I couldn’t keep the desperation from my voice.
“I was offered head chef position aboard a private cruise ship. I had to say yes, Clio. I realize the timing isn’t great…”
Just then Cruz walked into the kitchen, pointing to the coffee machine. I nodded, not sure whether he was asking permission or if I wanted a cup. My head was swimming with panic.
“Georges,” I said, trying to keep anger from bubbling up. “Please tell me you’re on your way here, and not en route to the bloody Mediterranean!”
I was met with silence. “Georges, I have a group of brides arriving in three hours, and you’re MIA. Please tell me I’m imagining this. Please.”
“Sorry, Clio. Part of the deal was that I had to leave immediately. You know how much I need this.”
It was all I could do not to scream, but I knew Georges’s catering business was floundering in Evergreen. Still, did he have to leave the day of the expo! “Where am I supposed to find a chef, Georges, with three hours’ notice!”
I could fix anything under pressure, but finding a chef in Evergreen with a three-hour deadline was a little too much, even for me.
The click-clack of Amory’s heels rang out as I tried to steady my voice. “Clio,” she hissed, “where the hell is Georges?” I pointed to the phone.
“Bessie can help,” Georges said. “And most of the canapés are made, they just need to be plated.”
I blew out a breath. There was nothing I could do. He was gone and yelling wasn’t going to help. I tried my best to sound excited for him – I loved Georges and he really did deserve a break like this. I just wished it hadn’t happened on the day of the expo. “OK, Georges, well good luck with the cruise. I’m sure you’ll be great.” My words may have sounded clipped but I’m sure he understood why.
“I really am sorry, Clio. I didn’t want to leave you in the lurch.”
“I know, don’t worry about it.” I rubbed my temples. “Look, I have to go!” I just wanted to end the call and solve the chef problem.
I hung up, and turned to Amory’s pinched face. “What the hell? Where is he?”
“He’s not coming!” I said, my voice rising.
“What!” she shrieked.
“He took a job on a cruise ship and he’s already in transit. He left a message on my cell last night, he reckons, but shoot, Amory, what the hell are we going to do?”
Amory slapped her palm on the bench so hard the coffee cups rattled together. “How could he do such a thing?”
“I know… but where are we going to find someone this late?” I moaned. I pictured myself tackling the kitchen, and blanched. Why was I so hopeless in the culinary arts?
“Surely he could have left one day later!” Amory’s eyes flashed, and her raised voice carried down the hall.
Cruz coughed, clearing his throat. “Ladies, I can help, if you’re in a bind. I’m sure I can work out what Georges has done…”
Relief hit me. Hadn’t he been a chef once upon a time?
“Really? Oh, Cruz, you’re a total lifesaver!” I was ready to bow at his feet. “OK, Georges said most of the canapés are prepared. I’ll go over the menu with you, and then leave you to it?”
“Sure,” he smiled warmly, like he’d relish the challenge.
My heart beat staccato, disaster averted. But it had been another close call and my heart was feeling the damage. “Actually, Amory, could you help Cruz? There’s some brand-new chef whites in the storeroom cupboard. Maybe some of them will fit?”
She squinted at me, but stayed silent.
Cruz rolled up his sleeves. “OK, my love, show me the way.”
While I double-checked the menus, and wrote notes for Cruz, they walked away together, Amory speaking quickly about the various dishes we’d planned alongside Georges. I couldn’t help but stop and watch them for a beat. They worked so well together in a crisis, their own worries shelved.
A few minutes later they returned and we chatted about the plan, and what time service would be. Cruz looked every inch a chef with his immaculate whites on, and I couldn’t help but notice how at ease he seemed at being thrust into a last minute situation.
“OK, well, if you’re confident with all of that, Cruz, I’ll leave you to it?”
“Sure, sure,” he smiled, tying his apron strings. “I’ll be fine, Clio.”
They huddled by the fridge, heads bent, surveying the contents. If all else failed, throw them together – didn’t that always work in romantic comedies? Surely if they could solve the missing-chef dilemma, they could solve anything!
Following in the wake of Aunt Bessie’s sugary-sweet perfume, I found her chatting to the florist while she set up her donut table. The donuts were cooling in the fridge, but she had elaborate stands for them, which she placed on the beautiful linen tablecloth. When she caught my eye she excused herself and sauntered over, her hips swinging in her Dolly-esque way. “I’ve been chatting to the other vendors from town and they’re thrilled you invited them here today. And I said, well, of course you would! That you’re planning to use them whenever you can. What?” she asked. “What’s that line between your eyes for?” She rubbed the spot, as if she could erase it, making my frown deepen. I filled her in on the Georges debacle, her eyes wide with shock.
“He just upped and left?”
I nodded. “It was a requirement of the job that he start pronto.”
She let out a breath. “Well, at least you’ve got a backup. How lucky are you?”
“Very.”
“Take some deep breaths, baby girl. You’ve got this. It’s going to be a huge success, I just know it. Mom sends her apologies, she had… other things to do today.”
“Like?” Washing, cleaning, and gardening in the snow…
“Well,” Aunt Bessie bumbled along. “You know, just things. Anyway, we’ll have Christmas Day together, right? You’ll come to me this year for lunch.”
Neutral territory. We both knew Mom wouldn’t step foot on Cedarwood soil, and Aunt Bessie knew I’d probably give all of us food poisoning if I attempted to cook. “I’d love that. Our first Christmas together in six years…”
Isla and Micah waved me over.
“You’d better go,” Aunt Bessie said, pecking me on the cheek, and giving my butt a slap for good measure as I wandered away, her cackle following me. I shook my head, and laughed.
“Guys, you look great!” After working this morning, they’d dashed upstairs to change. They were helping serve today, and would then take the brides on a tour of the estate, pointing out the various activities on offer for guests. Micah was dashing in a suit and
