Page 101 of Operation Sunshine
Ben looked around the kitchen, meeting each pair of eyes with a quiet intensity. “Rebuilding. Earning back the trust that was broken. Together.”
Lexie’s mouth fell open, Ollie’s smile widened, and Willow’s shoulders relaxed just a fraction. Even Mina, quiet as ever, let out a small breath, a shimmer of hope in her eyes.
Ben lifted the mug once more, this time toward them. “It won’t be easy,” he said, in a low but firm voice. “But I believe it can be done. And as long as I’m here, I want this place to be ours. All of ours. And when Franco comes back…” He swallowed. “I want him to find a home, not a battlefield.”
The staff murmured their agreement, a quiet chorus, but Ben didn’t need words. Ollie exhaled as though he’d been holding his breath for hours, Willow blinked away tears, and Lexie’s usual steel softened into something vulnerable. Raj’s eyes were filled with hope.
Ben could hold onto that hope. He could trust again.
And maybe I can keep the future I envisaged—both with this restaurant and with Franco—intact.
He wanted Franco in this future. He didn’t know if that was possible, didn’t dare assume, but God, he wanted it. For now, though, he’d taken the first step. The restaurant wasn’t gone, and neither was he.
There’s hope for all of it. For all of us.
Ben glanced up from his laptop at the sound of laughter from the kitchen.
I’ve missed that this past week.
Come to think of it, the laughter had been missing ever since Franco’s departure.
He went back to his task of tapping through invoices. The office door creaked open, and Raj slipped inside, shutting it behind him.
Ben frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“No, not a thing. It’s just….” Raj straightened. “Can I say something personal?”
Ben blinked, putting his pen down. “That sounds ominous. Go on.”
Raj squared his broad shoulders. “You need a holiday.”
Ben barked out a laugh. “I see. Do I look that much in need of one?”
“Yes.” Raj didn’t miss a beat.
Another blink. “I had no idea. To be honest, a holiday is the last thing on my mind.” The arrival of spring had brought with it more customers. The restaurant had even got a mention in the local press, a very favourable review that had resulted in an influx of new faces Ben hoped would become regulars.
“I’m not saying you should take months off,” Raj remonstrated.
Ben gave a dry smile. “I’m glad to hear it. I was beginning to think you wanted to get rid of me.” It had been only a couple of days since his announcement, but life at the restaurant had settled into a comfortable rhythm.
The smiles were back, for one thing.
“A week would do it,” Raj continued. “Enough to clear your head.” He paused, then added casually, “I hear Italy’s nice this time of year. Florence, specifically.”
Ben’s mouth went dry. He tried to scoff but the sound came out choked. “Florence. Right.” He leaned back in his chair, forcing a smile. “Let me guess who put you up to this.”
“No one.” Raj stepped forward, his expression earnest. “This is all on me. Look, Ben… you deserve a break. And you also deserve to know a few things.”
“Such as?”
Raj shifted from one foot to the other, and Ben stared at him. He’d hadn’t known the man to have an awkward bone in him since the day they’d met.
“I know a little about how Franco feels—about you.”
Ben’s heartbeat raced. “Oh?”
Raj huffed. “He wasn’t as subtle as he thought. And since he’s been gone, he’s been asking about you. A lot. He asks about the restaurant too.” He held his hands up. “I didn’t say a word about recent… events. He doesn’t need to know.”
