Chapter 5 - The Money That Broke Two Brothers
“You took the money?”
Luca stared at Marco.
The chef nodded.
“I removed it from the fund.”
“Why?”
Marco looked toward Rosie, who was nearly asleep against my shoulder.
“Because Gabriel came to me about his little girl.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Luca stepped closer.
“Explain.”
Marco took a breath.
“Rosie had been in the hospital for weeks. The bills were piling up. Some of the follow-up treatments weren't covered, and Gabriel was afraid they'd lose the house trying to pay for everything.”
Luca looked toward his niece.
Her purple cardigan was too big around the shoulders.
One small hand rested against her stuffed rabbit.
“Why didn't Gabriel come to me?”
Marco looked uncomfortable.
“He tried to talk to you about needing help.”
Luca frowned.
“When?”
“A week before the money disappeared.”
Something moved across Luca's face.
“I remember him asking for an advance.”
Marco nodded.
“You told him the restaurant wasn't his personal bank.”
Luca closed his eyes.
I watched him remember.
“He wouldn't tell me what it was for.”
“Because Vanessa didn't want anybody in the family knowing about Rosie.”
Vanessa wiped her face.
“I was scared.”
Luca turned toward her.
“Scared of what?”
“Your family. Your reputation. What would happen if people knew Gabriel had a child.”
“Rosie was two.”
“I know.”
“You were protecting her by making her father afraid to ask for help?”
Vanessa didn't answer.
Marco continued.
“Gabriel came back to me that night. He said the hospital bills were overdue and asked whether there was any way to borrow from the employee hardship fund.”
“That money belonged to the staff,” Luca said.
“Yes.”
“And you gave it to him?”
“I withdrew forty-six thousand dollars without getting the second approval the fund required.”
Luca stared at him.
Marco's voice shook.
“I knew it was wrong. But I'd watched that boy grow up in this kitchen. He was frightened for his daughter, and I thought we could work out repayment afterward.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Gabriel asked me not to expose his family. When you discovered the withdrawal, he told you he'd taken responsibility.”
Luca looked toward the window.
“He never mentioned you.”
“He was protecting me too.”
The old chef's eyes filled.
“He said if you fired me, my wife and I would lose our health insurance.”
I felt tears sting my eyes.
Marco had spent nearly forty years feeding other people's families.
And when somebody had needed help, he'd made a choice that cost everyone more than he'd imagined.
Luca sat down slowly.
“I accused Gabriel of stealing from people who trusted us.”
Marco nodded.
“You did.”
“And he let me believe it.”
“He thought the truth would destroy Vanessa's chance to raise Rosie away from the business.”
Luca rubbed his forehead.
“That's not an excuse for taking the money.”
“No,” Marco said. “It isn't.”
“But neither was what I said to him afterward.”
Vanessa looked up.
“What did you say?”
Luca swallowed.
“I told him if he couldn't be trusted with the family's money, he didn't deserve the family's name.”
The room went silent.
I watched his eyes fill.
“He asked me whether that was all I thought he was worth.”
Luca stared at the table.
“And I didn't answer.”
Marco pulled out a chair.
“Gabriel left the restaurant that night. A few days later, he signed the Willow Street house over to you as repayment.”
Luca nodded.
“I never sold it.”
Vanessa looked surprised.
“What?”
“The house. I kept it.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“Because he was my brother.”
Her expression crumpled.
“I thought you were holding it to punish him.”
“No.”
Luca looked toward Rosie.
“I kept hoping he'd come back and ask for it.”
For a moment, I thought Vanessa might tell him something else.
But she only lowered her eyes.
I gently lifted Rosie from the chair.
She was exhausted.
“Mr. Moretti, may I take her to the coatroom couch? She can rest while you finish talking.”
Luca looked at the little girl.
Then nodded.
“Leave the door open. I don't want her feeling shut away again.”
I carried Rosie down the short hallway.
She stirred against my shoulder.
“Miss Hannah?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Is Uncle Luca mad at Mommy?”
I hesitated.
“He's upset about some things the grown-ups did.”
“Is Mommy bad?”
I sat beside her on the couch.
“Your mommy made some hurtful choices. That doesn't mean you have to stop loving her.”
Rosie considered that.
“Okay.”
Then she curled against her rabbit.
I stayed until her breathing settled.
When I returned, Luca was standing beside the window.
Vanessa had gone to check on Rosie.
Marco was still at the table.
“Hannah,” Luca said quietly, “thank you.”
“For what?”
“For speaking up when you saw a hungry child.”
I looked down at my bandaged finger.
“I couldn't leave her there.”
“I know.”
He paused.
“You'll never have to defend feeding a child in my restaurant again.”
His voice broke.
“And I should have been the kind of man who knew that without somebody having to remind me.”
I didn't know what to say.
He turned toward Marco.
“Does Gabriel know I kept the house?”
Marco hesitated.
“I don't think so.”
“Does he know Vanessa is marrying me?”
“Yes.”
Luca stopped.
“How?”
“He saw the engagement announcement.”
“Then why hasn't he contacted me?”
The chef looked toward the coatroom.
“He's afraid you'll take Rosie away from him.”
Luca shook his head.
“I didn't even know she existed.”
“I know that now.”
Luca looked at the old man.
“Marco, if you know where he is, you need to tell me.”
The chef stared at his hands.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he reached into his apron and took out a small wooden toy.
It was a hand-carved bird, no bigger than my palm.
The wings had been painted blue.
“Gabriel made this for Rosie's sixth birthday.”
Luca picked it up carefully.
“When?”
“Three months ago.”
His face changed.
Marco continued.
“He's been working at a furniture repair shop on Halsted Street. He came back to Chicago this summer.”
Luca looked stunned.
“Three months?”
The chef nodded.
“He asked me not to tell you until he'd spoken with Vanessa.”
Luca stared at the little wooden bird.
“Have you seen him recently?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
Marco swallowed.
“This afternoon.”
Luca looked up sharply.
May you like
The chef's eyes filled.
“He's still at the workshop tonight. And if you're willing to hear him out, I can take you to your brother.”
