Begin Again: Chapter 9

“Do you like watching a play?” 

“Why do you wanna know?” Portia asks back. She switches her phone to her left ear while her right hand's busy cleaning the table in her store’s kitchen. 

Ellen sighs exaggeratedly on the other end. “Can’t you just simply say ‘yes’ or ‘no’?” 

“No.”

“Turns out you can,” Ellen grumbles quietly. 

A small smile appears on Portia’s lips. By that time, the noisy background voice of NY’s traffic isn’t there anymore. Perhaps Ellen’s already in her office. 

“Look, I happen to have 2 tickets for a Broadway show today. It’s said that this show is very famous and highly anticipated.” Silence. Then Ellen’s voice emerges again. “You wanna go with me?” 

Portia straightens her back. “You said that we only need to see each other once in a while to make your mom happy. We’ve only just met at the art exhibition 3 days ago. Why should I see you again today?” 

“Coincidence doesn’t count,” Ellen says firmly. “And you went with a fake boyfriend anyway.” 

“And you’re with your girlfriend,” Portia retorts. 

“I told you, Audrey isn’t my girlfriend. You don’t have to be jealous like that.” 

Portia sighs frustratedly. “Oh, for gods’ sake…” 

“Anyway, Kali said that you really love plays, Broadways shows, things like that,” Ellen interrupts. “So if you say yes to this offer, we can go now.” 

“Kali?” Portia repeats, frowning. 

“Yes. She’s looking at the tickets now and… huh, she looks surprised. She says she’s sure that you haven’t seen this one.”

“What?” Portia turns around quickly. “Ellen DeGeneres, where exactly are you right now?” 

“In your shop. I just got here.” 

Portia hangs up and marches quickly to the front of the shop. Well, there she is. She sees Ellen talking to Kali who’s standing behind the counter. 

“Hey, Boss,” Kali calls out while waving the tickets in her hands excitedly. “She said she’s gonna take you to see this show!” 

Portia glares at Ellen, approaches the counter and takes the tickets from Kali’s hand. She reads the details on the ticket, gasps, and her left hand automatically grips the edge of the table. She lifts up her face to see Ellen. “How did you get these tickets?” she says, obviously impressed. “You couldn’t possibly get them by accident. These are premiere tickets and I know for sure it’s been sold out since months ago.” 

Ellen shrugs. 

Portia is still staring at her with widened eyes. 

Finally Ellen gives up and says, “Fine, you’re right. I had to make some phone calls, persuade some people, and make some negotiations with several people to get these exclusive tickets. So I hope you’re impressed enough with my effort and would go watch that show with me.” 

Portia blinks. She doesn’t doubt that these tickets are very expensive. She has seen enough shows to know the premium seats’ numbers by heart. And the seat numbers on these two tickets are clearly the premium ones. Premium seats for a premier show on Broadway. My goodness….

“But my outfit isn’t really fitting for a Broadway's premier night,” Portia says, looking down to her clothes that are mostly covered with the apron of A Piece of Cake. 

Ellen stares at her as well. “You’re right,” she says. “But if you take off that apron, I’m sure you’ll be fine.” 

Portia clicks her tongue and rolls her eyes. “That’s not what I meant.”

Kali pushes Portia’s shoulder playfully while grinning. “You should go, Boss,” she says. 

Portia bites her under lip while staring at the tickets in her hands. “Okay,” she finally says. 

“Oh, thank god,” Ellen almost exclaims. 

Portia takes off her apron and takes out her stuff from the locker. She walks towards Ellen while wrapping the shawl around her neck. “But it’s only because I really really want to see this show. And we can spend 2 hours together without saying anything to each other,” she says while flashing her sweetest smile. 

Ellen squints at her, but her smile is still there. “I’m so lucky to have a fiancée who doesn’t talk much.” 

Portia and Kali gasp simultaneously, but for different reasons. At the same time, Ellen quickly grabs Portia’s right hand. 

“I know what you’re about to do, but the bruise on my arm from your last punch hasn’t completely healed yet,” she begs. 

Portia glares at Ellen and hits the woman with her left hand instead. “I told you to stop talking shit,” she snarls. 

Ellen winces, but Portia’s right hand is still in hers. 

Portia turns to Kali who still looks lost and says, “Ignore her. She’s only joking. She’s not my anything, only an annoying person who apparently prefers to bother someone else rather than minding her own restaurant.” 

“Hey, just so you know, as an executive chef of a Michelin-starred restaurant, I’m a very busy person, but I am willing to spare my precious time for you. You should be flattered,” Ellen protests. 

Portia turns back to Ellen. “Let go of my hand,” she commands her. 

