Chapter 32
IVY
S unday night while we were at Sawyer’s parents’ house for dinner, he got a text from Luna asking for my number and if I’d be available to come in on Tuesday to meet with the owners. For the first time since coming back into town, I had zero hesitations. The thought of being back in a real working kitchen again, creating meals for people to enjoy, fills me with so much excitement that I think I would have taken this job had it been anywhere. Barrel House wasn’t around when I lived here before and was opened a few years after I left by a couple I’m not too familiar with. Which is great for me, they most likely won’t be harboring any resentment toward me for breaking Sawyer’s heart.
Barrel House is located, quite literally, in the cellar of an old brick building. The entrance is on the side, down a set of stone steps that lead to a heavy steel door. It has a dark, speakeasy vibe with exposed brick walls, gorgeous lighting, and emerald-green tufted booths. The bar and tabletops are dark cedar wood with a matching green epoxy river through the center. Everything is gorgeous and I immediately fall in love.
The owners meet me at the hostess station, looking every bit the part of someone who would own such a gorgeous, hip space.
“Hi, I’m Ivy Turner. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Ivy, nice to meet you. My name is Dawson, this is my wife, Sybil. Thank you for coming in.”
“I’m happy to be here.”
“So this is really just a formality, Luna and Sawyer both put in a great word for you, and honestly, there aren’t many chefs, if any, in Aspen Ridge, and no one is willing to relocate here for the job at the moment.”
I chuckle at that. Small-town problems.
“Thank you. I can completely understand that. Is there anything you’d like to know? I’m formally trained at the Culinary Institute on the California campus and I’ve been working in a kitchen for the last four years, the last year as a sous chef. Sorry. I’m getting ahead of myself. Please continue.”
I give them a small smile. I’m suddenly nervous and I don’t know why. I know they said this interview was a formality, but there seems to be something else lingering in the air between us.
“You’re fine, we appreciate all the information. Sawyer sang your praises. We’re both happy to finally find someone qualified enough to handle the kitchen. We’d like to keep the menu as our former chef had created it, but if this works out and you’d like to stay on, then we can discuss you making changes to it.”
My heart does some weird flips in my chest. I’ve always wanted to be able to create my own menu and run my own kitchen. That’s the dream.
“Thank you for being open and transparent about those details and that sounds like a wonderful plan.”
Dawson releases a deep exhale and looks at his wife, who hasn’t said anything up until now. I look at her and smile, but don’t get one in return as she looks away too quickly. I get an uneasy feeling about her, but I can’t put my finger on it.
“That sounds great. Can you start tomorrow? Luna will get you all set up. Come in around nine-thirty? You’ll have time to get situated and start lunch service.”
“Thank you. I’ll be here.”
We shake hands and Dawson excuses himself while I gather my purse and jean jacket to head back to Sawyer’s house.
“So, you’re her.”
I look over at Sybil, who finally broke her vow of silence.
“Her? I’m not sure I understand who you mean.”
“Sawyer’s one who got away.”
My heart sinks. Do she and Sawyer have history? She’s clearly married now and surely Sawyer would have given me a heads up before letting me meet with someone he’s been with.
“Do I know you?” I ask.
“No. Sawyer knows my younger sister though. Emily. She thought she could change him, get him to fall for her and be more than a hookup. But you were always in the middle of him and anyone who came after you. I see why now,” she says as she looks me up and down, as if my body is the sole reason Sawyer never moved on from me. I swallow the evil retort threatening to burst from my lips and decide to kill her with kindness so that I don’t lose another job. Especially one I haven’t even started yet.
“Yes. Well, the heart wants what the heart wants. I hope Emily’s okay and was able to move on and find her happiness. Have a good day, Sybil.”
I walk quickly out of the restaurant and into my jeep before finally breathing deeply. Her unprofessionalism should bother me, but I can sympathize with her being protective over her sister. I’ll give her this one pass. Especially because I really want to work there. I know Sawyer has been with other people and I should be thankful she wasn’t right in front of me. Still, the jealousy burns like wildfire. I start up my jeep without thinking further on it and drive to the distillery.