Chapter Fifty-Four
Spencer
We pulled up to the valet in front of Zano, a very elegant restaurant. The valet opened my car door. I got out and went around to help Grace out. Wes and Riley were also in my car. Jett and Evan pulled up behind us in his sports car, Brennan arriving on his motorcycle.
“Fancy,” Riley breathed as we walked up to the doors.
“We have a lot to celebrate.” I put an arm around her. So much. Everything was finally coming together. We were coming together.
The seven of us entered the restaurant. It differed greatly from Supressa. Here, the ambience was understated and relaxed, meant to complement the food, not immerse you, yet impressive all the same. This was the type of restaurant that made wishes come true, where every night was memorable.
A woman in a suit greeted us. “Welcome to Zano. We’re excited for you to dine with us tonight. Could I please have your name?”
“Reservations for the Thanukos pack,” I stated.
“Welcome. The chef told us that it’s a special day for you, congratulations,” she replied, having a server take us to a comfortable, low-lit booth in the corner.
Brennan, Jett, Evan, and Riley sat on one side. Wes, Grace, and I on the other.
“How did you get reservations here?” Brennan asked as we looked at the cards listing the set menu.
“The chef is part of my club. We were talking yesterday, and then she called me this morning and told me that there was a cancellation and asked if we wanted it.” I’d been planning on taking us to one of the usual places, but I wasn’t about to turn this down.
“Oh, you went to the club yesterday. We… we’re not banned, right? Because of the fireworks?” Grace’s scent went worried.
“Don’t worry, I smoothed everything over,” I assured.
“They were more concerned about the bouncy castle almost going into the lake than about the fireworks.” Everything was okay, not to mention that all our vendors had been tipped generously, especially the wedding planner, the string quartet, and the bouncy castle provider.
“Good, because we need to get better at tennis so we can play Kilroy and his mom, and why are there hardly any choices on this menu?” Riley frowned as she flipped the card over.
“It’s a set seasonal tasting menu. Though they accommodate dietary restrictions and food allergies,” I explained. “The beverages complement the courses.”
Grace looked around. “This is beautiful. Is this the place you mentioned as an option for our party?”
“Indeed. They’re only open for dinner, so they’re often available for rentals during the daytime.” Really, I’d been considering this place for simplicity’s sake, given my injuries. It was understated and convenient.
Our party had been far more tailored to us. Many people who attended kept telling me how much fun they had.
“Welcome to Zano. Congratulations and thank you for celebrating with us. Here is some complimentary champagne and sparkling apple juice.” A server appeared with champagne flutes on a tray and handed them out. He explained the menu and took orders.
Grace squeezed my hand. “This is wonderful. Thank you.”
“It is a special day. You’re part of the pack now.” I kissed her. Officially, it would probably take a week before the forms were processed, and it populated in her file, but that was simply a technicality.
“We have something for you.” Brennan nervously took a small box out of his pocket and handed it to her.
“Always with the presents.” Grace smiled and took it from him. She opened it and sucked in a breath. “I get one?”
“Of course you do.” Wes took the pack ring out of the box and slipped it onto her pinky.
“Now we all match,” Riley said. “So, when do we get those tattoos?”
“We were thinking of waiting until you turned sixteen, then we could all go together,” Jett replied. “There’s a great tattoo artist who goes to my gym who would be perfect.”
Riley thought for a moment. “I approve of that idea.”
“Tonight’s amuse-bouche is a mascarpone and grilled peach crostini with local honey and crispy pancetta.” The server set the delicate, colorful appetizer in front of us.
The sommelier poured the wine that matched, explaining the choice to us. Someone brought Riley a non-alcoholic beverage that also paired with the dish.
Riley took a photo of her plate. “It’s so pretty.”
I took a bite, savoring the flavors, then had a sip of wine. Ah, that pairing made sense.
“Um, I have a present,” Riley said to Grace as they cleared our plates.
“You do? Thank you.” Grace put a hand to her heart.
“I don’t have a lot of memories of my parents.
Mostly they’re memories of pictures I’ve been shown and stories I’ve been told so that I don’t forget them.
But one of the earliest memories I do have is of my mom’s charm bracelet that she always wore.
It would jingle and sparkle as she’d pick me up.
” Riley bit her lower lip, and her brother gave her a squeeze.
I recalled that charm bracelet well. My mother had gotten her several charms for it over the years.
“She got it for her excellent eighteen and the charms she put on it over the years represented things–like there are charms for me and my siblings, graduation, and when she married my dad. But there’s also ones from travels and things people got her and stuff.
Anyway, Sonja has it. When I was there for spring break, she gave me my charm from when I was born and said I could pick some charms, and to think about what I wanted.
” She removed something from her mini backpack.
Evan nodded, probably remembering when Sonja gave him his charm back when he and Wes mated.
“Um, so I don’t actually know the story behind this charm.
Sonja didn’t either. But I asked her if she could bring it when she came to the party because it reminds me of you, and I wanted to give you one.
Hiro helped me get a bracelet for it. Um, welcome to the family.
You’re stuck with us.” Giving Grace a bashful look, Riley handed Grace a small box across the table.
Grace opened the box, and tears pricked her eyes. “Thank you so much for trusting me with something of your mom’s. It means everything.”
Inside was a little pink cupcake charm on a gold bracelet.
“I don’t know the story of that one,” I admitted. “It wasn’t one my mother bought.”
“Oh, your mom bought some for my mom? You should tell Sonja. She likes to hear all the stories,” Riley said.
“Can I see?” Evan held out his hand. Grace passed it over. Evan started to laugh. “I know this story.”
