The Word

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The Word

The restaurant was beautifully decorated for Valentine’s Day. Reservations were still coming in even though all places and times were booked solid for three weeks in advance. Jeff knew it was going to be a busy night, but he had been through this before as a maître’d for the last three years. The music from the attached lounge drifted into the restaurant adding to the ambience fitting for the occasion. He was glad the owner had chosen a professional trio of soft, sensitive saxophone music. Tonight was an exciting night. It was Valentine’s

As he showed his first couple to their table he noticed they looked nervous, especially the young man. He suspected this was a first date or at least a first dinner out. As Jeff waited, he saw the young man hold the chair for his gal. How gallant, Jeff thought. Jeff placed the menus and wine list on the table and added

“Welcome to George’s Restaurant and Happy Valentine’s.” The girl, who couldn’t be more than 20, blushed a bit. Oh yes. First date for sure, Jeff thought. “Your waiter will be here to take your order shortly.”

“Aren’t you the waiter?” the young man queried. His date interrupted him saying “No, he’s the maitre’d. The guy who looks after reservations and welcomes the patrons” The young man looked crushed. Smart gal Jeff thought as he moved back to his station to welcome the next diners.

Another younger couple was waiting at his station. Probably in their late 30’s, Jeff guessed. The man looked a bit familiar to Jeff but then he saw many couples in this business.

The man said “We have a reservation for 6:30”

“Ah yes,” Jeff said professionally, “Longston, right?”.

“That’s right” said the man” Is that special table I requested ready?”

“I’m sorry, sir but I don’t see a request for a special table here, but I will see if it’s available. Which one was it if I may ask, sir.?”

“I’m surprised you have to ask. I’ve been here many times. I don’t know how you guys always screw things up. If you’d hire some smart people who can take a reservation instead of those dumb bimbos with the whiny voices maybe you’d get things right for a change.”

Oh boy, Jeff thought. This will be a fun night with this guy.” Yes”, he said to the man who was pointing to the seating diagram of the restaurant. “That table is available, sir. Right this way please” He could hear the man talking to his partner.

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“Lucky they have that table or we’d be outta here. I’m tired of this crap”. The woman was silent the whole time. Jeff was thinking he’d hoped the guy would go elsewhere. Jeff knew the type - he’d have complaints about everything for sure. The food, the service, the wine. Chill out, man. It’s Valentine’s Day. Cupid’s arrow obviously missed you today.

As they arrived at the special table Jeff noticed this guy didn’t pull out the chair for his date like that other young fellow did. It takes all kinds, I guess. He placed the wine list and menus on the table and said, “Your server will be with you shortly”.

“Hey, is it that cute thing that served me last week. She was something else. Legs that wouldn’t quit and big bazookas” the guy laughed. The woman had buried her face in the menus appearing not to notice what was going on.

Jeff politely said” I can’t recall who serves this table off the top of my head, sir. We are quite busy tonight, and extra staff are on board to help with the crowd. Excuse me please, but I see more customers coming in.” He turned and headed back to his station thinking this guy had no clue what this day should mean.

As he approached his station, he could hear the ending of Unchained Melody as Stan was playing hot tonight on that sax. Then the music drifted forward with that Johnny Mathis song, Chances Are. Oh, this trio will warm everybody up tonight that’ s for sure, thought Jeff. Romance is in the air.

A middle aged couple was waiting at the station, and he could see the gentleman already had the coats ready for checking. Jeff’s assistant was helping them when Jeff approached.

“Sorry, we’re a bit late but that weather has turned nasty and we were delayed by a fender bender just two blocks away. Do you still have a table for us? We’ll take anything you have.” The man seemed concerned that his reservation was gone because of their lateness.

“I’m sure it will be okay, sir. We usually make reservations 20 minutes past the requested time. You’re Mr. and Mrs. Golding. Is that correct/”

“Yes, we are and looking forward to tonight. Valentine’s is a big day for us ever since we started coming here when we were young. First date actually and what a catastrophe. But Janey here saved the day and showed me the ropes. We’ve been here every Valetine’s since. Got engaged here and this will be our 30th year.”

Jeff couldn’t help but smile and say “Right this way please” as he led them through the restaurant to a very comfortable table near the young couple he first seated. I wonder if they will grasp the significance of putting them close to that couple, he smiled inwardly.

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It was closing in on 7:30 when the old couple arrived at the restaurant door. The lounge attached to the restaurant was full of many couples celebrating Valentine’s. The music was all themed for the day and right now Unforgettable was filling the air as Stan and his trio had the couples moving closer to each other subconsciously. Yup, it was Valentines.

The man moved to the reservation desk and asked if it were possible to get a table. “We don’t have a reservation, but I ran into this wonderful woman by accident this afternoon and we haven’t seen each other for over 60 years. I know it’s a special day and you must be busy as a one-armed paper hanger. It would be very special to me, and to you”, he said looking at the woman “wouldn’t it!”

“Oh, my goodness it sure would”, she said. “We were here about 60 years ago as a matter of fact only it was a different building but a similar layout with the lounge and all.”

