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The Bear was closed for the day and Carmy was there. He and Nat had decided the best way for everyone to have Donna experience The Bear was to come in when no one else was there.
The plan was for Marcus to prep some desserts and head out before Donna got there. Natalie and Carm were taking on cooking duties. Syd had offered to help but Carmy immediately said no. The last thing he wanted was Donna anywhere near Syd.
Which is why when Syd came in anyway he wanted to explode. Currently, Natalie was watching the two argue about it. She was ready to jump in, but she was secretly pleased Syd came in. She’s the peace Carmy needs in the storm of Donna.
“Carm! This is my place too!” Her voice was raised, but not angry.
“And this is my mom and if I don’t want you around her that’s my choice!” Carmy was trying very hard to not stutter, he didn’t want anything taking away from his argument.
“I’ll leave before she gets here! Or I’ll stay in the kitchen.” And before Carmy could respond, Syd had turned on her heels and made her way over to the station Nat was at and began helping her prep.
—
Richie came in a few hours before Donna was meant to arrive. He was going to do his thing when Donna came. Trying to make it feel as much like the place was open as possible. Even though the Berzatto siblings, Pete, and Richie were the only ones who’d be sharing a meal with Donna.
They locked up the entire bar. Took down any art that they knew Donna would hate. Anything and everything they could try and prepare for they did.
Except for Donna arriving early.
—-
“Not to cause any chaos, but Hurricane Donna is early.” Richie announced to the kitchen.
Sydney watched as Natalie and Carmy froze. Their response was to freeze. Not fight. Not flight. Freeze.
Nat excused herself to greet her and shot off a text to Pete asking him if he could see if the sitter could come earlier so he could get there faster. Richie joined her.
Carmy made his way over to Syd who was standing at the stove.
“Syd, you gotta head out.” Carmy pleaded.
“Carm, let me finish what I’m doing then I promise I’ll leave.” She responded as she was stirring the sauce.
Carmy begrudgingly agreed. In response though he moved his prep over to be closer to Syd.
Five minutes later he was helping Syd clean up her station. Syd was almost ready to be out the door when Donna burst through the kitchen.
“It’s not a tour, Sugar, if I don’t see the kitchen.” Donna’s voice startled Sydney and Carmy—luckily Donna’s voice did seem sober.
“Ma, we want dinner to be a surprise! We planned on giving you a kitchen tour after.” Natalie said calmly referring to their future plans to pacify Donna.
Carmy instinctively stood in front of Sydney.
“You must be Sydney.” Donna walked over and hugged her.
Sydney hugged back tentatively as she observed the looks on everyone’s shocked faces.
“Yes. Uh hi. Sydney is right, and it’s a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Berzatto.” Sydney said as she pulled back.
“Donna. Please.” Donna smiled at Sydney.
“Hey, Ma.” Carmy interjected.
Donna responded by hugging Carmy, who unlike Syd hadn’t returned the hug.
“Well I’ll let you two finish cooking.” Donna then made her way out of the kitchen with a flabbergasted Sugar and Richie.
As soon as the door shut, Carmy turned to Syd. “Before you say anything that’s the calm before the storm.”
Sydney smiled softly at him. “I believe you, Carm.”
Carmy let out a breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding since Donna came into the kitchen.
“We should get you out of here before she comes back.” He said with a heavy chuckle.
—-
Sydney was putting on her coat while Carmy plated the food.
“Carmen!” Donna’s signified her presence before she appeared in the kitchen.
“Shit.” Carmy wiped his hands on his apron and looked to Syd who was just finishing packing up.
“Yeah Ma?” Carmy walked over to where Donna stood in the door.
“I’ve been told Sydney won’t be joining us?” Carmy heard it. The edge in her voice. She was nowhere near the danger zone yet, but her voice indicated that as usual it was inevitable, Donna losing it.
“She has plans.” Carmy didn’t want to give her any real information.
“Of course she does, it’s eating with us. Now make her one of those fancy plates.” Donna peered around Carmy to a frozen Sydney. “Sydney dear, please join us. Dinner without one of the most important people in my son and daughter’s lives isn’t complete.”
“Donna—I—-“ Sydney started stammering.
“Bullshit, darling. I know my kids well enough to know they warned you off of me and that Carmen here probably didn’t even want you cooking today.” Donna gave a quick scolding look to Carmy.
“Syd—you don’t have to stay.” It was all Carmy could say.
“I’d love to have dinner with you all. Thank you, Donna.” Sydney responded by shrugging off her jacket.
—-
The first course went off without a hitch. But that was the only one.
When the main meal came out, it was clear that Donna had been sneaking drinks. Her kids had suspected as much. She blamed her constant bathroom breaks on being old, but they knew Donna.
Carmy and Natalie had elected to prepare a menu staple. Syd’s Cola Braised short ribs. Carmy and Syd had perfected the risotto. It was no longer a traditional risotto. It was a jollof risotto. The sweet taste of the Coca Cola braised ribs perfected complimented and balanced the peppery and smokey taste from the Jollof risotto.
