Chapter 3
Charles finished off the last bite of the best macaroni and cheese he’d ever had, followed it with a sip of red wine that paired strangely well with it, and leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh.
It had been a day full of unexpected things, which was refreshing after months of—years of knowing exactly how his days were going to go.
For starters, he hadn’t expected a cowboy. That was an unimportant detail, but an interesting one. Something to wonder about, to occupy his thoughts for a while.
He hadn’t expected to have dinner served for him, especially not such a delicious plate of soul-soothing comfort food.
And he hadn’t expected to feel so relieved to know there was someone else in the house. Tad hadn’t been much company, but he was someone to talk to. Even though Tad couldn’t carry on a conversation, Charles had known he wasn’t alone.
Lonely, but not alone.
He picked up his wine, dialed Brady on his cell phone, and wandered over to the window to watch the last of the sunset.
“Charles. How are you?” Brady always sounded so pleased to hear from him.
“I am stuffed, my friend. A cowboy just fed me the best mac and cheese I’ve ever had, and I’ve called to thank you for that business card.” He patted his belly. He’d eaten so much he felt like it might pop.
“A cowboy? As in yee-haw, y’all? Honestly?” Brady sounded as shocked as he’d felt when he saw the man walk up to the door in that hat and pointy-toed boots.
“Maybe not quite that stereotypical, but he was wearing lovely, expensive-looking, fancy boots. I probably insulted him with my own surprise.” Ryder was well-dressed for the first day on the job. He was sure he owed the man an apology.
“He’s there to keep you comfortable and taken care of. He’ll be fine. Did he complain?”
Charles wasn’t sure the man had spoken a dozen, polite, gentle words to him.
“No, not at all. He made a funny joke actually, about not cooking bugs when I asked him if making dinner was in his job description.” Keep him comfortable and taken care of—that made it sound like he was helpless.
“Oh, that’s good. That service is supposed to have incredibly well-rounded assistants.”
“I’m not entirely sure I understand what I can and can’t ask him to do, but I assume he’ll tell me.”
It occurred to him that in a perfect world, he wouldn’t have to ask, the cowboy would just know. But it didn’t work that way in reality, and he needed to figure out what he actually wanted from the man.
More macaroni and cheese would be a good start.
“Be honest and open, right? That’s the most important part. I imagine he’s just looking to make you happy.”
He hadn’t been the best at being open in his marriage. Honest yes, always. But totally open? He’d probably fail that litmus test.
He thought maybe it would be easier with a stranger, there was nothing to lose.
“That feels incongruous, being open with a man I don’t know the first thing about.”
“I imagine so, but I feel better knowing someone is there for you. Maybe he loves to watch TV or play cards or…uh…knit.”
He snorted. “That would be something, if my personal assistant was a knitting cowboy.” Cards were an idea. Maybe a whiskey. The cowboys on TV were always drinking whiskey. “I’ll try, Brady. I’ll…talk to him about…something.”
He had nothing to lose in talking. Literally nothing.
“Go for it. There was a reason the service sent him. You had to be a good fit.”
He didn’t see it, but then again, he’d said three words to Ryder and got the world’s best mac and cheese in return. So maybe there was something to it after all.
“You know this is difficult for me, Brady. I don’t know how to be just me anymore. But I’ll try.”
“I do, and I’m proud of you, man. You’re a survivor.” He loved how Brady’s voice rang with truth.
“Thanks. Let’s do lunch in the city next week. Talk soon.”
Brady shot him a calendar invitation as soon as they hung up the phone.
When he turned back to the table, he found his plate gone, and a piece of some sort of dessert with a scoop of ice cream on the side.
He glanced at it. Apple crisp, maybe? Or pear?
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had dessert. And look at that, he hadn’t asked, it just happened.
But had Ryder overheard his conversation? That felt…awkward.
He sat and picked up the plate, which was warm underneath, and got a forkful of the fruit and some of the ice cream. It was warm and sweet, a bite of pure happiness.
He couldn’t possibly finish it, he was still so full from dinner, but he ate more than half before he made himself put the plate down.
It was apples, he wasn’t sure if it was a crisp or a tart or what, but it was made from scratch for sure.
How long had it been since he had a real, home-cooked meal?
Too damn long, obviously.
He wanted to say thank you, but he wasn’t sure how to call for Ryder. He wasn’t the shouting type, he didn’t have a little bell or a buzzer. He moved to his desk and found Ryder’s paperwork, and sure enough, there was a cell phone number.
