Chapter 38
Damelles cyrs sparkled as soon as she got in the cabs and heard they were going out for a feast. The kindergarten food was decent, but nothing compared to a rest irrat.
Angela said no right away. “Danielle, mommy’s not in
Danielle licked her lips and asked Angela, “Mommy, can I use your phone! We can get more bang for our buck and cal way
in the m mood to cook, and your brother’s not either,”
better food
Angela had already dealt with Danielle’s penny–pinching ways a few times before.
What Danielle meant by getting more bang for their buck and eating way better was whipping up something at home.
Sure, they could eat more and better, but the work was also more, a lot more.
But Danielle didn’t give up. She went on, “Mommy, the banks always have some awesome perks. We can get more for our money and eat tastier
Danielle’s words made the driver glance at her in the back seat through the rearview mirror.
The driver was confused. They didn’t look like they were hurting for money by their clothes. Why was this kid so tightfisted! It seemed like the richer they were, the tighter they were!
The driver followed Danielle’s request and took them to the Beach Seafood Restaurant near the hospital
Danielle, the little tightwad, didn’t forget her main mission today!
What surprised the driver was that when it was time to pay up, this little girl whipped out a coupon.
Charlie looked up at the huge seafood restaurant. He remembered that Carmine broke out in hives from shrimp. Was Danielle up to no good?
Angela was also taken aback to see that it was a seafood restaurant. She said to Danielle. “Danielle, Carmine is allergic to shrimp. Let’s go Kewhere else.”
It was only then that Danielle suddenly remembered that she had only thought of cashing in on the goodies and had forgotten about this issue.
Danielle blinked her eyes and looked at Carmine with an apologetic face. “Carmine, I’m sorry, I forgot about your allergy. Let’s go somewhere clic
Carmine felt a warm
a warm glow in his heart when Angela remembered his allergy and showed him her affection.
Carmine picked up Danielle and walked inside, saying, “It’s fine, I can’t eat, but you guys dig in. Don’t waste the coupon”
Danielle had a rep for being a cheap coupon–clipper. Everyone knew she was a penny–pincher.
After ordering. Angela made sure to let the server know that they had a shrimp allergy, and then they got a table in the main hall
Since it was off–peak, the food came out quickly, and the little food lover Danielle tucked in.
Danielle couldn’t fake a tummy ache, so maybe she could say she had lost her appetite so she could slack off?
She had already cooked up a plan in her mind. She would pig out first, and then whine that the food was too hot or too salty to kill her appetite.
Anyway, she had been in that jam a few times before.
But things didn’t go the way she had hoped for.
Carmine choked on the soup and fell to the ground with a loud bang, grabbing his throat in pain.
Blood spattered on the floor around Carmine.
Angela rushed to his side, cradling his head and pressing a napkin against the wound, her voice frantic. “Carmine, can you hear me? Carmine!”
Carmine’s face was puffy and red, and his breath came in short gasps.
The two kids were terrified and rooted to the spot. Danielle saw the anguish on Carmine’s face and felt a surge of guilt. Her little face crumpled, and tears welled up in her eyes.
The waitress Sasha finally noticed the commotion and ran over to check.
Angela asked anxiously, “Did you put any shrimp in the soup?”
Charbe quickly scooped up some soup with a spoon, and sure enough, he spotted the shrimp.
Sasha’s face turned pale, and she stammered, “Madam, we need to get
to get the sir to the
sir to the hospital right away!”
sgola glared at Sascha and sand firmly. “Your restaurant must pay for this mess
Chibe abochumind in “Mommy. I’ve taken pictures.”
Sorcha opened her month to say something, but a rude male voice cut her off. The restaurant manager Mr. Hardy said, “What, pictures? Trying to waits us! Do you have any idea who owns this place“”
Angela sgored him. She had no time to waste on them. Carmine’s condition was worsening by the second.
She helped Carmine breathe whale structing the kish, “Call 911
The kids quickly Lapped their smartwatches and called 911.
The rose tat man. Mr. Hardy, plopped down on a chair nearby and sneered, “Call 911! What proof do you have? Sasha, print out their bill, they’re not leaving without paying?”
Angela was not intimidated by ham. She said defiantly. “You have no right to stop us from leaving. My brother is sick because of your food and we’re calling the cops on you”
Mr. Hardy crossed bus legs and looked at the printed receipt handed to him by Sasha, scoffing. “Oh, I see. You ordered a cheap deal online. Don’t come to the psh restaurant if you can’t afford it. Don’t think that eating here will make you feel like a millionaire!”
Mr. Hardy was still
saming them when the ambulance arrived.
The paramedics quickly loaded Carmine into the ambulance, and Angela and her children were about to hop in, when Mr. Hardy got in their way.
He showed the bill in Angela’s face and sneered, “What? You’re trying to skip out on the check? Pay up now!”
The paramedics shouted, “The patient is critically ill and has a high risk of death, we need to go now!”
Charlie jumped up and said, “Mommy, I’ll go. I’ll go with the ambulance!”
Mr. Hardy scowled at Charlie and barked. “You think you can leave! Give me the photo!”
Danielle, who had been silent with guilt since the incident, said. “Mom, I’l
Н
Don’t worry.
- ry. I’ll look after Carmine
Mr. Hardy let them go this time. He didn’t want to stir up more trouble. But he made it clear that he didn’t give a damn about their safety.
He motioned to Sasha, and she got the hint and left.
Soon the cops showed up. Mr. Hardy saw the officers and joked. “Hey, Mr. Lautner, what brought you here in person?”
Mr. Lautner looked at him and asked, “What now!
“Some people are trying to get a free meal and then shake us down!” Mr. Hardy sneered at Angela.
He was drawn to her beauty. If only
Danielle didn’t like the way Mr. Hardy was ogling his mom.
He stood in front of Angela with a stern face.
And he said calmly. “No, officer. My uncle is allergic to shrimp, and my mom specifically asked them not to put shrimp in the soup. But they did it
anyway
Charlie fished out a shrimp from the soup as evidence.
But Charlie didn’t know how low the ma would stoop.
“Where’s your proof that we put the shrimp in You’re just making this up! You’re just trying to scam ust Mr. Hardy retorted.
Then he turned to Mr. Lautner and said, “Mr. Lautner, we’re barely scraping by and can’t handle their scheme. You know our boss..”
you have any proof?”
Mr. Lautner patted Mr. Hardy’s shoulder and said with a poker face, “Both sides are making accusations. Do you h Angela realized that Mr. Lautner and Mr. Hardy were pals. She said coldly, “According to the rules, restaurants have security cameras in the kitc Can you please check the footage?”
“Mr. Hardly, come with me and show me
ne the footage,” Mr. Lautner said.
Mr. Lautner put on a show of being fair and just, but Angela wasn’t buying it. She knew he was in cahoots with Mr. Harsly.
