Chapter 8
8
M aileah stood at the entry to the Majestic Hotel’s new demonstration kitchen and cooking school, taking in the vintage beach vibe and breathtaking ocean views. The renovation had transformed the space into a culinary paradise, with ten stations set up on two large islands. Each one featured a recipe, measured ingredients, and kitchen tools.
Todd appeared beside her, touching her elbow. “This place is incredible. Ready to channel your inner chef?”
Maileah laughed to hide her nervousness. More like my inner kitchen disaster, she thought. “Looks fascinating. Do you enjoy cooking?”
“I started on the grill and moved on from there,” he replied. “I like to learn more from cooking classes and demonstrations.”
Chef Gianna, a vibrant woman with a slight Italian accent, clapped her hands for attention. “Welcome, everyone. Today, we’re going to have a magnificent feast.”
The chef gestured to a framed menu. “We will begin with a classic retro dish, Oysters Rockefeller, as an appetizer. Then, we will move on to crostini bread, cold gazpacho, and a bay shrimp salad with fresh peaches.”
“That all sounds delicious,” Maileah said. “The perfect lunch with a view.”
A wave of laughter rippled across the room, and Maileah wondered what everyone found so humorous.
“We’re only getting started,” Chef Gianna said. “Next, we will prepare farfalle with a salmon vodka sauce and roasted brussels sprouts. For dessert, plan to enjoy homemade ice cream with fresh berry sauce. And we’ll quench our thirst with Italian sodas with garnishes.”
Todd put his arm around Maileah. “Now that’s a hearty lunch. Isn’t this exciting?”
She nodded gamely. “Sure is.”
Murmurs of excited approval swept across the small gathering of other couples. Maileah supposed this is what many of them did on Saturdays.
She sneaked a wistful gaze toward the beach through the expansive windows.
While the chef spoke, a pair of catamarans with brightly colored sails skimmed across her view. Excitement rose in her chest, and she leaned to one side for a better look. Was that Sailor and his friends? As the wind propelled the crafts, they gained speed. It looked like such fun.
Todd rested a hand on hers. “Which one do you want?”
“I’m sorry, I missed that,” Maileah replied, dragging her attention to her date.
“Now, choose your stations and put on your aprons,” Gianna said with a flourish. “Review the recipes and start work. I’ll be here for questions.”
“We’re making all the dishes?” Terror struck her heart, and she fumbled to slip on a red apron with The Majestic Kitchen emblazoned on the front. “I thought we might just watch. Like being part of a live cooking show audience.”
While others streamed toward the cooking stations, Todd chuckled. “You’re so funny. Wait a minute, I’ll help you with your apron.” He had already put his on and looked very much at ease.
Maileah’s gaze darted to the easier ice cream and Italian soda stations, but other couples were quicker than they were and claimed those. All the easy dishes were quickly snapped up.
Todd wrapped the ties around her waist and finished the bow with a flourish. “You look like a pro.”
They should have bolted from the starting line. The only food station remaining was for the main dish. Slowly, Maileah approached a platter of raw salmon with trepidation. “Looks like sashimi to me.”
“I’m sure we’ll cook that.” Todd read their station’s card. “This is the recipe for salmon vodka farfalle. We lucked out with the best dish.”
Maileah clasped her hands to steady them. “How hard can boiling water for pasta be, right?”
Todd raised an eyebrow. “Are you okay?”
“Just excited to dive in and do all the cooking,” Maileah replied, forcing a smile.
However, as they began gathering ingredients, she decided to confide in Todd. “In the spirit of full disclosure, I once burned pasta in Seattle. I left it on the stove and forgot about it.” For a very long time.
Todd chuckled at that. “At least you didn’t burn down your home—” He stopped and frowned. “Wait, you didn’t, did you?”
“Of course not,” she replied with mild indignation. “It was an apartment. Evidently, the alarm went off, and the neighbors called the fire department. When I returned, they had been evacuated. I asked who the idiot who’d started the fire was.”
It had taken forever to get the smell of smoke out of her furnishings and clothing.
