Short Soup(8)

“No. My legs not good. I can’t stand all day.” He watched as Toni’s mother hurried back across the street. “Your mother and I work hard so many years. Now we want to enjoy ourselves while we still healthy enough.”

Pearl caught up with them, a medicine bottle in her hands. She opened it, shook out a pill and swallowed it. “Okay, I’m ready now.”

Toni realised she’d taken an antacid tablet. “Mum,” she protested. “Do you really think Dion’s food is going to be so bad you need antacid before we’ve eaten?”

“No, I got indigestion already,” Pearl replied. “Nerves.”

“Both of you? Wow, poor Dion.”

“Not poor Dion. We know he’s going to do very well. He’s got big future. Look how many people there.” Pearl nodded towards the crowded restaurant before tugging at her husband’s arm. “Fai dee la. We don’t want to be last.”

As Toni followed her parents into the restaurant, butterflies began to quiver in her stomach at the thought of seeing Dion again. Would he be embarrassed to see her after what had happened last night? She wouldn’t be surprised if he was. Her behaviour had been totally out of character.

About sixty or seventy people stood in clusters around the main room, drinking wine and chatting loudly. The interior of the restaurant was almost unrecognisable. Gone were the mass-produced Chinese oil paintings, the gaudy gilt lettering, the goldfish tank, the floral carpet and paper lanterns. Now there were bamboo floors, concealed lighting, simple Chinese scrolls in alcoves, and modern wooden tables and chairs.

Dion walked out of the crowd towards them, grinning a welcome. Toni hung back as her parents moved forward to greet him. Suddenly she felt gauche and out of place. Her parents fussed over Dion as if they hadn’t seen him for years before moving on to join the crowd. The smile faded a little from his lips as she approached him.

“Hi.” She glanced at him uncertainly. In a pristine white chef’s jacket and black trousers he looked crisp, professional and unfamiliar. “Um, everything set for tonight?”

“It’s panic stations out the back, but don’t tell anyone.” Despite his words, he seemed his usual unflappable self. He took his time studying her. “You look nice.”

Her heart leaped. Her nervous fingers flicked over the mauve cocktail dress with lace overlay she wore. “Oh, this old thing.” The instant the words left her mouth she regretted them. How affected she sounded. Especially when she’d spent such an age on her appearance this evening, laboriously applying every cosmetic she possessed before washing most of it off. It seemed important she look her best tonight, but at the same time she didn’t want to appear like she was trying too hard.

“Well, you look good anyway.” He eyed her some more. “What did you get up to today?”

His friendly tone eased some of her fluster. It seemed Dion wanted to ignore what had happened last night, and that was fine by her. “This morning my mum showed me how to make wontons, and this afternoon I visited Becky.” She paused, growing warm as she recalled Becky’s comments about Dion and her making a great couple. “She and Rob are regulars here, apparently, and she can’t wait to try out your new menu.”

“I hope she won’t be too disappointed. I figure I’m going to get a few complaints because I’m not serving up Aussie-Chinese food any more, but there were some things on the menu that just had to go.”

Toni glanced over at her parents who were chatting with Dion’s parents. “Do any of them know what’s on the menu?”

“Nah. Why give them more worries?” Grinning, he folded his arms across his chest.

She found herself smiling back. “My dad can’t stop fidgeting, and my mum’s on antacids.”

“And you? Do you also think I’m going to make a complete balls-up and ruin all their years of hard work?”

“No! You’re going to be a great success. And I’m sure your menu will be a hit.”

“Huh.” His eyes glimmered. “Glad to know I can still count on you.”

The sparkle in his eyes made the butterflies in her swirl about. She opened her mouth to tell him he could always count on her, but before she could get a syllable out a tall, slinky brunette sauntered over and draped her hand on Dion’s shoulder.

“Hey darl,” she drawled. “Sorry to interrupt but should I be showing people to their tables?” Bright blue eyes outlined in blue eyeliner flashed in Toni’s direction. “Hi, I’m Melissa, by the way.”

“This is Toni Lau,” Dion introduced them. He added to Toni, “Melissa’s acting front of house manager for me tonight. I’ll have too much to do in the kitchen.”

