Page 105 of The Bonus

“He speaks Italian.” I smile as I prompt them.

The children’s eyes both widen as they stare at him.

“Tu parli italiano?” Dominic asks him.

Gabriel’s mouth drops open, and his eyes come to meet mine. “Who taught them?”

“I had an Italian nanny so that the children could learn in their formative years, she’s moved out now but she was incredible.”

“I can’t…” For the first time ever he’s speechless.

“I’ve prepared them the best I could.”

Overcome with emotion, his eyes well with tears and he nods, lost for words. He picks up his fork and shovels in a big mouthful of food. I watch and see the exact moment that he tastes it, he coughs sharply and holds his hand in a fist in front of his mouth as he tries to swallow it.

“Delicious, isn’t it?” I smile.

“So yummy, Momma,” Lucy says as she takes another mouthful.

Gabriel takes a huge gulp of water as he looks around the table at us all eating.

“Do you like it?” I ask.

“Hmm.” He widens his eyes and begins to push a pickled onion around his bowl with his fork as he tries to work out what it is. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever eaten.”

“Do you live in Italy?” Lucia asks.

“No, I live in New York,” he replies as he takes another bite. He winces and closes his eyes as he tries to silently deal with the horror.

I kind of wish the kids weren’t here so that he could say what he really thinks, this is priceless.

Lucy talks and talks, and I glance over at Dominic who has not said a single word, and I know I have to just come out with it.

“Guys, there is a reason I have asked Gabriel to come over to see us,” I say. “And it’s a very special reason.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary—” Gabriel cuts me off. “Wouldn’t want to ruin this…” his eyebrows flick up as he pushes the food around with this fork, “…delicacy.”

“Why were you mean to my mother?” Dominic comes straight out with it.

Gabriel shovels a huge forkful into his mouth so he doesn’t have to answer and then coughs again. He rolls his lips as he tries to process what’s in his mouth. “What kind of pasta sauce is this?” He winces before picking up his water and gulping it.

“Delicious pasta sauce,” Lucia answers.

Gabriel’s eyebrows flick up in surprise. “You have your mother’s tastebuds, that’s for certain.”

“She doesn’t like you,” Dominic says as he looks Gabriel dead in the eye. They glare at each other across the table.

Oh fuck, here we go.

“Don’t be rude, Dominic,” I snap.

Lucy’s eyes widen as she looks between the two of them.

“Cerca di mostrare un po’ di rispetto a tua madre. Questa è casa sua,” Gabriel says. (“Show some respect to your mother at her dinner table.”)

“No,” Dominic says.

“Parlami in italiano,” Gabriel fires back. (“You speak to me in Italian.”)

---