Jeff was only half listening while he was trying to see if he could find a table without having to make these nice folks wait too long, but it was so busy. They must be pushing 80 he thought to himself. Then he had an idea. “Have a seat for a minute and I’ll see what I can do”, he said and showed them to a bench in the reception area. He made his way into the restaurant searching for a vacant table, but all were still busy. He came near the back into what he called the exclusive area usually reserved for big spenders and VIPs. That boor of a man was sitting all alone. Jeff approached him cautiously.

” Well, sir, is everything alright tonight? Have you been enjoying your meal?”

“No, it hasn’t. My steak was over cooked. The wine tasted sour and I really doubt the dessert will be any better. Plus, that babe wasn’t my server.”

“I apologize, sir.” offered Jeff, “We will get you another meal if you wish. How was your wife’s meal? Was it okay?” Jeff just noticed she wasn’t at the table.

“Oh, her? She’s not my wife, which is none of your business. She said she had “a woman’s problem” and took off to the washroom.”

“I’ll get one of the waitresses check on her if you wish, sir. Give me a minute or two, please.”

“Whatever” growled the man as he stuffed another bread roll in his mouth.

Jeff hurried back to his station.

What Jeff found out when he got to his station surprised him. His assistant, Olivia, came over to him and said “The woman with that grumpy guy didn’t go to the washroom. She came out front here, got her coat, and was phoning an Uber. Dean, the bass player from the

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trio was on his way to the washroom and saw the woman crying. He talked to her and she seemed to calm down. She put her phone in her purse, and he took her back to the staff room. That guy she came with is a real jerk. Right?”

Jeff had another word for him but thanked Olivia and headed to the staff room. When he got there, Dean was sitting with the woman talking quietly. Jeff asked her if she was okay and she gave a little smile and said, “This man has calmed me down and I think I’ll be okay.”

Jeff knew Dean was a good guy and felt comfortable leaving her with him here. He offered, “Would you like me to call a cab for you or are you going back to your table?”

“There’s no way I’ll go back to that piece of crap. I can’t believe I even came with him. I met him online. He even bragged he was married. That’s when I got up and left.”

That’s all Jeff needed to hear. “Okay, he said.” Stay here as long as you wish. I’ll look after everything else.”

“Oh, thank you. I love this restaurant. Everyone here is so kind and your meals are always delicious. And this trio is playing such wonderful songs tonight. Just what I wanted this evening to be. Just not with that jerk,” the woman intoned obviously feeling much better.

It took Jeff some public relation skills, but he managed to convince the man that his “girl” was not coming back. She had gone, according to other staff members. The man got up, threw some cash on the table and stormed off saying in a loud voice “You’ll never see me in the damned place again” was it Jeff’s imagination or did he hear the other diners quietly applaud.

Jeff summoned the bus boy over to the table and had him clear it up quickly. Then he hurried back to the old couple out front. “I’ve prepared a special table for you two.” he said, “Please come with me.” Jeff chatted with them as they walked at a slower pace than most of the diners he looked after.

“Oh, my goodness,” the lady gasped as Jeff held the chair for her. The man had put his cane down and was going to help her. “Hey, young man,” the old guy said, “Are you trying to one-up me? That’s my job.” He smiled and chuckled.

“Oh, Gordon. You’ve done that enough times in your life, I’m sure. It’s so nice to see that chivalry is not dead. Thank you, young man.” She smiled at Jeff.

“You’re quite welcome. All part of my job especially for such a stunning couple as you two. If I may ask, how long have you two been married?”

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There was a brief awkward silence, then Gordon spoke “I just met Sara in the supermarket this afternoon in the meat department”. Sara was laughing out loud now. “But we’ve been together for over 60 years.”

Jeff looked a little puzzled but decided not to query any further. He put a split of champagne on the table saying “Compliments of the house. May I pour you each a glass?”

“Thought you’d never ask” the couple said in unison and then laughed saying” In sync” and laughed some more. “Of course,” they said in unison amid gales of more laughter.

Jeff was amazed at how much fun this couple was having. Wonder what the back story is on these guys. What a glorious Valentine’s this was turning out to be.

The rest of the evening went as smoothly as expected. But it wasn’t over yet. As a special treat, Stan the Man sax player wove through the crowd playing romantic requests at the tables. The young couple who had first come in was a little shy, but the middle-aged couple came over to them and suggested “Ask for My Funny Valentine”

“There’s a song by that name? the young couple said in unison and then laughed at themselves.

Stan finally got to the VIP room and saw the old couple enjoying themselves. Stan put his sax to his lips and the strains of At Last flowed melodiously from his instrument. Sara looked startled. She looked at Gordon. He shrugged his shoulders. In the background she could see Jeff standing there, winking. He knew.

It is said that everybody has a Valentine. There’s a four lettered word that usually sums it all up, but song writers have expressed the essence of that emotion with words like cherish, adoration, tenderness, warmth, intimacy, endearment, passion, delight. Oh, the list is endless but there is one word that is the theme of Valentine’s and how lucky are those that find it.