Chapter 5
5
W hile Cruise managed the cafe kitchen on slow afternoons, Marina tended to business and developed new recipes. Today, she worked on fresh salmon sliders in Ginger’s cottage. She loved working where she’d learned to cook alongside her grandmother during summer visits.
“Coleslaw, tomato, blackened salmon, homemade herb buns,” she said to herself as she wrote down the ingredients and took a photo. Marina was trying different flavor profiles and standardizing new recipes for the food truck side of her business.
Kai swept into the kitchen. She was a vision in a leopard print catsuit, proudly showing her baby bump.
Looking up, Marina grinned. “Wowzer, that’s some outfit, Mama.”
Kai lowered her dark sunglasses onto her nose. “This kid will be born with theatrical style.” She pulled out her phone. “Did you see your video on social media?”
“You know I don’t look at that anymore.” Starting another version of her recipe, Marina sprinkled minced rosemary from the garden into a small bowl of panko and shredded salmon.
Kai stared at her. “Since when?”
“Since my on-air blooper became a meme.” Marina could laugh about it now, but that had marked a tragic end to her anchor position and broadcasting career. “I couldn’t bear to see it plastered everywhere. The comments were awful. But that’s all behind me now.”
Kai slid her phone across the kitchen counter. “Not so fast. It’s a powerful medium. Just look at all these comments. You have to write that cookbook now.”
Marina started to turn away, but the video caught her eye, and she was shocked at what she saw. The clip began with Jack dipping her low while they danced. Kai had floated words across the top: Hot moves in the kitchen at the Coral Cafe!
Marina couldn’t bear to look at the comments, though she was curious—and concerned. She had invested a lot in the cafe and didn’t want strangers’ comments to damage her business. “Kai, I didn’t know you’d filmed that part. What are people saying?”
“Chill, Marina.” Kai massaged her shoulders. “They’re all good comments. I teased them, too, saying you were working on a cookbook. How quickly can you throw one together, do you think?”
“Even with Heather’s help, it won’t happen overnight.” Marina shrugged away from Kai, appalled at her sister’s actions. She formed the salmon patties, drizzled olive oil in a sauté pan, and adjusted the flame. “I’m super busy right now. The loan went through for another food truck. It will be outfitted, and I need to hire and train staff.”
“People only want to know if they can reserve copies of your upcoming cookbook. I think you should take preorders.”
“You put all that in the video?”
“People love the behind-the-scenes clips,” Kai replied. “And the bloopers. But the best one is when Jack sweeps you off your feet. He’s their new heartthrob.”
Marina placed the patties into the sizzling oil. “Wait until Jack hears about this.”
“Are you kidding? He loves it.”
“You showed it to him already?”
“I was waiting for the cafe to slow down. He and Leo were there, so I sat with them. When I opened my phone, he asked what I was laughing about. I couldn’t stop checking because it was blowing up with comments.”
“I don’t want to see any of them.” Those on her video that went viral had lodged in her mind. Even though she’d developed a thick skin from working in the news, she was still human and had feelings. She had no idea how celebrities lived with people’s insensitive comments about them.
Kai made a face. “I thought you’d be happy. You have no idea how big this is. You’re going viral again.”
Marina shuddered. “I hope it’s better than last time.”
“Oh, it is. You can take this one to the bank.” Kai wiggled her fingers. “Cha-ching, cha-ching.”
It wasn’t a bad idea. Marina grinned at Kai’s enthusiasm. “All I have to do is write an entire book.”
“Get Ginger to help you test recipes,” Kai said, doing a little shimmy. “She’d love to have a project.”
Just then, Ginger entered the kitchen. She wore wide-legged cotton trousers, a matching taupe jacket, and pearls. Marina knew this was one of her grandmother’s vintage outfits, but it was still a lovely classic.
“Did I just hear my name bandied about?” Ginger asked.
Marina flipped the salmon, then jotted a note in her food notebook. “My sister is making more work for me and threatening to pull you into it. Be careful; it’s hot in here.”
Kai spread her hands. “So, I posted a few video clips from the shoot. People are going wild over the idea that Marina is writing a cookbook and are eager to preorder. The publicity for the cafe would be huge.”
“It sounds like a marvelous idea,” Ginger said.
Marina lifted the pan from the burner. “Except that I have very little time to start another project. That’s when Kai served you up for the task.”
“I would be delighted,” Ginger said. “Challenge accepted. I have so many recipes we could include.”
Marina smiled at her enthusiasm. “Heather volunteered to organize my recipes and draft new material. All the recipes should be dishes we serve at the cafe. I’ve changed many of your original ones. I use less butter and oil and more fresh ingredients. People want healthier food options today than those of the 1960s.”
“Many, yes, but you’re generalizing,” Ginger said. “You’ve already done the hard work. You could even dictate the text.”
Ginger’s eyes blazed with such happiness that Marina couldn’t deny her this project. She’d meant to write a cookbook someday with recipes from the cafe, but something had always come up.
“Are you sure you’d have time?” Marina squinted at Ginger. “You’re already working with Jack on your biography.”
