Chapter 11 - THE WAITRESS WHO WALKED AWAY
Nora quit La Cattedrale in early spring.
Not because Dante asked her to.
Because she wanted something different.
For years, she'd worked long shifts.
Counted tips.
Skipped meals.
And measured her life in bills.
Now she wanted to build something of her own.
She enrolled in a culinary management program.
Dante offered to pay.
She refused.
He didn't argue.
Instead, he helped her find scholarships and legitimate small-business resources.
Nora smiled.
“You're learning.”
Dante raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“That helping someone doesn't always mean paying for everything.”
He laughed.
“I'm trying.”
Their relationship grew slowly.
They met for coffee.
Walked along the lake.
Talked about books.
Sometimes Dante told her stories about his childhood.
Sometimes Nora taught him old Sicilian phrases Pietro had used.
One evening, she asked:
“Do you ever wish you weren't a Gallo?”
Dante considered.
“Sometimes.”
She looked at him.
“And now?”
He smiled.
“Now I want to make the name mean something different.”
Nora nodded.
“Then start with the truth.”
May you like
He took her hand.
“I already have.”
