchen.
“Table four is ready.”
“Coming!”
He collected the plates with practiced ease before weaving through the dining room.
“Congratulations on your anniversary.”
The elderly couple smiled warmly.
“Thank you, Ethan.”
“My pleasure.”
As he returned toward the kitchen, Noah slipped beside him.
“What time is it?”
Ethan looked at the clock above the wine display.
“Five to eight.”
Noah grinned.
“Thought so.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Noah disappeared before Ethan could ask another question.
By instinct…
Ethan glanced toward the entrance.
The doors were still closed.
He frowned faintly.
Why did I look?
Shaking the thought away, he returned to work.
At exactly eight o’clock…
The doors opened.
The hostess smiled immediately.
“Good evening, Mr. De Luca.”
“Good evening.”
Adrian removed his coat as he always did, thanking the hostess before making his way through the restaurant.
As if sensing it…
Ethan looked up.
Their eyes met across the room.
A familiar smile appeared on Ethan’s face.
“Good evening, Mr. De Luca.”
“Good evening, Ethan.”
“I’ll be with you in just a moment.”
“I know.”
There was no impatience in Adrian’s voice.
Only certainty.
He already knew Ethan would come.
A few minutes later…
Ethan placed the familiar glass of still water on the table.
“I remembered the lemon this time.”
Adrian glanced at the thin slice floating in the glass.
“I never asked for lemon.”
“No.”
Ethan smiled.
“But you always eat the slice if I add one.”
Adrian looked at him, genuinely surprised.
“You noticed.”
“I notice a lot of things.”
“So I’ve discovered.”
As Ethan took another table’s order, a young waitress hurried past carrying a heavy tray.
One plate slipped.
Without hesitation, Adrian reached out from his chair, steadying the edge of the tray before it tipped completely.
“Oh!”
The waitress blinked in surprise.
“Thank you, sir.”
“It was nothing.”
She smiled gratefully before continuing on her way.
From across the room…
Ethan had seen the entire exchange.
He couldn’t help smiling.
When he returned to Adrian’s table, he said quietly,
“You’ve rescued two members of our staff now.”
Adrian looked mildly confused.
“I have?”
“Daniel last week.”
“The waitress just now.”
“I simply happened to be nearby.”
Ethan tilted his head.
“Most people wouldn’t have noticed.”
Adrian met his gaze.
“I did.”
The answer was simple.
Matter-of-fact.
Yet Ethan found himself thinking about it long after he’d walked away.
The evening flowed on.
A violinist joined the pianist, filling the restaurant with warm music.
Guests laughed over shared desserts.
Children whispered excitedly over birthday candles.
Everything felt peaceful.
Almost timeless.
During a rare quiet moment, Noah joined Ethan near the service station.
“Can I ask you something?”
“You usually do.”
“When Mr. De Luca isn’t here…”
“…does table nine look strange to you?”
Ethan looked toward the empty chair.
He almost answered immediately.
Instead…
He paused.
“…Maybe.”
Noah folded his arms.
“I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
“You’ve started expecting him.”
“I have not.”
“You looked at the door before he arrived.”
“I…”
Ethan searched his memory.
He had.
Without realizing it.
“I probably just heard the doors.”
Noah smiled knowingly.
“If you say so.”
Later that evening, Chef Marcel personally carried a small tasting plate to Adrian.
“Our newest dessert.”
Adrian looked up.
“I wasn’t expecting this.”
“You may blame Ethan.”
Adrian glanced toward him.
“Ethan?”
Chef Marcel nodded.
“He insisted you’d appreciate honest feedback.”
Ethan looked slightly embarrassed.
“I only said you usually notice details.”
Adrian picked up his spoon.
“And if I dislike it?”
Chef Marcel gasped dramatically.
“Then I’ll pretend I never asked.”
The three of them shared a quiet laugh.
For a brief moment…
Customer.
Waiter.
Chef.
The titles disappeared.
Leaving only three people enjoying an ordinary conversation.
As closing time approached, Adrian settled the bill.
“Thank you.”
“It was our pleasure.”
Ethan accepted the receipt before adding,
“Same time tomorrow?”
The words escaped before he could stop them.
His eyes widened slightly.
“I mean…”
“…if your schedule allows.”
Adrian looked at him.
Not with surprise.
With warmth.
“I believe it will.”
Ethan smiled.
“I’m glad.”
Only after Adrian had stepped outside did Ethan realize what he’d said.
Same time tomorrow.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“…That was probably too familiar.”
Noah appeared beside him as though summoned by fate.
“What was?”
“Nothing.”
Noah looked through the window at Adrian climbing into the waiting sedan.
Then back at Ethan.
“Hm.”
Inside the car, Luca closed the door.
“You seem pleased.”
Adrian looked out through the rain-speckled window.
“Ethan asked if I’d be back tomorrow.”
“He did?”
“He corrected himself immediately.”
Luca smiled faintly.
“What do you think that means?”
Adrian watched Le Château disappear into the night.
“I don’t know.”
A quiet pause.
“…But I don’t think he asked every customer that.”
For the first time…
The routine belonged to both of them.
Neither had planned it.
Neither had noticed when it began.
But somewhere between shared conversations…
Recommended dinners…
And quiet smiles…
Tomorrow had become something they both expected.
End of Chapter Fourteen 🖤
- Writer
