A Second Chance at Love

Chapter 7- "Il Giardino Italiano"

~ Chapter 7-"Il Giardino Italiano" ~

Mathew couldn't believe his luck. There, sitting in front of him was the woman who has occupied his thoughts night and day for the last four months.

Ellie Anderson. The name suited her so well, with her gentle face and smile.

"So where do we start? First of all, how is your daughter?" he asked with a smile, giving her his undivided attention.

"She's fine thanks. She's actually with my mom", Ellie replied. As she talked of Amber, Matt could easily see the love that she had for her daughter, her eyes sparkling with love.

"Her name is Amber, right?" he recalled hearing Ellie cry out the name after the little girl's cheeky comment,

"Yes, she's four going on thirty", she answered with a small chuckle. "When she comes to work with me, she answers the phone saying; 'this is Elisabeth Anderson's office. What can I do for you today ma'am?" Ellie laughed and Matt stared at her mesmerized.

Her whole face seems to transform. She looked so carefree and young, making him wonder what she looked like as a teenager. Young, free and beautiful, with boys running after her, fighting for her attention. The idea of having other men around her aroused a strange feeling at the pit of his stomach and Matt found himself puzzled of its meaning.

"Really? And does she go to school?" he asked intrigued about the little girl's personality. Is the daughter as intriguing as the mother? He wondered. He wanted to find more about her.

"Yes, she does, but right now it's summer so she's on holidays", she informed him.

Their conversation was momentarily disrupted as a waiter made his appearance at their table.

"Yo, Matt! How are you? Did you like your pizza the other night?" he asked. He was a Latino- American who had a nice tanned complexion with a mop of dark curly hair that fell over his eyes.

"What's up Carlos? Yeah, I loved it! What d'you put in it? It had a nice garlic after taste." Matt replied, referring to the pizza he had with Josh.

His friend had literally moaned after the first bite claiming it was the best. "Josh loved it too, by the way. Personally, I think that he may be back for more maybe today or tomorrow. If, he can get Cass to come."

"Really? Well, I'm glad. I cooked the chicken with some garlic and butter paste. I got the idea from Leena, she adds butter to everything!" he said with a smirk, referring to his six-year-old daughter.

"Oh, then send my admiration to her for great taste. I'm sure someday she will be a great chef like her father." Matthew exclaimed.

"I hope so. Anyway, what can I get you?" Carlos said, getting his notepad ready.

"I'll have a beef lasagne and a glass of passion fruit flavored Fanta, please," Ellie said to Carlos with a smile.

"Oh sorry, where are my manners?" Matthew said feeling stupid, "Ellie this is Carlos the owner of the Italian Garden restaurant, or like he says it "Il Giardino Italiano", and a good friend of mine. He makes the best pizzas that I have ever eaten."

"Yeah, pizza is the only thing that he eats," Carlos added with a laugh.

"I do not!" Matt cried out, "I cook on the days I don't order pizza. Anyway, I'll have a carbonara please, and a Coke, thank you." He said practically shooing his friend away.

Ellie chuckled; those two were like Angie and herself. She felt strangely happy at the two friends' childish behavior.

"You can cook?" she asked curiously.