Chapter 39 Rule #39 Food （and elevators） bring people together.
Freya
“Idon’t want to alarm you,” Julian says, standing at the window that peers into the kitchen from the dining room of the restaurant.
“Oh God, Julian. What?” I snap, wiping my hands on my new apron.
His guarded, tense expression slowly morphs into a wicked smile. “There’s a line around the corner.”
My face falls. “Stop teasing me.”
“Why would I tease you?” he asks, looking offended.
Archer bursts in like a storm through the back door. “Babe, there’s a guy out here with a delivery.”
“Oh thank God,” I snap. “It’s the wine.”
Taking off in a mad sprint to the back door, I meet the delivery man to sign off on the shipment. The staff scurry around me in a frantic hustle and bustle.
I’ve been up since six o’clock in the morning, which wasn’t much after such a late, dramatic evening. I’ve been running on adrenaline and dirty chai lattes all day, and honestly, I love every damn second.
Archer and Julian have been by my side through it all. Through every hiccup and every celebration. After six months of blood, sweat, and tears (literally), we’re actually opening my restaurant tonight.
It still feels like a dream.
The doors open in an hour, and I’ve been running around frantically since I got here this morning. Now, standing in the front of the restaurant, I walk by each table, my fingers gently running over the candles and tapestry, letting this dream become a reality.
“Chef,” a soft voice says from behind me, and I turn to find Archer watching me. “You okay?”
Julian steps to his side, both of them looking fiercely handsome, even with their black eyes and bruises.
They are not perfect, and they never were. That was all part of my fantasy when I looked at them and saw nothing but fancy suits and dollar signs. But now that I’ve fallen so deeply in love with them, I see the men underneath. The flaws and the charm.
I see Julian’s insecurities, even still. It was never a weakness, but his ability to let us in regardless is a strength.
I see Archer’s demons. I never knew someone with so much could feel so empty, and I intend to prove to him every day just how rich life can be.
Slowly, I nod. “Yeah, just doing one last walk-through.”
“Do you want to be alone?” Julian asks.
I smile to myself as tears moisten my eyes. “No.” I reach out a hand to them.
With that, they come to me, one on each side, holding me close in this magical, life-changing moment.
No one speaks for a while as we all embrace and absorb what all this means.
It’s an accomplishment. It means we took the challenges life threw at us and our relationship, and we fought for what we want. We fought for each other.
This restaurant is a symbol of that.
“It feels a little obvious, but I have to say it anyway. This wouldn’t have been possible without you guys,” I say, glancing up at each of them.
“That’s not true,” Archer says with conviction. “Sure, it might not have happened here and now, but it would have happened someday, Freya.”
His belief in me flickers with warmth in my heart like a steady flame.
“We invested in you,” Julian says.
In some ways, I realize I invested in them too. No one will say it, mostly because that would be incredibly cheesy, but we’re all thinking it. We invest in each other. We support one another because we believe in our hearts that the world is better for it.
“You ready to give your team that inspiring speech?” Julian asks.
“I suck at speeches,” I reply, hiding my face in Archer’s chest.
“This is your moment, Chef. Take it all in.”
With that, I head to the kitchen where my all-female staff is working, the energy buzzing with hope and purpose.
Most of them are people I’ve worked with before, women who I wish I could have taken with me when I left those toxic kitchens.
Even if it kills me, I’m going to prove to them that it doesn’t have to be that way.
They no longer have to endure belittling behavior in the name of food and passion.
Not in my kitchen.
“If I could have your attention for a moment,” I announce.
They all quickly place their tools down, stopping in their tracks to turn and face me. I’m met with smiles and expressions of excitement.
I realize as I stare into all their eyes that they too believe in me, just like my loyal boyfriends. These people aren’t here for just a job. They’re here to be a part of something special.
More tears prick my eyes.
“I won’t make this long or sappy because I know you’re all working so hard, but I just want to say…thank you.”
The cook nearest to me gets misty-eyed as well.
“Tonight isn’t just a dinner service. It’s a first impression.
The people out there have a choice of where to eat tonight, and they’re choosing to come here.
Food brings people together, and the ones who sit at our tables tonight are choosing to come together here.
Cook as if it’s your family out there. Cook as if you want to make them proud. Thank you all so much.”
The room breaks out in applause and cheers as everyone gets hyped for the evening.
With tears in my eyes, I turn toward Archer and Julian. Archer is busy snapping pictures on my phone, and I smile at them both as I say, “It’s time. Open the doors.”
The first guest to come through the doors is my mother, and Archer personally escorts her to her table. Before she sits, she throws her arms around me. “I’m so proud of you, Freya. You are a force, my sweet girl. And I hope nothing ever stops you.”
There are tears running through my makeup as I pull away, but I don’t bother to wipe them. “Thank you, Maa.”
She takes her seat beneath the photo of my family on the wall, and it makes me emotional all over again.
“Maa, I don’t want you to have to eat alone,” I say.
“She’s not,” Archer says from behind me as he takes the chair across from her. But it’s still a table large enough for eight, and worry settles in my stomach.
Just then, I turn around and nearly come barreling into Julian and his family. The Kades are all in my restaurant, filling the seats around my mother.
Amelia squeals before wrapping me up in a big hug. “You did it!”
“I couldn’t do it without you,” I reply, hugging her back tightly. “Now, have a seat. Enjoy your dinner.”
Amelia turns and snatches the seat her father nearly takes, making him laugh. She plops down next to her dad’s friend Matis and grins up at him with a flirty smile.
My mother starts talking to Julian’s mom animatedly as if they’re already old friends. Julian’s dad laughs with Archer. Julian teases Amelia.
What I said in the kitchen is true: food brings people together. And this is my family.
“Chef,” someone says from the kitchen, and I turn to find one of my cooks waving for me.
“I better get to work,” I say to everyone at the table. They quickly wave me away, and I run off to cook my first dinner service in my restaurant.