Chapter 264 The Happy Cows
Mia’s POV
The hostess led us through the dimly lit dining room, past tables of business executives and well–dressed couples, to a comer booth with burgundy leather seating. Alexander’s eyes were wide as he took in the dark wood paneling and the massive steaks being delivered to nearby tables.
“Mama,” Ethan said as we settled into our seats, “this place smells like success.”
I laughed, adjusting his little tie. “What does success smell like, baby?”
“Like expensive meat,” he said solemnly.
“And leather,” Alexander added, running his small hands over the booth.
The waiter appeared beside our table, professional and patient despite having two very excited four–year–olds
as customers.
“Good evening,” he said with a warm smile. “Welcome to Smith & Wollensky. Can I start you folks off with something to drink?”
“Chocolate milk!” Alexander announced immediately.
“Two chocolate milks,” I confirmed. “And I’ll have a glass of the house red wine.”
“Very good. And have you had a chance to look at the menu?”
I glanced down at the leather–bound menus the hostess had placed in front of us. Everything was expensive. Really expensive. But tonight was about celebration.
“Boys,” I said, closing my menu decisively, “tonight you can order whatever you want. Whatever looks good to you. This is a special night.”
Their faces lit up like Christmas morning.
“Anything?” Ethan asked, his voice filled with wonder.
“Anything,” I confirmed.
Alexander immediately dove back into his menu, his finger tracing the options while his lips moved silently as he sounded out the more complicated words.
“I want the biggest steak they have,” he declared after a moment. “And the lobster too.”
“Alexander, you can’t eat both a whole steak and a whole lobster,” I pointed out gently.
“But Mama, you said anything!”
The waiter chuckled. “Perhaps we could do a surf and turf? A smaller filet with lobster tail?”
“Yes!” Alexander bounced in his seat. “That sounds perfect!”
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Chapter 264
Ethan was being more methodical, studying the menu with his characteristic precision.
“What’s a bone–in ribeye?” he asked.
“It’s a really big steak with the bone still attached,” I explained. “It might be too much food for you, though.”
“Can I try it? Just to see?”
Jesus. But tonight was about saying yes.
“Sure, baby. We can always take leftovers home.”
“And can I get the loaded mashed potatoes too? And the asparagus?”
“Of course.‘
The waiter took our order with impressive patience.
As we waited for our food, the boys chatted excitedly about everything they were seeing and experiencing. The fancy silverware, the crystal glasses, the way the waiters moved through the room like they were performing a choreographed dance.
“Look at that man’s tie,” Alexander whispered, pointing discretely at a businessman at a nearby table. “It’s shinier than Uncle Thomas’s best tie.”
“Boys, you need to use your inside voices,” I reminded them, though I was smiling. “And stop pointing at people.”
“Sorry, Mama,” they chorused.
When our drinks arrived, Alexander immediately grabbed his chocolate milk and took a huge gulp, leaving himself with a mustache that made him look like a tiny businessman.
“Ethan, look!” He pointed at his reflection in the black surface of his phone. “I have a grown–up mustache!”
Ethan giggled and deliberately gave himself a chocolate milk mustache too. “Now we both look like important businessmen!”
“Very important,” I agreed, taking a sip of my wine. “The most important four–year–old businessmen in the city.”
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