The Caterer

Chapter 23

D ELANY CALLED THE DESIGNER on his way to the Metro to tell her Bobbie did not get to decide anything related to The Cora. Apparently, Bobbie called to say he was now the primary on the project.

“Yeah, Mr. Dunn can be a bit domineering.” He tried to keep his tone light. “I’m still the one making the decisions. We’re going to go with the aesthetic we talked about. Keep the plans I approved, please.”

“Will do. Thank you for clarifying.”

He started down the long staircase at the Rosslyn Metro, ready for the day to be over. He needed to stop by his apartment to get his car and the tie Elle gave him. On the Metro, he leaned into his knees and pushed his thumbs into his eyes, unsure what to do with Bobbie. He was tired of the guilt trips and the temper tantrums.

He opened the door to his place, music coming from the kitchen. Alice worked at the island with her head down. Sliced tomatoes rested on a baking sheet next to her .

“Why are you here?” he asked.

She looked up and smiled. “We have events tomorrow, so I needed to come tonight. I thought you had something to be at.”

“I forgot the tie Elle sent me. Never mind.” He went toward his bedroom. If Elle would not kill him, he’d stay home with Alice. He needed her uncluttered way of seeing the world, her joy. Someone knocked at his door. “I got it.” He called and went down the hallway on the other side of the kitchen wall. Nadia turned when he opened the door. “Hey, Nod. What are you doing here?”

“We need to talk.” She walked into his apartment and set her purse on the couch before crossing her arms. Delany glanced toward the kitchen. “For some reason Helene thinks she’s going to your little charter school next year.” Nadia flexed her taut body toward him.

He sighed. “She’s been asking to go there. I thought maybe…”

She stepped toward him, her first finger up. “Listen, you’re the sperm donor, okay. Where my daughter goes to school is up to me.”

“The amount I send you monthly implies otherwise.” He met her gaze, tired of her acting like he only existed to send money. “She doesn’t like where she is, why not let her go where it’s the best of everything?”

“I did not work my ass off to get out of there for you to pull my daughter back.”

The oven went off. Delany looked over his shoulder. Nadia scoffed and walked around him, ignoring his telling her to come back.

“Who the hell are you?” She stood in the entryway with her stance wide, hands on her hips. Delany reached for her forearm.

“I’m sorry, Alice.” He pulled her back into the living room, unwilling to let his ex invade his personal life.

“That’s the caterer? ”

“Listen, Helene shouldn’t be stuck in public school because it’s convenient for you.”

“Convenient?” She rocked her head. “I’m with that girl 24-7, how convenient do you think that is?”

“Hey, Delany, I’m going to get something from the store. If the timer goes off…” Alice pointed toward the kitchen.

He nodded, waiting for the front door to close. “Who has Bear?” he asked before Nadia could get going again.

“My mom. You act like I’d leave her to fend for herself.” She leaned back and crossed her arms.

“I tried to Skype her today.”

“I took her computer time. She was being belligerent.”

“She’s six.” He put his hands on his hips.

“She’s always an angel for you, but trust me, that girl can be a stubborn ass.”

Like you, he wanted to say, but thought better of it. He took a deep breath and unflexed his jaw.

“I think we should go away for Thanksgiving.” Nadia pulled her gaze off the front door.

“What?”

Nadia waited; she was serious. “I think we should be a family.” She pressed closer to him, her hands on his sides.

“We have never been a family.” He tried to step back, but she held on.

“Helene would do better with both her parents close. I think that’s why she acts up so much.”

“I thought I was the sperm donor.” He reached for her wrists and stepped back.

“I shouldn’t have said that. It’s hard to compete sometimes. If you think your school is best, I could drive Helene over on my way to work.”

“Wait, now you’re moving in?” He laughed.

“We’ve been doing this since we were teens. When do we stop and admit what’s been there all along? You’re it for me. ”

Her big eyes looked up at him. How many nights those eyes got him to forget all the reasons they would never work.

“We’re not a family, Nod.”

“We never had issues getting things going.” She held his gaze. Sexual release and true attraction were not the same thing. The timer sounded, Delany going to get whatever Alice left in the oven. He set the tray of tomatoes on the stove, leaving the oven mitt next to it. Nadia sat on the couch when he came back, her legs tucked up under her.

“You need to go. You can’t barge into my house, claws out, and then think being cute will make up for it. I have somewhere to be tonight.” He went to the door and opened it, praying she got the hint. Nadia tilted her head and stood, sauntering toward him.

“I’ll find some locations for November.” She gave him a light kiss and strutted toward the elevator. Delany closed the door and looked at the time before going to find the tie Elle gave him.

The front door opened again, the blender starting a moment later. He went to the kitchen.

“I didn’t know if you were still here.” Alice poured the tomato mix into a to-go container.

“I’m sorry you had to hear that.” Delany sat at the island.

“I’m sorry for invading your privacy.” She paused. “I can come back, if you want to be alone.”

He reached for her wrist. “No, please stay. I can order dinner.”

“What about your event?”

He shook his head. “Not in the chatty mood anymore.” He left to find his phone and call Elle, promising to make it up to her. He changed into gym shorts and a Wizards shirt. Alice cooked at the stove, two glasses beside a bottle of wine.

“I might need something stronger,” he said.

“Just not a sidecar, please?”

He laughed and went to make two old fashioneds. He came back to find Alice cutting up the last of the vegetables from the crate. He sat at the island and took a long drink.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.

He shook his head. Alice came around the island and opened her arms. He set his drink down and hugged her. The emotion hit him, the frustration at Nadia’s games, the inability to do right by Helene, the pain of being a single dad. He held her tighter as tears overwhelmed him. His body shook.

“It’s okay.” Her gentle voice filled his ear. How had she become the one he relied on the most? Alice made him feel moored to something. In her arms, he could rest. He’d been on edge since tearing his ACL, his life a series of plays he never expected. With her, the world made sense again.

He looked up, and Alice wiped the tears off his cheeks. He held her gaze, hating the questions and how she held herself back. This couldn’t all be one-sided, the safety, the connection, the ability to fully be who he was. She looked down and exhaled.

“I have to go.”

“Please stay.” He wanted to return to moments before, but she was already retreating.

“There are veggies if you want to sauté them and pasta in the cupboard. You can add olive oil, or I made fresh sauce, which I need to put away.” She slouched, defeated.

“I can get it.”

She reached for her bag and started to leave before turning back. “I’m sorry.”

The front door closed a moment later. Delany rested his head in his hand, unsure what to do with everything going on.