Chapter Thirty-Seven
Hank shifted in the driver’s seat of his Porsche and did his best to keep the anger from his voice. “Bethany Parker would never steal a recipe and enter it into a contest. She’s the most honest, respectable, kind, and considerate woman I’ve ever met. You’re making a mistake.”
The Fresh & Easy representative Pamela had managed to track down for him after he’d left the studio was apologetic, yet unwavering.
“Sir, we appreciate your support of Bethany Parker, but I’m afraid the rules of the contest are quite firm.
The winning recipe must be an original. The fact of the matter is Desmond Mitchell shared the same recipe for chocolate cake with buttercream frosting on a nationally aired television production months before the entry was submitted by Bethany Parker in our contest.”
“Yes, because he stole the recipe from her.”
“Can you prove it?”
“If I can, will you reinstate her entry as the winner? This accusation of plagiarism will destroy a good, honest woman’s reputation and the reputation of her business.”
“If you have concrete evidence, of course we will reconsider. We’ll delay announcing her replacement for a few days, so you have time to submit your evidence. Can you do it?”
“I’m sure going to try,” Hank said, clutching the wheel. “I’ll be in touch.” He hung up the phone as the light turned green and stepped on the gas, only to apply the brakes a few minutes later. Los Angeles traffic was its usual tangled mess.
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and studied the brake lights on the car in front of him. There was no way Bethany had cheated on her contest entry. Desmond had to have stolen it.
He squeezed the wheel like he wished he could squeeze the life out of the Chef King right now.
If he had known the extent of his treachery, Hank would have tossed the jerk out on the street the minute he’d spotted him annoying Bethany.
He should track the thief down now and teach him a lesson or two.
It wouldn’t help Bethany restore her reputation, but it sure would help Hank release his pent-up anger.
Traffic began to move again but crawled along at a snail’s pace.
It took almost an hour before he pulled into the exclusive gated neighborhood where he lived in the Hollywood Hills.
Hank used the time to call Blackie, the producers, and a private investigation firm that had a reputation for getting answers fast. He’d worked himself into quite a stew by the time he arrived home.
The first thing he noticed was Connor’s Honda Civic in the driveway with Elizabeth’s shiny red Mini Cooper parked next to it.
Hank entered his house from the garage to hear raised voices coming from the great room. He paused in the entrance to listen.
“You should be happy,” Elizabeth was saying. “Hank’s got his dream role now, and you’ll continue to be able to mooch off him for the rest of your college expenses.”
Connor’s voice rose a notch. “Sure, he’s helping me with school, but I’m not mooching. I intend to pay every penny back when I graduate. My point is, he’s not happy.”
“How would you know if he’s happy or not? You’ve only known him for a year. I’ve been with him for almost fifteen. I think I’m a better judge of his happiness. Trust me, landing the role of his dreams makes him happy.”
He was about to enter the room, but Connor’s next words stopped him cold.
“Can’t you see he’s in love with her? That’s why he’s been moping around and giving one syllable answers to everything he’s asked. The big guy’s in love, and he doesn’t even know it.”
For some reason, Connor’s assertion, which he would have scoffed at a few months ago, had him shaking in his custom-made Oxford shoes.
“Hank in love,” Elizabeth said with a laugh. “Never. Your brother’s left a trail of broken hearts a mile in every direction. But he’s never once been in love. You of all people should know why.”
“What do you mean?” Connor asked, sounding puzzled.
Hank found himself moving forward to make sure he heard whatever rationale Elizabeth would give.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake. Because you both have abandonment issues, that’s why.
You’re afraid of intimacy. That’s why Hank’s relationships never last. He doesn’t feel like he’s deserving of a woman’s love or support, so he finds a way to sabotage his relationships.
You’re both running scared and probably will be for the rest of your lives. This isn’t complicated.”
Connor mumbled something, but Hank couldn’t hear it. His brother must have been farther from the entrance than Elizabeth, who responded.
“You’re lucky you’ve had Hank to lean on, but outside of his dog, Hank’s had no one since his mom died.
He’s afraid of love and commitment and all those things that come with a real relationship.
The only way he knows how to show love is by footing the bill.
That’s why he’s paying for your education.