But should he text or call?
He rolled his eyes at himself. It was ridiculous that even simple decisions made him anxious. He picked up his phone and dialed Ryder. He was a grown man, wasn’t he? He could talk on the phone.
“Hello? Can I help you, sir?” The soft drawl was pleasant, not in the least harsh.
“Hi, Ryder. Could you come by my office, please? I thought we could—talk.”
“No problem. I’ll be there in two shakes.”
“Very good. Thank you.” He hung up, and before Ryder arrived he snuck one more bite of dessert. He was going to gain a hundred pounds if Ryder kept feeding him like this.
It didn’t take but a few seconds for Ryder to knock on his office door. The man was in a white T-shirt, a pair of jeans with a kitchen towel in the back pocket, and a pair of boots that were less pointed and shiny as the ones he’d shown up in.
Also, the man’s hair was completely silver, in a wild contrast to the unlined face.
He was a little jealous. His hair was also going silver, but his face showed the years around his eyes.
“Come in. Come sit.” He waved Ryder over to a pair of comfortable leather wing chairs near the window.
His view was of the back patio and the path down to the dock; it was shadier than the upstairs views but still had a nice look at the lake.
“I really must apologize for my behavior when you arrived. I have reasons, but there was no excuse to be rude.”
“No worries, sir.” He got a nod and a half-grin. “This is my first time doing this, so I didn’t understand the rules. I’m clever, though. I catch on quick.”
He sat and gestured to the chair again. “Are there rules? Maybe you ought to explain to me what they are.”
Ryder tilted his head, frowned. “Well, I suppose what you expect from me. When you want meals, what you like. What needs fixing…”
He nodded. “Dinner was outstanding. I don’t think I’ve ever had macaroni and cheese that perfect. And the dessert was a lovely surprise. It made me smile. Thank you for that. As you can see, I was too full from dinner to finish it. Is that how you found this position? Are you a chef?”
“No, sir. I’ve worked in restaurants and as a camp cook a number of times, and I like cooking well enough, so I’m happy to do it.”
He nodded. That was interesting. “Where are you from, Ryder?”
“Originally, New Mexico, although I’ve lived in Texas, Louisiana, and Colorado, and I’ve traveled all over.”
Texas, New Mexico, Colorado…those places were definitely not like here.
“So, why New York? I read your dossier; you could use your set of skills anywhere. From what I’ve seen so far, it seems like this is a new sort of position for you.
I’m not questioning your competence, of course, I’m just curious what brought you up this way. ”
“It was time for a change of venue.”
That was a nonanswer answer, but it weirdly didn’t sound like a lie or even a prevarication.
He nodded his understanding. The details were none of his business if Ryder didn’t care to share them. “Fair enough. I’m not looking for a change of venue, just a change of pace. I don’t know what they’ve told you…?”
“Feed you, make you comfortable, take care of you.”
That sounded exactly like what Brady had just said to him on the phone.
He was going to have talk with Brady about setting him up at lunch next week.
“That’s what I’ve been told I need, yes.
” He sat up a little in his chair. “I’ve recently lost my husband.
” That was a strange and somewhat inaccurate thing to say because really, he’d lost most of Tad five years ago.
But it was such a long story and Ryder didn’t want to know all of that, he was sure.
Ryder nodded his head, almost bowing it. “I’m very sorry, sir. You got my sympathy.”
“Thank you. I don’t really know what’s next for me, but I am told I should start doing things again. I have friends who are eager for me to accept the invitations I’ve been turning down for several years. They told you that I split my time between this house and the city?”
“Yes, sir. Rog explained to me that you’d need someone to attend functions with you as well. I know how to smile and nod for the public and for folks who you want to impress.”
That made him grin. “You sound like you’re a celebrity.”
“No, sir, only in very certain circles that don’t reach up here.”
That explained Ryder’s earlier statement—a change of venue. Ryder didn’t want to be recognized. He was terribly curious, but he wasn’t going to ask deeper questions of someone he barely knew. He wanted someone who understood the job, he didn’t need a close relationship.
“So, is there a schedule you need me to follow? Likes? Dislikes?”
“I’ll eat just about anything, so whatever you have on hand or feel like making is fine. I like a good breakfast, preferably with some fruit, and a latte or coffee with cream. I prefer a light lunch, salads and such, and dinners that fit the season. But otherwise, I’m pretty easy.”