Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Was there ever a time he felt more nervous? Zach looked around the hotel kitchen again. Everything was prepared and waiting. He pushed out to the dining room. Ava was lighting the candles on a long table they’d made out of several smaller tables in the middle of the room.
He’d decided to run the restaurant at the Grand two days after reuniting with Ava. It was a no-brainer, really. Where else could he be so loved and accepted? He could cook anywhere, but only here, on Jonathon Island, could he cook for the people he cared about most.
He’d spent the two weeks since then hiring staff, ordering food, and finalizing the menu for the restaurant.
The hotel dining room hadn’t hosted any guests yet, and he felt it was appropriate to christen the space with a family dinner. Full service would start in a few days.
“All set?” he asked.
“All set,” she responded. She put her hand to her stomach. “Why do I feel more nervous now than I did for the contest?”
“Relax.” He laughed. “It’ll be fine. It’s not like you’re eating with nearly my whole family tonight or anything.”
She laughed too. Her laugh stirred something deep within him, a pleasant flutter in his stomach. “I guess I’ve already met most of them anyway. How are you feeling? It’s been a whirlwind these past few weeks.”
He came up behind her and put his arms around her waist, pulling her close. Her hair smelled of her shampoo and the rosemary they’d used in the malfatti recipe. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m nervous too.”
“What do you have to be nervous about? You already know they love you.”
“I doubted that for a long time. I guess it feels weird to find out how wrong I was. Wrong about a lot of things.”
She put her hands over his. “And you are forgiven and loved.” She turned in his arms and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’d better go check the garlic bread. We wouldn’t want to serve charred loaves.”
A few minutes later, his family started filing in.
Ollie, Eliza, Kate, and Lincoln arrived together.
His dad and mom came in, holding hands. His mom wore a huge smile.
Dani and Liam arrived at the same time as Uncle Bryan and Aunt Mary.
James came in a moment later. A general hubbub settled over the place as everyone found their places at the table.
His dad stood. He rapped on his glass, the chime silencing the happy chatter around the table. “I’d like to propose a toast. To Zach, who always knows how to rise to the occasion.”
Everyone around the table cheered.
Ava stood. “I’d like to make a confession.
” Zach watched her swallow hard. She’d told him she wanted to do this, even though he’d reassured her it wasn’t necessary.
“A long time ago, something I wrote did a lot of damage to Zach’s reputation.
Most of you know the whole story. But tonight I want to tell you something that might damage my reputation.
” She gripped her cup, her knuckles white against the glass.
The silence lay heavy around them. “I can’t cook. ”
A chuckle from one of the guests, Zach couldn’t make out who. Then Dani laughed, Liam going a second later. A wave of laughter rolled across the table. Ava’s mouth turned up on one side. Her gaze sought his, and he stood up. He took her hand, and her warm fingers curled around his.
“I’m eating something you cooked right now,” Ollie said.
“Yeah, it’s amazing. I can barely boil water,” Kate put in.
“But Zach made this meal,” Ava pointed out.
He squeezed her hand. “We did it together.”
Dani got out of her chair. “Ava, for a minute there, I thought you were going to admit to killing someone or something. It’s not a crime to not be able to cook.”
“It is if you’re supposed to know about cooking for your job.” Ava crossed her arms over her stomach.
“Nah.” Dani tossed the comment aside. “That’s no big deal. You obviously know what you’re talking about. I’ve taken your advice many times. I love your column.”
“Besides, why would you need to cook when you have Zach right there?” Liam said.
Ava laughed then. Her whole body relaxed. “I guess you’re right. I feel better now that my secret has been spilled.”
“Hear! Hear!” Uncle Bryan raised his glass. “I’ll toast to that.”
“Speaking of cooking,” Mom said, “Ava was cooking with these words.” She fished a newspaper clipping out of her purse. “May I?”
Zach pulled Ava down into her chair and gestured to his mother, curious what she was going to do. Across from them, Dani sat too.
His mother rose. She cleared her throat.
“‘Zachary Sullivan is not unknown to the cooking community. Some will remember how he wowed the judges at Jonathon Island’s cooking competition with his peach tart. And many of my readers will have tasted a dish he prepared at Escargot, even if they didn’t know it.
Now, Jonathon Island’s golden boy—’” The table erupted into hoots and cheers.
His mom held up a hand. “Let me finish. ‘…golden boy will be showing us his best work as he opens a restaurant in the historic Grand Sullivan Hotel. We know many will be eager to try his new creations. If Zach is cooking, you will find me at his table.’ Yada yada.” She twirled her hand. “I think you get the picture.”
Zach stared at her. “What was that?”
“Don’t you know?” His mom passed him the clipping. “It’s Ava’s article about you. There’s a very flattering picture of you in your chef’s getup. I guess it ran on the front page of the Chicago Herald last week.”
He turned to look at Ava. She looked like the Cheshire cat. “You did this?” A sense of joy crept over him.
“Yes. I leveraged some of my newfound power with the paper. I hope it was okay.” She ducked her head.
He tucked a finger under her chin and lifted her face. “Better than okay. It means the world to me. You mean the world to me. I’m so glad we found each other again.” Then he bent and kissed her, tuning out the whistles and laughter of his family.
Take one witty food writer and add one repentant chef, fold in an island full of memories. Mix well and add a dash of love. That was a recipe for forever.