Todd drew his brow in concern. “I hope that was a long time ago. ”
“Don’t worry. My mom gave me a timer that makes a loud ticking noise.” Not that she’d ever cooked pasta again after being so traumatized. That was Junie’s job now.
Another woman at the Italian soda station piped up. “I have one of those gadgets.”
Junie gave her a sweet smile, wishing they could trade places. How difficult was it to slice fancy fruit garnishes? “My usual idea of cooking is calling for takeout.”
“Nothing wrong with that occasionally.” Todd gave her an earnest look. “But wouldn’t you agree, a homemade meal is more satisfying?”
She realized her mistake. Hastily, she added, “Which is why I’m so excited to learn everything today. After I move, I plan to do a huge amount of cooking in my new place. Lots of pasta and…and other things, too. Like oatmeal cookies,” she finished with what she hoped was a dazzling smile. She would have to get Junie’s recipe.
“That’s baking, not cooking,” Todd said, breaking a smile.
“Whatever it is, they’re delicious,” Maileah said. “And with at least two or three ingredients from the major food groups.”
Todd chuckled. “This is why I like you, Maileah. You make me laugh. Only sometimes I can’t tell when you’re joking.”
“That’s me—a real jokester. That’s what my family says,” she added, maybe a little too brightly. She could think of a few other names Junie might call her. She let out a small sigh, praying she could get through this day without a catastrophe.
“We should start with the sauce,” Todd said, eyeing the measured ingredients artfully arranged at their station. He picked up a small glass container. “That smells like vodka. Better keep that away from the flame.”
“That’s all you, though I have first dibs on vodka leftovers.” Maileah picked up the recipe card. “I’ll read the instructions for you, and you can stir it all up.”
Todd rubbed his hands. “Let’s do this.” When he was through, he put the sauce mixture into a saucepan and placed it on the stove to simmer.
Chef Gianna made the rounds, stopping to speak to each couple. When she arrived at their station, she shared guidance with Todd on preparing the salmon while Maileah focused on the pasta. She salted the water on the stovetop and stirred, feeling a slight sense of accomplishment.
“No need to stir it,” the chef said with a smile. “Water will boil on its own.”
Maileah gave her a sheepish smile. “Did you have me figured out the moment I came in?”
“Relax,” Gianna said. “I’ve seen much worse. And you have a very handsome partner who seems to know what he’s doing. Try to think of cooking as love.”
“I like that analogy,” Todd said, putting his arm around Maileah.
Her cheeks grew warm, and that had nothing to do with the stove. But what she felt wasn’t attraction; it was embarrassment. “I’m glad you do. Even if I might poison you with my culinary skills.”
Suddenly, something behind her sizzled. The water had boiled over. Maileah screamed, reaching for the pot. As she did, she knocked over the simmering sauce, and the hot liquid splashed onto the floor.
Everyone turned and gasped, and Maileah was horrified. She wished she’d never come.
Without flinching, Gianna called for a kitchen assistant to clean up the mess and continued her instruction. “Accidents happen in the kitchen, so always wear closed-toe shoes.”
To Maileah, Gianna said, “Let’s reduce the flame on the water a little. And don’t worry, we have extra sauce on hand just for such accidents.”
While others tended to the stove and the mess, Maileah stepped away, mortified at her mistake.
Fortunately, Todd chuckled as others salvaged the situation .
“I’m glad you’re taking this so well,” she told him.
“What else can we do?” he asked. “Now we have a good story to tell.”
“I promise I’m better than this. Well, a little better,” she added.
Todd took over the preparations, and when he plated their finished dish, Maileah was impressed. “Wow, look at you, chef Todd. You’re amazing.”
“You helped, too.” Todd winked, bumping her shoulder playfully. “Not bad for the queen of takeout.”
They joined the other couples at a long rustic table, sampling each dish as it was passed around. To Maileah’s surprise, their farfalle met with enthusiastic approval.
“I can’t believe we made this,” Maileah marveled, taking another bite.
Todd gazed at her with a smile. “We make a pretty good team.”
As they enjoyed the meal, Maileah relaxed. Todd was easy to talk to, and he brought others into the conversation. Her disaster faded into the background.