Ginger waved a hand. “My dear, I do very little. I tell him stories and show him a few photographs. Jack is piecing it all together and writing. Creating a cookbook with you and Heather would be a welcome treat.”
Marina plated the sliders and passed them around. This may be the right time. Her grandmother was in excellent health. Ginger could live to be a hundred or more given her healthy lifestyle.
Still, Marina couldn’t take her for granted, and the years had a way of barreling along like a freight train. It seemed only yesterday that her twins were toddlers.
“I’ll print some recipes from the current menu that Cruise uses,” Marina said. “We’ll have to adjust the amounts for home cooking.”
Ginger’s eyes glittered. “Fortunately, you have a writing partner who is also a mathematician. I will make the adjustments and test the recipes.”
Heather sauntered in the kitchen. “Are we recipe testing again? That’s my favorite.”
Kai wiggled in a little happy dance. “Ginger agreed to help you and Marina write the cookbook. Want to help me set up a website page to take preorders?”
“Sure,” Heather replied. Marina offered her a salmon slider, and she scooped it up. “Count me in, but I have to go. Blake is picking me up any minute.”
“And how is your young man?” Ginger asked.
Heather smiled, and her face flushed pink with happiness. “We’re really happy.”
Kai nudged her. “What exactly does that mean?”
Ignoring her aunt, Heather bit into the slider. “Mmm, this is delicious, Mom. I like the coleslaw and the blackened fish. Our customers would love this.”
Ginger lifted her chin toward the window. “Here’s Blake now.”
“Could I have another one for him, Mom? We’re going to a beach barbecue, but it could be hours before the food is ready.”
“Sure,” Marina replied. “I’d like his opinion, too.” She would consider each dish on taste, presentation, ease of preparation, and cost.
Marina watched as Heather waved Blake inside through the kitchen door. He was a good-looking aquatic veterinarian with closely cropped hair and a fine physique. Since he’d moved to Summer Beach a few months ago to head ocean rescue operations, the two of them had spent a lot of time together. Still, Blake insisted that Heather keep up with her homework. Marina liked that about him.
When Blake stepped inside, Heather stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I have something for you. We’re recipe testing. Are you hungry?”
He grinned. “I’m famished. My team had to rescue a sea lion today, so we worked through lunch.”
Marina served up more sliders, and soon everyone was tasting them and offering opinions. “I’ll make some adjustments on the next batch.” She made a few more notes.
Ginger turned to Kai. “I’d like to see this video you mentioned.”
“Not in the kitchen,” Marina said, waving them away.
“She’s still a little sensitive,” Kai said in a loud stage whisper. “Come with me.”
Ginger and Heather followed Kai into the dining room, though Blake stayed behind. He rocked on his heels and cleared his throat, looking a little nervous.
“Is there something on your mind?” Marina asked.
“I know you’re busy, but I’d like to speak to you some time.”
“Is this about Heather?”
He nodded, seeming oddly unsure of himself.
That was not like the Blake she knew. Marina’s senses went on high alert. “Is she okay?”
“She’s not in any trouble, if that’s what you’re asking. She’s doing well in school, and she’s, uh, healthy. Very healthy,” he stammered.
“I’m glad to hear that.” Marina wondered what was going on. “How about later this week? I can leave the kitchen in the later afternoon.”
“Perfect,” he replied, looking relieved.
Kai and the others returned to the kitchen, smiling but trying not to show it too much.
Heather hooked her arm through Blake’s. “We’ll see you all later.” She waved, and they went out the door.
Ginger peered at Marina. “Why are you looking so odd?”
Marina chewed the side of her lip. “Blake wants to talk to me. He probably wants to ask if we’re doing anything for Heather’s birthday. And Ethan’s, of course. Maybe he wants to throw a surprise party or have it at the cafe.”
Kai placed a hand over her heart and swooned. “Or whisk her off to somewhere wildly romantic.”
“And look where that got you,” Marina said, nodding toward Kai’s abdomen.
“Heather is next,” Kai said, laughing.
Marina shook a spatula at her sister. “Don’t even say that. Heather has plenty of time before settling down with someone.”
“Even if it’s Mr. Dreamy Sea Vet?” Kai asked.
“She’s still in school,” Marina replied firmly. “May we please get off this conversation?”
Ginger put her arm around Kai. “Dear, would you teach me how to use that dictation you mentioned? I’d like to write a letter to an old friend.”
Kai smiled. “Would that be Oliver?”
“Well, as it happens, yes.” Ginger’s expression bloomed at his name. “He called to see if I planned to attend the celebration of life. I told him I would. I’d like to write a few remembrances of his brother and send that to him.”
“That’s thoughtful,” Marina said. Ginger’s voice held a certain lightness she hadn’t heard in a long time, and she wondered how close she had been to Oliver.
Kai put an arm around Ginger. “Let’s go figure this out.”
After they left the room, Marina gazed out the window toward the beach, her thoughts returning to Heather and Blake. Kai was wrong about them. Her daughter would have confided in her if they were that close. She was sure of that.
And yet, Blake had been uncharacteristically nervous.