“This short rib is wonderful, Sydney. Sugar here was telling me about how you created it?” Donna had only touched the rib at this point.
“Yes, it’s something my mother did and I just worked to perfect it.” Sydney smiled widely at Donna. “Thank you.”
“So you take pleasure in re-creating family recipes?” Donna asked her, risotto still untouched.
“I like honoring tradition and creating new ones.”
“So what do you call this?” Her fork needling at the risotto. “Is this honoring the Italian tradition of risotto?”
“Ma, leave it.” Carmy all but growled out. Donna seemed taken aback. Carmy was always meek when it came to her.
“No, I wanted to know, Carmen. She’s already gutted my dead baby’s place and serves food he couldn’t even afford…so I want to know why she gutted our risotto too.”
Sydney went to interject but Carmy placed his hand on top of hers. A move he saw did not go unnoticed by Donna.
“Ma, we all worked on the revamp of the building and the menu.” Sugar quietly spoke out, her grip on Pete’s hand tight.
“I’m talking to Sydney, Sugar.” Donna’s voice dripping with venom.
“And we’re telling you to layoff.” Carmy found his voice once more.
“Fine.” Donna pushed her plate in front of her. Risotto untouched.
“Donna, try the risotto. I know Mikey would have loved it. He loved jollof. He’d always get it at Yassa.” Richie was always good at defusing Donna.
“We can move on.” Donna conceded and ignoring Richie’s suggestion. Then she turned her attention on Carmy.
“So Carmen—given that you never told me yourself about your plans for this place, what made you think to destroy my baby’s restaurant?”!
Carmy who still had his hand on top of Syd’s stilled completely. All he felt was her hand, like some kind of grounding force.
“Ma—“
“No. Really, Carmen. You do it to get in her pants? I mean part of me is happy that you’re fucking her. Now I know you’re not a fucking fairy.” Donna eyed Sydney.
“Mom.” Sugar pleaded.
“Shut it, Sugar.” Donna’s voice slurred.
“Donna.” Richie and Pete said at the same time only for her to completely ignore them.
“No. Carmen wanted me to leave his little girlfriend alone so I’ll ask him? You think you’re so much better than Mikey? His place wasn’t good enough for you? News flash, Carmen—you’re not special.” Carmy could tell she was just getting started. He hung his head.
“Now wait just a minute.” His head shot up at Sydney’s voice. And he saw Sugar mouth to her to not try.
“You’re not reinventing food, baby! You’re just overcharging for some shit so you can get your little picture in the papers.” Donna lit a cigarette.
“I’m sorry, Donna. You can’t smoke in here.” Sydney quietly told her.
“I can do whatever I want in my son’s restaurant.” She sneered.
“Carmy is here and he doesn’t smoke inside.” Sydney pushed.
“I wasn’t talking about Carmen. I was talking about my only child who was worth a damn.” She took another long drag.
“Syd, please.” Carmy whispered. His eyes were pleading with her to understand.
“I mean honestly should have let my marriage fail, bastard left anyway. Had these brats to keep him and he left me with them. I only ever wanted one kid. A son. And now he’s gone.”
It was so silent you could hear a pin drop.
“Just burdens both of them. Did Carmen tell you he couldn’t even be bothered to show up to his brothers funeral? Unsurprising. He failed as a brother. He failed as a chef…all that hard work to get out of our family and look where he is! In the corpse of my baby’s restaurant.”
“Donna, let’s get you some water.” Pete tried to defuse.
“Don’t get me started on your wife, Peter. Her failures started when she couldn’t tell the difference between sugar and salt as a kid!” She was laughing.
“Wait…is that why you call her Sugar? Because of a mistake she made as a kid?” Sydney looked over to Sugar.
“Of course, this one always wanted to help in the Kitchen. Started calling her Sugar to remind her why I didn’t need her.”
“That’s cruel.” Sydney stated simply.
“Well we can’t all be perfect little chefs, Sydney. What did your mom call you? What was your nickname?”
“My mom never gave me a nickname.” Carmy took this moment to thread his fingers through hers and squeezed her hand.
“See? I gave Sugar a nickname because it’s what parents do. It’s a term of endearment. Were you not endeared to your mom?” Donna lit another cigarette.
“My mom died.”
“Lucky gal. I had to live to see my baby die and be left with these disappointments.”
“Ma that’s enough.” Carmy finally said firmly.
“No. You know what’s enough? The audacity you have to steal your brothers dream before he’d even spent a year in the dirt!” Donna slammed her hands on the table startling everyone.
“I mean…look at him. Can’t you see there’s nothing in there? Just look at how he sits there. He can’t do this. He’s not capable of more. This is it. He’s nothing.” She stubbed out her cigarette. “I wish it was you. I wish I still had Mikey instead.”
Carmy could do nothing. He couldn’t look up at his sister or Sydney, he’d start crying immediately. He just had to survive.
“That’s enough!” Sydney raised her voice at Donna.
“Excuse me?” Donna quickly recovered from the shock of Sydney speaking up.