“So, what’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?” she asked Todd between bites. She had to know if a man who worked with numbers might have an adventurous side.
Todd thought for a moment. “Well, there was this one time in college when I streaked across campus on a dare.”
Maileah nearly choked. “You? Mr. Accountant?”
“Just kidding, but you fell for that.” Todd laughed. “What about you? Any wild stories?”
“Once I went skydiving over a heard of sheep in New Zealand?—”
“Aw, come on now,” he laughed. “Cut the kidding. Real stories, please.”
“I’m serious,” she said, though he still looked at her with mild disbelief.
As she recounted her adventure of landing in the middle of a sheep ranch, he listened with what seemed like genuine interest. So far, he wasn’t put off by her thrill-seeking past, although she only shared the abbreviated version.
She didn’t mention she was kicked out of a Queenstown bar later that night.
Did Todd have that need-for-adventure gene in him?
When dessert arrived, Maileah said, “This is my kind of cooking. Eating ice cream someone else made.”
Todd wagged his spoon at her. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re a pasta-boiling pro now.”
“As long as I’m not left alone.”
As the event wound down, Maileah was surprised at how much fun she’d had.
She turned to Todd. “I have to confess I was pretty nervous about this cooking class. You’re the one who made the dish.”
Draping his arm across the back of her chair, Todd smiled warmly. “You did great, and that’s what partners are for.”
Partners , she thought, her chest fluttering at his attention. This could be the beginning of a serious relationship.
Still, she held back, not wanting to ruin it. “Maybe we’ll try this on our own sometime.”
“I’d love that.” Todd’s face lit up. “How about at my place?”
She could only nod. Was she ready for that step with him?
After leaving the Majestic, they strolled along the beach, watching beachgoers and wildlife. Overhead, gulls sailed and swooped for fish right from the breaking waves.
Maileah spotted a group down the beach. Her heart skipped. Sailor was among them, and she could hear his laughter. They had anchored the catamarans with shallow drafts in the water just off the beach.
She felt a pang of longing for the exhilaration, the open water, and the physical challenge. Whizzing across the waves on a catamaran with Sailor would be fun. She shook her head to clear the image .
But then she remembered Ella’s words about broadening her horizons. The cooking school had certainly done that.
Todd seemed to notice her distraction. “Everything okay?”
Maileah rubbed her arms. “Just thinking about what a nice day this has been.”
He drew her close and kissed her cheek. “It sure has been. I’ll have to thank your sister for introducing us.”
They walked a little farther, but Maileah didn’t want to run into Sailor. “Let’s turn around and go back.” She paused. “So, what did you do for fun as a kid?”
“My family loved board games.” Todd took that question and ran with it. Listening to him, she relaxed as they walked back.
While waiting for the valet to bring Todd’s car around, Maileah overheard a couple talking about the upcoming surfing competition to benefit charities on Crown Island.
When his car arrived, she said, “Why don’t you go ahead? I just remembered that I need to see Junie. She can give me a ride home.”
“Are you sure?” Todd asked.
“Yes, but I want you to know I had a wonderful time, chef Todd.” She kissed him on the cheek.
“Same here.” He hugged her. “I’ll call you later, and I do mean that.”
When he pulled from the curb, she waved. Still eavesdropping on the conversation, Maileah’s mind was humming with ideas.
Her grandmother had advised her to focus on finding work she was passionate about. And here was an opportunity right in front of her.
Her thoughts raced with possibilities. She had experience in marketing and event planning. Aside from helping individual business owners, why not put that skillset to use for Crown Island, too?
Another idea took shape. The surfing competition could be just the beginning. Crown Island had so much to offer. She could help create and manage other events, perhaps for her mother’s historical society.
Maileah felt a surge of excitement, and her heart raced. Could this be a chance to combine her skills, her love for the island, and her need for a challenge?
Maybe her grandmother had been right. Focus on yourself first, and the rest will follow.
With a last glance at the beach, where Sailor and his friends were now gathered around a small bonfire, Maileah climbed the front steps of the hotel.
She had work to do. First, she had to salvage her relationship with Junie. She only hoped she hadn’t broken it beyond repair this time.