Monica nodded her head, seriously concerned over her friend. “Sure, we can switch. I’m way in the back so whoever’s at your table probably won’t see you.”
“Who is it?” Georgette asked, peering out the kitchen window.
“The tall man with the dark blond hair. He has his back to us.”
Monica gasped. “Do you know who that is?” she exclaimed. “It’s not fair that you had him at your station twice.”
Antonia looked up. “Twice?” she asked.
“Yeah. Don’t you remember? In fact, you came back here that time as well.”
Antonia hadn’t realized at the time that Brett was there that night. All she’d known was that Sal was sitting at her table, oblivious to his little sister dressed in a skimpy cat costume serving him drinks. “No!” she said.
“Sweetie, who did you think it was?”
“I thought you were talking about someone else at the table,” Antonia said evasively.
“There was the other gorgeous guy, Attraculo or something, which I’ve heard is a real dish, but that’s Brett Hancock,” Monica said pointing behind her in the general direction of the front station as if Antonia didn’t know.
Antonia was having trouble breathing. What was she going to do? “Monica, please, put in their order and take my station. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but somehow, I’ll get through tonight. I’ll talk to Mike. Don’t worry about him.”
Monica and Georgette filed out of the kitchen and Antonia pulled herself together. She carefully walked out a few minutes later, making sure to keep her back to Brett’s table.
Antonia walked around Monica’s station, checking drinks and food. She put in some orders, cleared away plates and changed ash trays, all the while, keeping one eye on Brett in the front.
Mike came up to her and asked her to meet him in his office. Groaning to herself, Antonia looked around to make sure everyone was ok, then followed Mike into the back.
She closed the door, waiting for the explosion.
“What’s going on?” he said calmly.
Antonia looked at him again. Was this the Mike that went on a rage regularly? She didn’t want to press her luck, so as nicely as possible, she explained the situation to him. “Um, well, there’s a man sitting in my station that I’d like to avoid.”
“You have a mask on. He won’t recognize you,” he said.
Antonia’s gloved hand went to her black mask. “Yes, but I really don’t want to take any chances.”
Mike nodded. “So, because of one man, who may or may not recognize who you are, you’re willing to ignore the rest of your customers.”
Antonia started to explain again, but Mike interrupted her. “Do you have any idea why you always get the prime stations and the customers who tip the most?” he asked.
Antonia hadn’t realized that this was the case. She shook her head. “Two reasons. Number one, you’re the best waitress. You pay attention to your customers without being invasive. Number two, only you and Georgette don’t date the customers. Monica and the others, they think of this place as a dating service. You’re more professional.” That was the first time she’d ever heard Mike make a compliment. She was a bit stunned.
Antonia didn’t consider herself very professional when she was standing in front of her boss in a cat costume. “Mike, I don’t think you understand. I come from an old-fashioned Italian family. If that man recognizes me, he’ll tell my brothers and they’ll force me to quit.” She didn’t mention that if she didn’t quit, she’d be fired for some reason due to one word from Sal or one of the others.
Mike considered her words for a moment. “This is the last time,” he warned. “I’m not allowing you to switch stations just because someone comes in that you know. The customers realize what’s going on, even though they don’t know names.”
“How on earth can they tell one cat from another?” she asked. “They aren’t looking at anything that can be recognizable.”
Mike kept his eyes on her face. But he knew that Antonia had a different figure from the other waitresses. Beyond that, she had a different walk, a different smile and a different personality. “They know,” was all he said.
“Okay, okay, they know,” she said, throwing up her hands in frustration. “But please, just tonight. I promise it won’t happen again.”
Mike nodded. “Fine. But this is the last time,” he repeated. “Get back out on the floor,” he said, pointing his finger at her. “But don’t slack off. And if Monica becomes too friendly, you’re back up front. He’s too important to insult,” Mike said.
Antonia walked back out to the floor, taking a quick look in the direction of Brett’s table. He was in deep conversation with his colleagues so she was safe for the moment. She moved back to Monica’s station and continued serving drinks and clearing tables. But she was a little more firm about the men flirting with her than she usually was.
It seemed as if Brett was never going to leave. Her tables had turned over twice when she saw him hand his parking ticket to Monica to have his car brought around. She noticed that Monica said something to him which made all the men laugh. Antonia saw green when she saw Monica’s gloved hand rest on Brett’s shoulder, but she turned around and ignored it.
Monica walked back to Antonia and whispered in her ear. “They’re leaving. We can switch back now,” she said.
Antonia looked over to the empty table and breathed a sigh of relief. They were definitely gone. She felt her whole body relax. Turning to Monica, the jealousy vanished now that he was out of here and away from Monica’s clinging hands. “Thanks. I definitely owe you one.”
“No way, hon. That man’s gorgeous. I don’t know what’s going on between the two of you, but I’ll take his table any day. I’d love to get my hands on him,” she said.
Antonia was furious. But she kept her mouth shut. She turned on her heel and walked away. Somehow, she’d figure out a way to keep Monica’s hands far away from him.
Antonia was picking up the glasses from the table Brett and his friends had just vacated to take them to the bar to be cleaned. She was bending over and didn’t see Brett come up behind her.
“Excuse me,” he said and reached for his coat which had been left on the back of his chair.