13. Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Lis
T he first thing that goes wrong is the bride brings two extra people with her. The second thing that goes wrong is the groom brings three. I have just enough to make their plates until the person cooking the chicken burns two of them. While also under-cooking the middle. I switch the person out, but the damage is done. I send a message to the group chat asking Derek if he can procure some more chicken in the next five minutes and he says he’s on it.
Three dishes break while I’m plating and then Spencer arrives.
“I have good news and bad news,” he says.
“I need some good news,” I say, laying the chicken that’s been cooked properly onto the plates.
“You no longer need the two chicken that were ruined.”
I pause, looking up at him. “Two people left?”
“No. Two people are vegetarians.”
Everything in the kitchen pauses for a half a second before Tina yells, “Don’t stop stirring that sauce.”
I take a deep breath. “Please tell me the two people are two of the extras.”
“No. It’s two of the planned guests. The bride says she told me. I’ll go through the notes later tonight, but I don’t remember her telling me anything about vegetarians for the rehearsal or the wedding.”
I tilt my head back and groan. “Tina, come finish plating.” I rush to the fridge and start pulling things out, eventually landing on a large head of cauliflower. I point to one of the cooks behind me. “Get that oven turned back on to four twenty-five.”
I rush around gathering oil and the same seasonings we used with the chicken. I cut the cauliflower until I have thick slices, season them, and throw them in the oven.
“What do you need me to do?” Spencer asks.
“Stall them. These are going to take at least twenty minutes. I’d prefer thirty. The chicken isn’t going to last that long, though.”
“We can bring these plates up in ten minutes,” Tina says, as she finishes with the sauce and moves on to the vegetables. “They’ll last that long. Then we can have the wait staff set them out slowly.”
“I can let them know the vegetarian dishes will be shortly behind,” Spencer offers.
“No. I don’t want them to notice that they’re coming out separately if they don’t have to. If someone asks, then we can tell them. Otherwise, just say nothing.”
Spencer nods and leaves the kitchen to return upstairs.
My heart is pounding in my chest as I wait for the cauliflower to bake. There’s really nothing else I can do other than stand there, wringing my hands. I’m supposed to be taking a minute between the dinner and dessert, but I’m just watching the time. The wait staff takes the chicken dishes and head upstairs. Two plates are sitting on the pass, ready for me as soon as the cauliflower is done. I resist the urge to open the oven and check on them.
Do not open it, Lis. I tell myself. You’ll just let all the hot air out and slow down cooking. Relax and let the oven do its job.
I check the time, watching as the second hand on my watch ticks around. I always wear the watch when I’m cooking, specifically for the second hand.
Finally, they’re done and I pull them out, plating them quickly. A waiter is already there, ready to bring them upstairs. Just as he leaves with the dishes and I’m about to take a deep breath, a fire breaks out at the meat station—the one that should have shut down twenty minutes ago.
“What?” I turn and grab a pot lid, smothering the fire as quickly as I can and then turning off the heat. “What are you doing?” I ask the cook.
She’s young and pale with fear.
“It’s fine. Go start washing dishes, I’ll finish up here.”
I move off to the dessert station to check on the progress and find one person making a perfect caramel, while the second is burning it.
“Turn the temperature down,” I say. “And stir it constantly. Get rid of that and start again.”
He does as instructed, and I go back to the pass.
“Are a couple of these people new?” I ask Tina as we set out plates for the dessert.
“Yeah. A few of the regular cooks left when Mark did. Adalie had to bring in some new staff. They came with good resumes. But I think we should talk to her about a few of them.”
I nod. I don’t want them fired. But probably not scheduled for a wedding in the near future.
Finally, the dessert is plated and served. I tell everyone to shut down and clean up. I help where I can, but each person is in charge of their station. When they’re done, I inspect it and then tell them they can go until I’m the last one in the kitchen. Tina hugs me before she leaves.
“You did great today.”
“Thanks. I’ll look at a few things for tomorrow and hopefully we don’t have quite as many mishaps.”
She smiles. “Even if we do, you’ll handle them. Good night, Lis.”
I consider going to my office and then go to the staff lounge instead so I can lay on the couch. Kicking off my shoes and pulling the clip from my hair, I flop down, stretching my legs on the cushions. I’m dozing for a few minutes when I hear someone come into the room.
Through barely cracked eyelids, I see Spencer, who sits on the other end of the couch. I bend my knees to allow him space, but he just pulls my feet into his lap and starts massaging one. I try to sit up and he shoots me a look.
“Just relax. You’ve had a long night. Mine wasn’t nearly as stressful as yours.”
I do as he says, but I don’t close my eyes again, watching him as he rubs my tired feet.
“Are all weddings like this?” I ask.