“You’re excused.” Sydney said with a wry laugh. “You’ve got some real nerve. Coming into our place, being cruel to your family…”
“This is my baby’s place. I can say or do whatever I want. Just because my son likes your cooking and your pussy doesn’t mean you can speak to me like this.” Donna’s voice was cruel.
“I can’t sit here and listen to you treat Carmy and Natalie like crap. Do you not even know how lucky you are? You have brilliant, kind, and magical children. And I know that brilliance and kindness have nothing to do with you.”
“Well-“ Donna began.
“I’m not finished.” Sydney cut her off, all Carmy could do was stare in awe. “They are still sitting here. They had you come here. The fact they still see you speaks to their character. Because I’ve spent an hour with you and I never want to see you again. You’re mean. And sad. I feel bad for you. To be blind to the wonders you have? To only have booze and bitterness running through your veins…”
“That’s enough.” Donna glares at Sydney.
“No. It’s not. I’ll let you know when it’s enough.” Defiance in Syd’s voice.
Dammit Carmy knew more than ever he was in love.
“Syd, it’s okay.” Carmy tried to defuse the tension.
"No, I'm not letting anyone walk over you like that. Carmy is the most talented, wonderful, and kind person I’ve ever met in my life. And Natalie? Natalie is the most beautiful, intelligent and nurturing person i know—she’s a wonderful mother. And I definitely am not the only one who thinks that way.”
“I am their mother. I made them who they are.”
“No. They are who they are in spite of you. Not because of you. Honestly? Sitting here with you? Makes me happy I never had a mom.”
“You little, bitch.” Donna’s poisonous slur came and Carmy had enough.
“Get out, Donna!” He yelled. “You’re not welcome in my family’s place anymore.”
“I am your family.”
“Not anymore. You’re the only one here who isn’t family.” Carmy took Sydney’s hand and nodded his head toward the kitchen.
They left everyone behind.
—
They were sitting in the walk-in, door propped open. They both literally needed to cool down.
“Talk to me.” Sydney’s soft voice broke through Carmy’s racing thoughts.
“I can’t, I-can’t-”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. just look at me.”
“You shouldn’t have done that.” Was all he could respond.
Sydney laughed. “Carm, no one gets to treat you like that, you hear me? No one. Not even your mom.” She took a breath, “I’m sorry if I overstepped. Its just…the idea of you getting hurt doesn’t sit well with me.”
Carmy’s bitter response came out without warning, “She is right though. I’m unloveable. Unable to bring amusement or joy. I’m worthless.”
Sydney took his hand in hers and leaned her head on his shoulder. “You’re not hard to love, nor are you unlovable.”
“I’m an asshole. Ya know Richie once called me Donna.” He ran his thumb over her knuckles.
“I know you think you’re stoic and cold—or that’s how we think of you, but you really couldn’t be more wrong. You’re always so sweet. You take care of people.”
“Oh. Ha. Yeah. No one else knows me like you do.” He laughed. It was true. Sydney got a different version of Carmy. He wishes he could always say it’s his best self, but it’s not always his best. It is, however, a better version of himself than everyone else gets.
“You’re not alone, remember?” He felt the weight of her head leave his shoulder. He turned to look at her and was met with her beautiful brown eyes.
“Thank you.” He held her gaze. If he didn’t know any better he’d think her eyes darted to his lips for a moment.
“For what?” She whispered.
“For protecting me. Protecting Sugar.” He answered just as quietly.
“You don’t need protecting. You just need to be reminded how great your are. Just a question but do you value Donna’s opinion?”
“Not really.” Carmy shrugged. He knew Natalie cared way more than he did.
“Then don’t value her criticism.” She simply replied.
“You really are too good for me.” He laughed, playing it off as a joke, but knowing he meant it.
“Don’t talk about my bestie like that.” She knocked her shoulder against his.
“Oh I’m your bestie now?” He smiled as he stood up, extending both hands to her to pull her up.
He doesn’t know if he pulled too hard or Sydney pushed up too hard because now she was practically wrapped in his embrace, a palm on his chest.
“Your heart is beating really fast.” Her voice was barely a whisper.
And then he kissed her. It was brief, she didn’t even get to respond before he pulled back.
"I'm so sorry," Carmy blurted, his hand pressed to his lips. He couldn't believe he had done that. "I shouldn't have kissed you. Not now, not without asking, I-“
Then he felt the hand on his chest curl into a fist and Sydney yanked him to her, shirt grasped in her hand. This time, she kissed him.
The kiss was gentle yet passionate. Carmy’s arms banded around her waist and he lifted her off her feet a little. She laughed against his lips and he swallowed the sounds with his own.
They eventually pulled away, when they both needed air. Carmy leaned his forehead against hers. “That was—-“
“A serious health code violation.” She laughed. And he responded by placing a peck on her lips.
“Yo, Hurricane Donna has left the building.” Richie called into the kitchen.
“Cmon let’s go have the dessert Marcus made us.” Sydney threaded her fingers through his.
He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
They made their way out to the dining room to the sound of laughter. Pete, Natalie, and Richie were in higher spirits.
Carmy’s heart warmed seeing the scene. This was his family. And he didn’t know how he got so lucky, but he’s decided not to question it.