Page 263 of The Havenport Collection

Matteo

I knew what I had to do, and I didn’t want to do it. The lump in my throat was the size of a basketball, but I had to power through. If I was going to win Eliza back, I needed to get my house in order. And this was an important step.

My entire life, I had stayed as far away from my dad as I could. He was largely absent in my childhood, constantly working and obsessing about his restaurant, and then as an adult, I wanted to rebel and do my own thing.

It was ironic I ended up following in his footsteps and opening an Italian restaurant, one that he had invested in no less. But I had learned a lot in forty-one years, and I knew I had to stop letting my stupid pride get in the way.

“Matteo,” he said, clapping me on the back. My dad was a big guy, tall and broad, with thick salt-and-pepper hair and hands scarred from years in the kitchen. Out of the kitchen, he was always dressed impeccably, with pressed jeans, a collared shirt, and his signature loafers with no socks.

“How is my beautiful Valentina? I noticed at her soccer game she’d lost more teeth. Growing up so fast!”

“She’s great, Dad. I made us espresso.”

I handed him the tiny cup and saucer. He had taught me to make espresso when I was a kid and then as a teen had taught me how to take apart and service the machine at his restaurant. It was a careful and methodical process to care for the temperamental machinery responsible for his life force.

“ Squisito ,” he said, giving me a smile.

I gestured for him to sit down. He sat, watching me as I paced around. I didn’t know what to say or how to say it. Fuck. This was too hard.

“Is this about the girl?” he asked gently. “I’ve heard some things.”

My head snapped up. “What have you heard?”

He put his hands up in a defensive gesture. “Calm down. I just heard you were dating a lovely young woman and then things ended. I assume that’s why you’ve been so irato lately.”

I had the urge to argue with him but bit my tongue. “There was a girl. And it’s complicated and I’m working on it. But the reason I invited you over here was because…” I trailed off.

He raised his eyebrows, taking another sip of his espresso.

“Because I need help, Dad. It’s been a rough year at the restaurant. I can’t keep things up and parent Valentina, especially with Mandy back in the picture.”

“You need cooks; I can find some for you.”

“I need staff, yes. But I also need help with management. Orders, inventory, planning, forecasts, the day-to-day running of things. And there is no money to hire anyone with experience.”

I sat down at the table, exhausted from admitting this out loud to my father. All I ever wanted was to impress him, and here I was telling him all my shameful secrets.

“Son. This is not an easy life. Trust me. I missed so much when you were kids. I alienated so many people from my life, and I worked myself to the bone.”

“I know, Dad.”

“And at the time, it was normal; it was expected. But I wasn’t happy.

And I don’t look back at those years with pleasure, but with sadness and regret.

” That really hit me. I always assumed my dad’s great love was his restaurant.

I assumed he wasn’t really interested in raising his six unruly kids. But maybe I had been wrong?

“I respect your dedication to your daughter. You are ten times the father I was.”

“Don’t say that, Dad.”

He held his hand up to silence me. “Stop. Let me finish. I’m proud of you.

You came back here with that sick little baby and you built something on your own.

But I see the cost. I see how hard it is.

And I want you to know that there are more important things.

If you love this girl, you need to go after her, win her back.

You deserve to have love and make the time for it. ”

“I’m trying, Dad.”

“And I want to help you. I am not good at much. But I know how to run a kitchen.”

“I feel bad asking. I know you are still busy.”

“Nonsense. Bruno runs the show now, so I’m just an old man with nothing to do. And trust me, retirement doesn’t suit me at all. I’m only sixty-four—still a young man.” He adjusted his collar, and I laughed.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“My pleasure, son. Now get your computer and your books. Let’s get to work.”

Operation Grovel was proceeding. Dad had jumped in, helping out with the restaurant, and slowly, things were calming down.

Gio was pushing me through brutal workouts each day to exhaust and distract me.

And Nora was using her network of Havenport intelligence operatives to gather as much information about Eliza as possible.

Sources were reporting that she was thriving at her new job and had been asking about me.

And I didn’t give up. Slowly, Eliza was thawing. Over the past week, we exchanged a few texts, and she came over to talk to Val when we saw her walking down Water Street.

I knew when she texted me late one night to thank me for her Point Break treats that I had a real shot. I ended up staying up late, and we texted, talking about the movie, laughing and sending hilarious emojis to describe some of the scenes. It was fun and silly and made me ache for her even more.

So now it was go time. Phase four. I still couldn’t believe I had let everyone talk me into this.

I felt beyond stupid and sort of silly taking the advice of an eight-year-old.

But on the other hand, Val was infinitely smarter than I was, and what else did I have to lose?

Public humiliation was nothing compared to losing Eliza, so if this is what it took to get her back, I was more than willing to do it.

It was karaoke night at Binnacle Brewing, and so far, everything was going according to plan.

Eliza was seated at a table near the stage with all her friends, having a good time.

Gina had arranged to get her here and make sure she was seated in the perfect spot.

Luke was in the crowd, ready to give us the signal when it was go time.

“Let me fix your braid, sweetie,” Nora said, fussing over Valentina, who was up way past her bedtime, but given that this was her idea, I felt like I had to allow it.

She was positively vibrating with excitement.

I had initially put up a fight about the costumes, but she was so damn determined I couldn’t say no.

“I love you, Dad.”

I gave her a squeeze. “I love you too. And this was a brilliant idea, but I want you to know that just because it’s super cool, doesn’t mean Eliza will forgive me.”

“I know, Dad. And that’s okay. But we’re doing our best.”

“We are.” If nothing came out of this, I knew I was at least setting an example for Val of what she should expect in a partner someday. As terrified as I was, I knew I needed to show her what it means to take a risk.

Nora held up her phone. “Luke says it’s time.”

I took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing.”