. "If you don't come out in

e is a break in the cryi

e tonight without your apron. Single a

ns. I tried comforting her and offering her some of the dark chocolate from

g the bathrooms on the customer side, when finally, Sarah emerges. Mascara is smeared down her cheeks, and her eyes are red and puffy from cryi

blubbers, covering her

r eyes. When she looks up, her eyes are sti

say firmly. "You're in no state to cook righ

her lower li

a wild animal who might attack. "You won't lose your job.

eep breath. I've finally put out all the fires, and I lean against the counter and watch the kitchen move around me. It is like a liv

nows this kitchen better than anyone. I've asked her for help tonight more times than I'm comfortable with, but at this point, just seeing one, capable, smiling face would

s access to the rest of the kitchen. "We have hot stoves and fir

emanding macaroni and cheese all night between shot

falling against my palms, his fee

and cheese to soa

he might seriously still be confused which is which, and I don't want to distract him lest he ruin anothe

is Don of the Furino family, but even my father can't be angry if C

oni and cheese, but may I

he asks, top l

d scallops in a tomato sauce with herbs and spices. Tr

chee

"No. No

g his hands along the counters like he might

can't be b

ike," he shouts. "This

d our insurance does not cover diners being

see by the dawn

round to see whether anyone else can see this man or w

hailed at the twilig

ems to be to give in to his demands, so I lay a hand on his shoulder and lead him t

bowl of whole grain linguini with a sharp cheddar cheese sauce on

takes a bite, and then breaks int

This time in falsetto with

m towards the door

en. A few guests shake their heads at the man and then smile at me, giving me the understanding and recognition I sought from the kitchen staff. I

deep voice at normal volume.

to give them the satisfaction of knowing I heard t

e half as good as her muffin," ano

the reason I chose a path outside the scope of the family business. I couldn't imagine working with the kind of men my father employed. They were crass and mean and treated women like pos