“You won’t have to worry about a thing.” Melissa turned to Toni. “I’m a manager at the Piper Bay Resort. I couldn’t say no to Dion when he asked me to help out tonight.”

A tingling sensation prickled in Toni’s belly. Why hadn’t Dion asked her to help? She quickly squashed her sulky inner voice. He’d been planning this event for months, and she’d only arrived at short notice. Besides, she knew nothing about being a restaurant manager. She was just being silly. And a bit jealous.

Dion smiled at Melissa. “Thanks again. You’re a lifesaver.”

“Oh, you know I can’t refuse you, darl.” Melissa’s crimson lips puckered up suggestively.

Toni compressed her lips. Okay, she was more than just a bit jealous.

Dion leaned over and pecked Melissa on the cheek. “Gotta run. I’ll leave things to you.” He walked off without saying anything further to Toni.

Toni’s cheeks ached as she stretched her lips into a wide smile for Melissa’s benefit. “Looks like you’ll be busy tonight,” she said noncommittally.

Melissa gave her a friendly nod. “I hear you and Dion are practically brother and sister.”

Taken aback, Toni blurted out, “Oh, no, not that close.” Surely Dion hadn’t described their relationship like that?

Melissa’s smile grew a little confused. “Well, what a cute dress you’re wearing. It’s adorable.”

“Thanks.” Toni eyed Melissa’s silver sheath dress, red skyscraper stilettos, and chunky silver collar. She wouldn’t be out of place on a Vogue cover. “You look nice too,” she added lamely.

“I try.” Melissa’s teeth dazzled as she flicked back her hair. “Oh well, I’ll speak to you later.”

Toni joined her parents and the Chans at the table they’d chosen.

Dion’s mother leaned towards her. “I see you talking to Melissa.”

Toni nodded and couldn’t help asking, “Did she and Dion, you know, go out together?”

Queenie nodded. “Last year, but not any more.”

“I like her,” Dion’s dad chipped in. “She’s smart. She and Dion get on well.”

Pursing her lips, Queenie shook her head at Kai. “Dion get on with everyone. Even ex-girlfriends.”

That was true. For all the many girlfriends he’d had, Dion managed to stay on good terms with them after the inevitable breakup.

“Why can’t he stick with one girl?” Dion’s dad continued. “He’s twenty-seven already. Time he picked a girl and settled down.”

“Wah, you expect too much from him!” Queenie exclaimed in Cantonese. “You want him to succeed here, you want him to chose a girl and get married. He can’t do it all. Sometimes it’s difficult to find the right girl. Better he takes his time than choose the wrong wife and regret it later.” Stopping short, she threw an apologetic glance at Toni. “Sorry, but you know what I mean.”

Toni was saved from answering by the arrival of the first dishes. The others oohed and aahed at the unusual appetisers, but though the food looked delicious Toni was distracted. She couldn’t stop eyeing Melissa who wafted from table to table, chatting to guests about the food, refilling glasses, and directing the waiters. The woman appeared to be good at her job and she was attractive and friendly, Toni conceded. She could see why Dion would be drawn to her. But he wasn’t any more, was he? That peck on the cheek he’d given Melissa had definitely been platonic. Maybe Melissa still had a “thing” for him but the feeling wasn’t reciprocated. Toni grimaced. Since when had she become so interested in Dion’s love life? He’d seldom discussed his girlfriends with her. He could have, but he hadn’t, and she’d never asked. And she wasn’t about to start asking now. It was none of her business.

“Try this.” Her mother slipped a quail’s egg into her bowl. “Very tasty.”

She sampled the egg, and then the other appetisers. The fresh, zingy flavours took her by surprise, distracting her from Melissa. Around them everyone was nodding and looking pleased, and as the next courses were served, the buzz of anticipation rose higher.

“Ah, wonton!” Pearl leaned forward in anticipation. “Let’s see if they good as mine.”

Toni bit into her wonton. The wrapper was silky smooth, the filling a spicy mix of pork, prawn and bamboo shoots. Eaten with the accompanying clear chicken broth, the dish was sublime, and, Toni had to concede, better than her mother’s. Not that she could ever admit that.