FINE DINING

Denise felt her intestines tying into a knot but she kept dismissing the hunger pangs even though she was starving. The last time she had a proper meal was the breakfast she shared with her mother before she left the house, that was before her life turned upside down.

Standing outside the door of the private chamber she was forced to share with Dominic, Denise kept staring at her feet carefully shielded in a new flat wear. She sighed and began tracing her way toward the staircase on her right which was going to lead her to the dining room downstairs.

The Pantes could easily renovate the old mansion and install lifts for ease of mobility but Dona chose to keep the house as a classic piece of art. Not that it needed a restructuring but with the chaos she went through and her limbs aching, Denise could use a lift now.

As she made her way down the staircase, Denise didn’t know whether to be bothered by her choice of outfit or the things she should say at the table. Or she might as well stay mute because the rich had a thing with table manners after all. She read about them in her books and also watched them in movies.

When Denise arrived in the living room, her expectations were violated because the dining at the end of the room was chattering. She was expecting silence, perhaps cutleries slowly moving in the hands of the Pante household while maidens served with ease. However, the Pante brothers were seated, facing their wives with bright smiles across their faces as their cutlery lay still. Nina and Isolde were whispering and giggling like happy teenagers while the children were the only ones staying quiet..

“Quick!”

Denise’s heart skipped a beat and she quickly turned around at the order. Mara was standing right behind her.

“What was that?” Denise demanded with a tightened fist. “You just scared the shit out of me.” Both of them were a few meters away from the dining and were barely noticed by the household.

“I’m sorry, my lady.” Mara quickly put her head down. “Dona is on his way here and you better be seated before he shows up.” she added and cocked her head to the right, an attitude Denise thought the maiden was fond of.

Mara was trying to buttress her point when Denise heard footsteps thudding toward her. The movement carried weight and screamed of authority and only one person in the household could possess such aura. Denise immediately turned around and started making her way toward the table. As she drew closer, she discovered that everyone was already present except Dona, her mom and herself.

Suddenly, the brothers stopped talking and the women sat upright. The children kept straight faces and the instant deafening silence and decorum made Denise slowly turn toward Mara who was now standing away from the table with the other maidens.

Mara cocked her head to the right and when Denise looked in that direction, she saw Dona approaching in a white tuxedo. His pony tail dangled with every step he took and all Denise could think of was a horse. She quickly took the vacant seat her eyes caught and sat in a frenzy. Dona’s footsteps drew closer and Denise could bet that it was the reason for everyone’s silence.

If the Pante’s could act so seriously just over their father’s presence at breakfast then how do they behave at parties and galas? Denise wondered.

Dona finally arrived and pulled out the chair facing Denise. He sat and Denise immediately looked away and that was when she saw Dominic. She didn't even realize that she was sitting beside him. With Dominic sitting right next to her and her father facing her, Denise’s throat instantly dried up. She quickly reached for a glass of water.

The dining table was a round piece of furniture. It was big and was made of the finest mansonia wood. The chairs were also made of the same wood and were neatly stacked around the table. The world clock was vintage and so were the curtains, chandeliers, utensils and other wares.

Classic! Denise thought. The kind of dinings she read about in books, the type of table settings meant for royals and lords.

Meanwhile, Wales and Christopher were seated on their father’s sides. Nina and Isolde with the children were on the other end. Denise looked toward the end and caught two boys seated next to each other. Beside them was a teenage girl who looked absent-minded. Denise studied her for a while. The girl had a slim figure and she was dressed in the same school uniform as the boys. She had an oval face and her curly hair made her look like a Disney princess. The boys were doppelgängers and Denise noticed that the youngest kept staring at her with baby blue eyes. She winked at him and he chuckled.

“Stop that, Amar!” Wales spat, causing the smile on the boy’s face to completely vanish. The boy quickly looked away and lowered his head.

“I’m sorry.” His sweet voice rang while his head remained bowed.

Seeing the sudden change in the boy’s countenance, Denise felt the need to pull him closer to herself and tell him that it was okay to laugh. She wanted to run her hands through his ginger hair but he wouldn’t even look up at her again. He was staring at his tiny legs.

Who scolds a boy for laughing at breakfast? Denise wondered.

At seven, Amar, the youngest Pante grandchild was on a journey of perfection. Lucas, his ten-year-old elder brother was walking on that path, and likewise, Isa, Christopher’s thirteen-year-old daughter who had a blank expression on her face since Denise set eyes on her.

“Let’s eat!” Dona said or more of commands.

The maids immediately rallied around the family and began to work.

Great! Denise thought and quietly struck her palms together upon realizing that Dona had to give me instructions before the family proceeded to eat.

While the maidens were fixing the children’s milk, Denise spent about eternity gazing at the table. Even though it was harboring several breakfast options, she couldn’t think of an ideal meal at the moment. She was starving though.

Denise sighed.

If she was going to be going through hell, she had at least expected a proper meal. After all, breakfast with rich people was a feast so instead of seeing croissants, grilled chicken, and lamb chops like in the movies and books, all she could see were veggies. Lots and lots of veggies, fresh milk, fruits, waffles, honey, and coffee pots brewing on the table. What are the Pantes? vegetarians?

“Seriously?” Denise muttered under her breath after heaving a frustrated sigh.

“You might want to shut up. We don't talk at the table.” Dominic threw her a glare.

Denise held up his aggressive stare.

Amar leaned toward her and held her dress. She turned to him with a smile.

“Say sorry.” the boy whispered.

She smiled. She already had a good feeling about this kid and wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up becoming close.

Mara dropped a plate of locally made sweets before Denise with a smile. “For the bride.”

Isolde rolled her eyes while Nina faked a smile.

Denise nodded and stared at the plate. The sweet was a traditional delicacy, a mixture of butter, honey, milk, and some cinnamon flavor carved into tiny balls. Denise had never tasted one of these sweets before.

“We welcome the daughter-in-laws of this house with this traditional sweet. It’s a generational recipe.” Dona said.

Denise flashed a nervous smile. “Thanks.”

Nina and Isolde were sipping their black sugar-free coffee simultaneously while the men were having the waffles sprinkled with honey dressed on their plates.

Lucas and Isa had fresh glasses of warm milk right before them and the maidens were stacking vegetables into the plates placed before them. Slices of tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli and some slices of cucumbers and carrots. Amar was the only one who seemed to be enjoying his warm milk because he kept gulping it at intervals while the other children simply stared at thiers.

“Where’s my mom?” Denise asked after looking around. Her mother was not at the table and breakfast was on.

She had scores to settle with her mother but first, she needed to see her.

Everyone except the kids stopped eating and looked up at her. Denise felt as if she had just violated a rule by simply asking about her mother.

“Why is she not here?” Denise demanded despite the eyes questioning her insolence of making noise at the table.

“We don’t eat with commoners. Only the Pantes get to sit at the table.” Christopher said with his eyes lingering around Denise’s chest. Your mom will have her meal in her quarters.”

“You got your answer,” Dona added and reached for his plate of diced fruits.

Denise sighed and took a piece of the ball-shaped sweets and the craving she had when she first saw them was gone. She felt a presence hovering around her hand and when she turned, she caught Amar’s eyes lingering on the sweet.

She smiled and shoved the plate toward him. “Why don’t you have some?”

“Are you crazy?” Nina flared up and dumped her coffee mug on the table.

Denise was rendered speechless.