Ellen shakes her head and smiles. “Not now,” she replies calmly. “Because I know you’re gonna hit me again.” 

“My left hand is still free,” Portia warns her. 

“But your right hand can hit much harder than your left one.” Without waiting for Portia’s response, Ellen turns to Kali and says, “We’re off, Kali. Very nice to meet you.” 

And the next thing Portia knows is her being dragged out of her shop without given the chance to talk, or to think. 

******

Dr. Michael Rogers massages his own shoulder and yawns. No more patients for today. Time to go home. He glances at his watch and smiles. Time for dinner as well. It’s not every day that he can get off work so early. Perhaps Portia would want to have dinner with him tonight. He tries to reach Portia on her phone but no answers. Well, that’s not unusual. Portia rarely has her phone near her when she works. And A Piece of Cake must be quite busy since Christmas is coming and cake shops are usually flooded with orders. Michael decides to call the shop. 

“Hi, Kali,” Michael greets when Kali picks up the phone. 

“Oh, hi, Mike,” Kali says cheerfully. “What’s up?”

“Is my sister there? I tried to call her phone, but she didn’t pick up.” 

“She’s not here. She went to see a new Broadway show. Perhaps that’s why she didn’t pick up.” 

“Oh, I see.”

“Yeah. She went with…. hold on.” Kali’s voice sounds a little muffled when she says, “Oi, Ben, who’s the name of your new boss?… Ellen DeGeneres?”

Michael’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Ellen DeGeneres?” Isn’t that the woman they saw at Andrew’s wedding? The woman Portia loathes so much?

“Yes, that’s her name. Ellen DeGeneres.” Kali’s voice sounds clear again. 

“Portia went with Ellen DeGeneres?” Michael repeats his question one more time incredulously. 

“Yes.”

“And Portia went voluntarily?” Michael still finds it hard to believe. 

“Of course.” 

To his knowledge, Portia doesn’t even want to talk to Ellen DeGeneres. So how is it possible for her to actually go out with that woman? “Weird,” he mumbles. 

“Why?”

“Nothing. I just didn’t know that they’re friends.” 

“Well, they seem to be pretty close,” Kali comments. “Ellen even said that Portia is her fiancée.”

“What?”

“Are they really engaged, Mike?”

“Well, that’s….” Michael doesn’t know what to say. 

“Dr. Rogers.”

Michael turns towards a nurse who’s approaching him. 

“Sorry, Kali. I gotta go,” he mumbles to the phone and hangs up. “Yes, Marie?” 

“Someone’s looking for you, Doc,” the nurse says. “You were still with a patient when she came, so I asked her to wait there.” 

The nurse stretches her right hand and Michael follows her gaze. He sees someone sitting on one of the steel benches along the hallway, not far from the concierge. The figure of the woman with long, dark hair seems familiar to him, making him frown. 

“Alright. Thanks,” he says to the nurse and walks towards whoever his guest is. 

He has only made a few steps when the woman lifts her head and sees him. Then she gets up and beams at Michael. 

After seeing her face clearly, Michael returns the grin and fastens his pace. “Francesca Gregorini,” he greets and hugs the woman. “My gods, it’s been years. How’ve you been doing?”

“Dr. Michael Rogers,” Francesca replies and pats Michael’s back. “I’ve been doing quite well. I see that you haven’t changed much.” 

“And you have,” Michael says and observes his friend from head to toe. “With that tan, you look more like a lumper than a journalist, woman.”

Francesca laughs. “I spent the last 4 years in South Africa, dude. What did you expect?” 

“Yeah, it’s been 4 years. I guess we’ve got plenty of things to catch up on,” Michael says. “You’ve got something to do tonight? I just got off my shift and we can go out for dinner and hang out if you want.” 

Francesca opens her arms and smiles widely, showing off her perfect teeth. “I came here to have dinner with you, especially if it’s on you.” 

“Alright, let’s go,” Michael laughs and starts walking. “By the way, when did you come back to New York?” 

“A few days ago,” Francesca says, following Michael. “My job in South Africa is done, so from now on I’ll be working back here again.”

“I see,” Michael mumbles.

“How’s Andrew?” 

“Just got married and will get back from their honeymoon trip tomorrow,” Michael answers. 

“And your sweet little sister?”

Thinking about her sister makes Michael smile to himself. 

“Portia? She’s doing very well. Still busy with her patisserie.” 

“Is she married yet?” 

Michael is a very protective brother. And there’s something in Francesca’s way of asking the question that tickles him. “No. Why?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I was just wondering if she’s still waiting for me,” Francesca says, then chuckles. “Because she once asked me to marry her before I left for Cape Town.” 

“What?”

Francesca stares at Michael with her brows furrowing. 

“You didn’t know?”