Chapter 7 #2
They entered a large room, and she asked, “I assume this is for classes? I see yoga mats and medicine balls.”
“It is. They’ll be hiring instructors to teach those.”
“That’s actually something I’m qualified to do,” she mused, her face thoughtful.
“Living on the road, it’s a little hard to eat as you should, so I became devoted to working out.
Over the years, I earned certificates as a yoga and Zumba instructor and would hold daily classes for those in the company who wanted to get in a daily workout.
I usually held classes on the stage of whatever theater we were performing in, but sometimes, I would hold outdoor classes if there was a nearby park if the weather was good. ”
“Is that something you’d be interested in? I could facilitate a meeting between you and Bill Lonsdale. He’s the manager for Tidewater and hiring staff now.”
“I do enjoy getting up and moving every morning and really had fun leading others through a class. So, do you think rich people would actually sign up for classes even though they’re on vacation and want to be pampered?”
“Lots of guests take advantage of various exercise classes in our fitness centers.” Sullivan thought if men got a look at Piper, they would sign up in droves.
“Let’s continue the tour,” she said, but he could tell she was more contemplative now, as if she might actually be considering applying for a job at Tidewater as a fitness instructor.
They visited the nightclub, which would be a main gathering center each evening.
“Usually, we have a few different performers entertain guests here. A pianist. A singer or two. One night a week is devoted to karaoke. Also on this floor is a dance club.”
He took her back downstairs for the last stops, saying, “We’ll have three main restaurants. One features Asian fusion. Another Mexican cuisine. The third will spotlight continental cuisine.”
Sullivan led Piper through the first two restaurants and then an area which would offer a breakfast buffet before entering the final restaurant, which had elegant chandeliers and tables and chairs.
“This looks so fancy. What do people even wear at a luxury resort?”
Thinking back to his own vacations at exclusive beach resorts, he said, “Guests go for mostly neutral colors. You won’t catch anyone walking around in T-shirts and shorts or swimsuits and cover-ups except by the pool. For the most part, men wear dress slacks and collared shirts.”
“I’m sure the women dress up more, though.”
“True. They dress simply but chicly. Maxi dresses. Silk blouses and tailored slacks. Dressy sandals.”
“I don’t mind dressing up on occasion, but on vacation?
I want to be comfortable. Give me shorts and flip flops any day.
Besides, I’m sure one night at Tidewater would cost me a month in salary.
” She paused. “Would you mind if we cut through the kitchen? Now that I’m interested in cooking, I’d love to see what a restaurant kitchen looks like. ”
They entered the kitchen, a large space of gleaming, stainless steel countertops and tables and pots and pans which hung from the ceiling. A man unfamiliar to Sullivan sat at a table, pen in hand. It flew across the page of his notebook as he frowned in concentration.
“Ty?” Piper asked.
The man looked up. “Piper? Piper Roberts?”
He quickly came to his feet, beaming at her. She moved toward him, and he enveloped her in a bear hug.
If Sullivan had thought jealously coursed through him at the thought of Zane dining with Piper, it now poured through him as he saw how familiar the two were with one another.
The man released her, and they both said at the same time, “What are you doing here?”
“You first,” she said. “Although I have a sneaking suspicion you work here.”
“I do. I just drove in from New Orleans yesterday.”
“That’s right. You were the chef at a restaurant there. Mom told me about that.”
“I was. The lure of returning to the Bay was too great, however. Wagner Enterprises came knocking on my door with an offer too sweet to pass up. I’m going to not only be the head chef for one of the restaurants at Tidewater, but I’ll oversee its entire food and beverage program.”
“That’s great, Ty,” Piper said. “And a heckuva lot of responsibility.”
He chuckled. “It really is. Sometimes, I wonder if I’m crazy to bite off as much as I have.” His eyes flicked to Sullivan, and Piper spoke up.
“Meet Sullivan Shepherd, the architect of Tidewater. He’s giving me the grand tour of the resort.”
Sullivan offered the chef a hand.
“Tyler Chastain,” the other man said. “Thank you for leaving the kitchens’ design up to me.”
When Piper frowned in confusion, Sullivan said, “I’ve learned to reserve a set amount of space for a chef’s kitchen and restaurant. While Kaitlyn designs the interior of the restaurant, whether it’s tables or banquettes, I leave the entire kitchen space up to the chef to design as he sees fit.”
“You don’t know how I appreciate that, Sullivan,” Tyler said.
“Every chef wants to put his mark on his food, but I believe that starts in the kitchen itself, with its design and workability. I’ve never had the luxury of creating a kitchen from scratch, but Wagner allowed me to do so in all the kitchens here.
I’ve spent a good amount of time on Zoom calls, getting all the details just right, but this is perfect.
Now, all I need to do is create the perfect menu. ”
“Have you hired the chefs who’ll run the other restaurants? Or is that a Wagner thing?”
“Wagner asked me for a short list of chefs I would recommend, then they approached them individually. I was able to sit in on those Zoom interviews, and then I made my recommendations to HR. I’m pleased with the talent they’ve hired.
Each chef has been guaranteed the ability to hire his own staff.
Like me, they’ll bring a few others with them whom they’ve worked with in the past. I stole my sous chef from my NOLA restaurant.
She’s simply incredible. We have a great shorthand in the kitchen.
She’s hoping a step up to a Wagner resort on her résumé will allow her to run her own kitchen someday soon. ”
“I’ve actually learned to do a bit of cooking myself, Ty,” Piper revealed. “You remember Layne?”
“I sure do. Mila, too. The three of you were inseparable.”
“Mila came back to the Bay a few years ago. She’s the volleyball coach at the high school, and she married the basketball coach last Thanksgiving.
Layne is getting married to a local artist next week.
She inherited her parents’ B&B, and I’ve come home to manage it.
At least for a few months.” She chuckled.
“I’m trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. ”
“What have you been up to? I lost touch with most everyone after I left the Bay and went to cooking school in Paris. After that, I stayed in Europe for almost five years, soaking up all the knowledge I could. Then I came back to New York and worked at two different restaurants there before I was tempted by a great offer to go cook in NOLA. Now, that’s a place which knows how to make incredible food. ”
“I left college early and began touring in musicals around the country,” Piper explained.
“That’s what I’ve done for the last ten years.
After so long on the road, though, the appeal had waned.
Plus, Layne and Mila had come back to Bay.
I missed them and my parents terribly. As eager as I was to leave Driftwood Bay, its siren song has brought me home.
Now, I just have to decide what it is I want to do.
Managing the Bay Breeze will give me time to investigate other avenues of employment. ”
Piper glanced to the table. “I see you’re really busy.”
“Working on creating the menus for Le Point Idéal.” He grinned. “French for The Sweet Spot.”
“Then we’ll let you get back to that. It was good seeing you, Ty.”
“Same, Piper. Why don’t we catch up more? We could meet for a drink tonight at the Pelican Porch. Dad would also love to see you.”
Before Piper could respond, Sullivan said, “Piper’s busy tonight. Maybe another time.”
His gaze met the chef’s, and he hoped Tyler Chastain received the message he was sending.
“Okay, maybe another time then.”
“Let’s trade numbers,” Piper suggested. “I know Mila and Layne would love to see you now that you’re back in the Bay.”
They exchanged cells and typed in their contact information for one another.
“I’ll text you soon about that drink,” Piper promised.
They said their goodbyes and left the kitchen, making their way through the restaurant’s dining room again. Once outside, though, Piper came to a halt. She scowled at him, her glare one which could freeze water on a summer day.
“What the hell was that about?” she demanded.