“You do?” Riley perked. “I picked it because one of the first things Grace and I did together was make cupcakes.”
“Anniversaries have themes, and couples often give each other little gifts based on the theme. Mom was the one who usually told our dad that year’s theme.
One year, he misunderstood and thought it was the ‘cupcake’ anniversary, so he got her this and a box of the most beautiful cupcakes from the fanciest bakery in Rock Springs.
They were works of art with edible flowers on them,” Evan shared.
“She loved it, and her friend group adopted the cupcake anniversary instead of whatever it was supposed to be, and they’d try to outdo each other with the fanciest cupcakes. ”
Riley put a hand to her heart. “Awww. That is so stinking cute.”
“Mom would have loved you, Grace.” Evan handed it back to her. “Riley, that was so thoughtful.”
“The bracelet you and Hiro chose to put it on is nice, too, thank you,” Grace praised.
“Allow me?” I fastened the bracelet around her wrist.
Jett turned to Brennan. “Now I want a cupcake anniversary.”
The server came back with the next course. “Chilled watermelon soup with lime crema.”
The sommelier brought us a new wine, and Riley got a different drink.
“Such a pretty color.” Riley took another picture of her pink soup, swirled with light green cream.
Wes wiggled nervously. “Um, here.”
Taking a large envelope out of his suit jacket, he handed it to Grace.
She sucked in a breath as she opened in and withdrew a piece of paper. “You re-did it?”
“Yeah. I thought you might like a grown-up version. Now you have choices when you get the dress made.” His look went bashful.
“I wanna see?” Riley took the paper. On it was a sketch of Grace in a gold wedding dress with roses on it.
Grace kissed him. “I love it. Hiro’s mom sent me her dressmaking contacts, and one of them even emailed me back so far. I love both sketches so much.”
We were brought the next course–seared scallops with radish, grapefruit, fresh herbs, and edible flowers.
“Every course is just so beautiful,” Grace commented.
“It really is,” Brennan agreed.
Grace’s phone rang, and she frowned at it. “I’ve been getting weird calls. I haven’t answered them, but I think it’s the Bureau of Investigation. Ugh, I wish they’d just leave me alone.”
Brennan frowned. “I got a call from the Bureau of Investigation, too. Do you think it has to do with the professor? He’s okay, isn’t he?”
“The professor won’t answer me, but from what Creed and I could find out, he’s okay.” Grace’s brow furrowed.
“At least he’s all right.” I squeezed her hand.
“Yeah. I’m glad it’s okay. That call is probably just the same old same old,” Wes said. “The Bureau wants whatever was in the vault. Did we ever learn what she stole?”
“No.” Brennan shook his head.
Riley gave us a sly look. “Want me to find out?”
“No thank you.” Brennan shook his head. “But I appreciate what you and Wes did to help with my mother.”
Their virus had incapacitated the company system and would take some time for them to come back from it.
“I haven’t heard from her or my brothers at all today. I think they’re finally going to leave me alone. Caroline, too. All I want is to be left alone with my pack,” Brennan said.
“The next course is wagyu sashimi on a bed of mashed potatoes.” The server brought on the next course, as the sommelier poured the wine.
“To our pack and our new life and everything getting back to normal.” Wes raised his glass.
“To us.” Brennan raised his glass, as did we all.
Yes, it would be nice to finally settle back into a routine. I was also happy that all the drama we’d had was wrapping up. Just like I was relieved that I was getting justice for Elaris–and I had my father back.
“Oh, these mashed potatoes.” Grace made a happy noise as she took another bite.
That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.
Grace’s phone rang. “It’s Hale.”
“Take it,” I urged, knowing she was worried about the professor.
“Hale? Is he okay?” she asked.
I pulled her to me, and Wes took her hand.
“Me? Why would Pippa blame me? Never mind. Everything’s always going to be my fault, isn’t it?” She sighed. “What… they what? Do you know who or why?”
All of our attention focused on her. What was going on?
“Okay. Maybe that’s why the Bureau of Investigation has been calling. Thank you for telling me. I appreciate it.” Grace ended the call and looked up at us, her peach scent taking on the burnt sugar tang of fear.
“What happened?” Brennan demanded.
“The professor was held up because someone was looking for me. Who would look for me?” Her hands shook. “Now Pippa hates me more than she already does. First, I wrecked her family, and now I put her omega in danger.”
“Hey, I’ve got you.” Wes squeezed her.
“It’s okay, Grace. You’re safe. I’ll call in some favors and figure out who it is,” Jett assured. “Honestly, it’s probably someone looking for Rosalind and thinking you might know where she is. Especially if she ran off with the treasure or whatever.”
“That makes sense, given the professor has been telling people about you,” I added.
Frowning, she called someone. “Um, this is Grace, you keep calling? Call me back.”
Jett was busy texting. “Yeah, it’s probably someone looking for Rosalind, and they wanted to warn you.”
“True.” Grace still smelled scared, and I kissed the top of her head.
“Let me at them. We’ve got you,” Riley stated.
“Yeah. Do you want to go home?” Evan asked.
Grace considered this for a moment. “Why don’t we finish this lovely meal? You’re right. Someone’s looking for Rosalind and thinks I know where she is. The joke’s on them, because she’s dead, and I have no idea what the treasure is, let alone where it is.”
“As you wish. Let’s enjoy this night together,” I replied.
We finished our delightful course, and the server brought another. “Micro-greens with raspberry vinaigrette, goat cheese, and roasted almonds.”
Still, chills went through my body at the idea of someone looking for her. But, really, Jett was correct. Someone wanted Rosalind.
After all, that was the only reasonable explanation. Because who’d be searching for Grace?