Gun Games - Faye Kellerman [40]
Gabe regarded his love interest with new eyes. “You sing opera?”
“No,” she said without looking up.
“What’s the name of the aria again?” Daisy asked. “The latest one. She sings a lot of them. She’s got this whole repertoire and goes from one to the other to the other to the other.”
Yasmine had turned a strange color of red and brown—like finely polished mahogany. She kept her eyes on the table. Sohala patted her daughter’s arm. “I like it when she sings.”
Rosemary said, “You really should send in a CD, Yasmini. Who your age sings opera? It’s different. It’ll attract attention.”
“Yasmine doesn’t need singing to get into college,” the father said with finality. “She’s got brains. She’s going to be a doctor.”
Decker had had enough chitchat. “Rina, we need to sit down or we won’t get a table.”
Sohala said, “You want to join us?”
Gabe’s heart went into overdrive.
Rina said, “Thank you, but I’m afraid I have to tend to the boys or we’ll all be in trouble. Nice seeing you all. Enjoy your meal.”
Sage said, “Tell Hannah I say hello. Is she coming in for Passover?”
“Absolutely,” Rina said.
“I’ll give her a call.”
Decker took his wife’s arm. “Have a good dinner.” He led her to the single unoccupied table. The rest of the place had filled up with diners. Menus were already on the table, and Gabe conveniently hid his face, pretending to peruse his options. His stomach was rumbling from hunger, but he had to calm down before he could digest anything.
“I understand that you have to be nice,” Decker said to Rina. “But you don’t need to carry on a lengthy dialogue when you know I’m starving.”
“Are you getting an appetizer?” Rina asked him.
“So just ignore me,” he said.
“How about soup?”
“I’m getting chopped liver,” Decker grumped.
“I’ll get cabbage soup. We can share.” She turned to Gabe. “Do you want an appetizer?”
I wanna get out of here. The menu was still in front of his face. “I’ll have meatballs.”
“Maybe I’ll get meatballs, too,” Decker said.
“That sounds like a great idea,” Rina said.
“Aren’t you perky?”
“Someone has to be,” Rina told him. “And don’t give me those looks. At least I said no when she asked us to sit with them.”
“Under penalty of death.”
Rina said, “Peter, I understand your position. But truly, you need to eat before you say another word, okay?”
“Got it.”
“You, too,” Rina said to Gabe. “You’re looking very pale.” The waitress came over and brought pickles and bread. “Let’s wash.”
Decker sneered, got up from the table, and ritually washed his hands. Then he said the blessing over the bread before diving into the basket. Everyone ordered and five minutes later, the appetizers came, which the boys wolfed down. Gabe didn’t taste much. In truth, he didn’t even know what he was eating.
To Gabe, Rina said, “Sorry about Hannah posting your private life.”
“It’s okay.” He was more rattled than he’d been before any competition. “I just don’t like the attention. I mean I don’t dislike attention . . . I wouldn’t perform if I disliked attention. So sometimes I like attention. But some attention is better than other attention . . .” He knew he was rambling. Make a point, Gabe. “I’m auditioning for an agent on Thursday.”
“Really,” Decker said.
“That’s exciting,” Rina said.
“Yeah, my teacher set me up with this hotshot guy who staffs all the summer chamber music festivals. I’m hoping to pull a few slots on some of the lesser vetted programs. I think it would be fun.”
“So that means you’ll get paid to perform?” Decker said.
“Yeah, I guess,” Gabe said.
“Good deal.”
The sandwiches came. At that point, the Nourmand family got up from their table. Sohala waved good-bye and Rina waved back.
A smile formed on Decker’s lips. To Gabe, he said, “She likes you, you know.”
The boy felt his face go hot. “What?”
Decker turned to Rina. “Which one of the girls was the wise guy who was making her little sister miserable?”
“Daisy,” Rina said. “She’s a junior, and she is a wise guy.”
“Yeah, she likes you.” Decker wagged a finger at him. “Don’t fall for it.