"Oh you have got to try the meat and cheese appetizer Venezia!" Julia enthusiastically up-talked the restaurant's most famous appetizer. Venezia, sitting next to Julia in the booth, struggled to make sense of the menu's set up. It was much different in America. The orderwas all wrong. The drinks didn't belong on the back of the menu, they belong up front where you could see them.
And the dishes, were different too. Which Venezia didn't mind, she liked to experience new foods. She just wished there was a simple pasta plate she could get. There was nothing wrong with sticking with what you liked.
Julia fumbled around with her menu, flipping between pages. She was having a hard time deciding for herself. Venezia was still trying to make sense of it all.
"Hi ladies, I'll be your waitress today! Can I start you off with a beverage?" The older waitress smiled as she pulled out her tablet and pen to take their orders.
"I'll take a glass of sparkling water please?" Julia said sweetly, looking at the waitress. The waitress scribbled down Julia's ordered and turned her gaze onto Venezia.
"And for you ma'am?" She asked, stilling smiling. The smile had never once left her lips.
"Uh, caffè? Prende un caffè." Venezia said, not realizing it had been in Italian again. She looked up at the waitress, and the waitress looked back at her confused.
"Coffee. I'll have coffee please." Venezia silently scolded herself for being so negligent about her use of Italian.
"Alright ladies, I'll have those right out for you, are you ready to order your entrées as well?"
"We'll both have the meat and cheese appetizer." Julia said smiling at Venezia. Julia had handed the waitress the menus, and the waitress walked away.
"I forget sometimes that this is not Italy."Venezia said to Julia, chuckling. Julia laughed as well.
"You handled it very well Veni." Julia grinned at Venezia. "I don't think I'd even be able to order if I were in Italy!"
Julia's phrase had shocked Venezia. It wasn't common for everyone to be bilingual? She thought everyone spoke multiple languages. There was still so much for Venezia to learn. The girls gossiped and laughed while waiting for their food.
When the waitress brought their food out to them, they could hardly wait to dig in. The restaurant hadn't been THAT busy, but they must have been short-staffed. They waited longer than usual for their food.
"So, why did you move to America?" Julia asked, after swallowing her the bite she took.
She gasped, and immediately shook her head at herself. "I'm so sorry. I feel that was a very rude, loaded question." Julia's cheeks turned a bright shade of pink.
"It's no offense." Venezia held her hand up, to show she understood. Venezia was fully prepared for the questions Julia had, because Julia was her first friend in America. Venezia never had anyone to talk to like this before.
"My mother and my father gave birth to me in Italy. My father had to go away. Fight in the war. He promised my mom he would come home as soon as he could. To be a family again. But he didn't.. instead he-"
"He ran out on you and your mom?" Julia asked softly, looking down at her plate.
"No." Venezia said, fighting the urge to tear up. "è morto."
Venezia looked up at Julia, and saw her eyes widen with sadness. She reached over, and grabbed Venezia's hand, patting it softly. Venezia wasn't entirely sure if Julia had known exactly what she just said.
"I'm so sorry... I know what morto means...." Julia said softly. "My dad also died... in combat..." She sighed deeply. "I miss him everyday." Venezia had suddenly felt like she had known Julia her whole life. One thing they had in common, suddenly made them closer than ever.
"I am so sorry about your papa." Venezia said. "I miss my papa as well."
The two ate the remainder of their meal in silence. When Venezia finished her last bite, she set her fork down on her plate gently and wiped her mouth. Julia took a sip of her sparkling water.
"I have done thinking." Venezia said and grabbed her cup of coffee. She took a sip.
meh, cold.
"What kind of thinking were you doing?" Julia raised her eyebrow up in curiosity at Venezia. Venezia smirked at Julia.
"I live in big farmhouse." Venezia started to explain. She wasn't lying when she said the farmhouse was big. It was way too big for one solo person. "Much big for one persona." Julia tilted her head at her, confused by where Venezia was going with her thought process.
"I must sell. Must small down." Venezia used her hands make a big circle, and then she made it smaller.
"Oh I understand. You want a smaller home." Julia nodded, beaming at Venezia. She had the most innocent, sweet smile.
"Sì, essattamente. Exactly Julia." Venezia nodded back. "Smaller home. My home is too large."
"Well? Have you ever sold a home before?"Julia asked. Venezia shook her head no.
"It's not easy. But I will do everything I can to help you." Julia warned Venezia. A wave of panic started to creep around Venezia's body. She was only 25. She didn't know how to sell a home.
"I don't need to rush. I still have to think if I want to stay here in Brindleton Bay." Venezia nodded her head. She knew this was going to be hard work. She just wasn't sure if she could handle it by herself.
Ti Amo, Mama. Grazie Mille per tutto.
"We can discuss more later. Waiter! We'll take the check please." Julia called the waitress back over to their table, and she handed them a bill.
"I'll take care." Venezia offered, but Julia refused and ended up paying for both of their meals. Venezia was very lucky to have a nice friend like Julia. One she could relate to at that.
"Thank you much Julia." Venezia thanked her again for the meal. It had been delicious, and Venezia had a fun time with her new gal friend.
"Don't thank me! We're friends, and I take care of my friends." Julia said nonchalantly. Julia had been extremely kind to Venezia since the day at the park.
"Do you want me to come over sometime soon and help you start looking at realtors?" Julia asked Venezia as they stood up from their table. The bill had been paid, and both girls left a nice tip for the kind waitress. The two girls walked to the exit slowly, discussing their future plans.
"That would be very kind." Venezia agreed. Inside of her purse, her phone chimed. She had received a text message from Grant.
"Grant just texted me." Venezia snickered at Julia, who rolled her eyes. She chuckled as well.
"That boy just doesn't get it. Has he been bothering you?" Julia sighed.
The truth was, Venezia enjoyed talking to Grant. He was kind liked Julia. Julia, though, had been the one who was texting Venezia too much. Venezia pushed the door open, and the girls walked outside of the restaurant.
"I like Grant." Venezia said. "He is charming."
Julia didn't say anything, but nodded her head.
"He wants to hang out tomorrow too."
"Cool! The more the merrier." Julia clapped her hands together excitedly. Venezia couldn't tell if Julia was being sarcastic.
"Okay. See you tomorrow then Julia." Venezia hugged Julia and the girls parted ways.
On the way home, Venezia couldn't stop thinking about the idea of selling the farmhouse. She was for it, she was against it, she was for it again. She knew she needed to downsize soon, but she didn't want to give up her childhood home.
That home had been a huge part of her mother, and Venezia.
to be continued.......
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