Trust me, he’s not in love with Bethany Parker. He wouldn’t know how to be.”
And every word she spoke rang true, Hank realized, except for one.
“I failed, Travis,” Bethany said.
She’d sat him down at one of the tables at the close of the business day and confessed the ugly truth and shared the official-looking email she’d received earlier in the day from Fresh & Easy.
“We’ve been disqualified from the contest. Desmond used Grandma Lou’s recipe on his TV show, so they rejected our entry.
I’m sorry, Travis. I’ve called Fresh & Easy to try and explain, but they’re asking for definitive proof that Desmond stole the recipe, and I don’t have it. ”
“What sort of proof would they need?”
“Someone who would have eaten the cake in our grandparents’ day, more than one customer who remembers seeing the recipe, a written confession from Desmond himself.
I tried to talk to Desmond, but he won’t take my phone calls.
I’ve interviewed everyone who’s come in today, but no one remembers seeing the recipe or eating it back in the day.
I even called a lawyer to see if they’d take this on pro bono, but they told me we don’t have a case.
I don’t know what else to do. I’m sorry. ”
“It’s not your fault,” Travis said, patting her arm. “It’s Desmond’s. He’s a horrible scum of a human being.” He pushed his chair from the table and stood, his hands clenched into fists at his side.
Alarm shot through Bethany, stealing her breath. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To kill him. I’m going to find the weasel and squeeze his neck with my bare hands. Then maybe he’ll think twice about stealing from anyone ever again.” Travis turned and headed toward the door.
She stood up so fast her chair almost toppled over. “Travis Parker, stop this instant. It’s too late. They’ve already disqualified our entry. We have to come up with proof in the next day or so, or we’re done. Getting in a fight with Desmond will only make it worse.”
He turned. “I don’t see how it will make it worse. It will sure make me feel better.”
“What we need from Desmond is a sworn confession. Beating him up will make it look like we’re in the wrong. I don’t want you hauled off to jail. That won’t help us with the contest.”
Travis considered her logic for a moment and, with a gusty sigh, returned to the table. “There’s really nothing we can do?”
“Short of a miracle, no. My only consolation is knowing Grandma Lou’s recipe was good enough to win.”
“You’re darn right there. That’s why Desmond stole it.” Travis patted her shoulder. “So this is it, then? We’ll need to close Grandma Lou’s before the end of the month?”
Bethany sighed and rubbed her eyes. “If we don’t figure out some way of redeeming our reputation and winning the contest in the next couple of days, yeah, it’s over. They’ll select a new winner. We’ll have to be out by the end of the month.”
“Have you reconsidered talking to Hank? Maybe he’d give us an extension on the rent?”
Bethany shook her head. “No, and I don’t intend to. Even if Hank agreed to waive next month’s rent, we’d still have to close. The sad truth is that even with the boost in sales since Hank’s been in Grandma Lou’s, we just aren’t making enough money to stay open.”
“It’s okay, Bethany. I’m getting my diploma after next semester. I’ll be able to find a job that pays well. Perfect timing. We’ll get by. I know we will. We’ll do it like we’ve done everything else . . . together.”
“That’s right.” Bethany smiled and gave her brother a hug. “I can’t do it without you. You truly are the best brother ever.”
“Don’t you forget it.”
“Never.”
Despite the loss of their livelihood, she still had Travis. Together, they would find a way to survive. Maybe they would carve a new life out for themselves.
Hank moved toward the entrance of the great room, his limbs shaking. Everything Elizabeth said about him was true—he was afraid of intimacy, he loved his career, he was thrilled to land the role of his dreams, he didn’t know how to love. Except she was wrong about one thing.
He did love Bethany Parker.
My God, Connor was right. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, was miserable without her. He had loved her the moment he’d spied her, eyes closed, savoring a bite of chocolate cake. How had he ever thought himself immune?
Hank leaned against the wall to steady himself.
He hadn’t thought he could fall in love because he had believed what Elizabeth said about him.
He had believed he was undeserving. That he was like his dad—selfish, egotistical, incapable of loving another.
Unable to remain faithful. Unable to be a good father.
Although his dad seemed to be making an effort, there was no guarantee the changes were permanent.