“No. Just the ones with bridezillas.”
“And how many of those do we have this summer?”
He thinks for a moment. “About four.”
“I’ll need to know which weddings those are so I can prepare.”
He laughs. “I’ll get the names on Sunday and let you know. We’ll go over the details so you can figure out what you want to do about them. Also, I looked through my notes. The bride never mentioned any vegetarians.”
I snort and roll my eyes. “I’m not really surprised. That wasn’t the first time I’ve had to come up with a sudden vegetarian dish that wasn’t requested before the event. I’m just glad they weren’t vegan or I wouldn’t have been able to use the sauce.”
Derek comes into the room and I try to tug my feet back, but Spencer continues massaging as though it’s not strange at all that he’s doing it. My heart races as I wait to hear what Derek will say.
“You giving out free foot massages?” Derek says. “Because I’m next.”
“You’re not pretty enough,” Spencer replies.
Derek flips him off before pouring a cup of coffee and sitting at the table.
“Adalie went home?” Spencer asks and Derek nods, stirring sugar into his cup.
“About an hour ago. I offered her a ride if she waited, but she wanted to do some painting before bed.” He turns to face us, leaning against the counter. “Not bad today, Lis. There were a few pretty major snafus and you handled them like a pro.”
“Thanks,” I say with a warm smile. “I’m going to go over the menu for tomorrow. If I want to add a few ingredients, when do you need the list so we can have them on time?”
He considers. “The earlier, the better. But I can get everything you need within a couple hours. So, whenever you want the stuff by, two hours before that.”
I nod. “I’ll get you the list first thing in the morning.” I drop my head back and close my eyes.
“You guys want to go out for a drink before heading home?” he asks.
I groan. “Not on your life. I’m going home to bed.”
Spencer’s hands pause their massaging and then continue. My heart rate kicks up for a second as well as I realize what I’ve said and what he’d thought of. Us. Going to bed together.
But then he breathes out a sigh and says, “Me too, man. I’m beat. Fucking bridezillas.”
Derek laughs as he straightens, draining the last of his coffee. “You’re the one who wanted to deal with the clients. That’s why I work in acquisitions. I deal with you and Lis. You guys get to deal with the people who pay us.”
“Not me,” I say, not bothering to open my eyes. “Spencer can do all that. I don’t want to talk to people. People are idiots.”
“Yeah they are,” Derek says. “I’m going to need a high five on that.”
I raise my hand and he slaps it, but I still don’t open my eyes.
“Well. See you guys tomorrow. Get me that list as soon as you can, Lis.”
Then he leaves.
“Come on, firecracker. Let’s get you home. You want to take an Uber?”
“Seems a waste of money to do that.”
“It’s late and you’re exhausted. I’ll pay for it.”
I open my eyes then. I’m not sure what I’m going to say—possibly protest that he doesn’t need to pay for something I don’t really need—but I end up saying nothing because he holds up a hand to stop me.
“Let me make sure you get home safe. Please.”
My heart tugs at his concern.
“You can’t pay for my ride home every night after work,” I say. “It would be way too much money.”
“Don’t worry about my money, Lis. I can afford a few rides if it means you get home safely.”
“And you do the same for Vic or Adalie?”
“Vic and I usually walk home together if we’re here this late. And Adalie takes transit. I know which bus she takes. It stops right at the corner here and then right in front of her building.”
“So then why don’t you want me to take transit? The bus that Adalie took from the corner goes right to my building as well.”
“I know where you both live, and I hate to say it, but her neighbourhood is a little bit safer than yours.”
I can’t argue with that. It’s Friday night and there are usually drunks wandering around, sometimes even throwing up on the sidewalk outside the building. It’s a nice—and affordable—pet-friendly apartment. But the area leaves a lot to be desired.
“We can take transit if you want,” Spencer says. “But I’d like to come with you, if that’s okay.”
“That’s okay.”
We stand and he tucks my hair behind my ear. I’m completely lost in his crystal blue eyes. Then he steps back and says, “You got a jacket?”
I grimace. “I forgot one. But it’s not a long bus ride. I’ll be fine.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You can wear my hoodie again.” He moves off to get it from where I left it in his office earlier.
When he returns, I say, “I can’t keep borrowing your clothes.”
“Sure you can.” He’s already unzipping the backpack and pulling out the now familiar sweater.
I may or may not have slept in it both Wednesday and Thursday nights.
He shakes it out and pulls it over my head, gently taking my hair out of the back. He’s watching what he’s doing, careful not to pull my hair, but I’m watching him, my heart expanding in my chest like it’s about to burst with all the emotions I’m feeling.
“There. All cozy. Ready?”
I nod, dressed again in his clothes, and I wonder if he even really wants it back.