The Caterer

Chapter 29

A LICE WORKED TO SHUT DOWN the kitchen for the final time. With the fire almost contained and the community relying on other support, Comida’s piece of the puzzle was done. Alice went with Delany and Eddie to ensure the kitchens and food trucks were good to keep going, dispersing their remaining food and supplies. She hugged those she met, the chefs in the communities teaching her so much. In only a few weeks, they’d given her a masterclass in southwest and indigenous cooking. She was excited to incorporate what they taught her. How had the culinary world overlooked indigenous chefs for so long?

She sat at the airport with Eddie, Delany getting them coffee. Give her a proper shower and fresh clothes and let her eat something she did not cook. When Eddie got off his call to his family, she asked how he got to Comida. He told her about his time in the military, organizing supplies in and out of Iraq, how he loved doing community projects, trying to help people in small ways. He didn’t know what to do after he got injured, was in a dark place when he ran into Delany again. The work was a lifeline, helping bring purpose and focus back into his life.

“You see yourself staying with Comida for a while?”

“I can’t imagine doing anything else. Before this,” he hit his prosthetic, “I planned to cycle from Joburg to London. Doesn’t seem possible now.”

Delany came back with their coffees. Alice thanked him and took a sip. It wasn’t hotel or mass-produced coffee, it was incredible.

“And what do you want?” Eddie asked.

Alice shrugged. “What I have right now is pretty nice.”

“No, come on. I told you my dream was never going to happen. Let’s hear it. I know there’s something.”

Alice took a long drink of her coffee. What did she have to lose?

“When I was little my dad used to love this curry kitchen in the food court of the Old Post Office building. I always thought it would be cool if someone bought it and restored it. I was going to run the restaurant in it.” She shook her head and took a drink.

“It just sold, right?” Eddie said. Delany took a drink of his coffee.

“To some stupid conglomerate that’s going to come in and ruin it.”

“That’s pretty cynical.” Delany laughed.

Alice looked at him, her chest constricting. “Forgive me, but I don’t have a lot of hope given they just hired the worst overinflated chef to put his bland as dirt food in there. I just—” She stopped. No use getting worked up over what she could not change. “It’s hard to see it sit for so long, then have it sell to someone who does not even care to give it to a local chef, much less a decent one.”

They boarded their flight, somehow Alice ending up with a window seat. She thought about reading or taking a nap, but her mind wouldn’t settle. Delany sat next to her in the aisle, reading a book a volunteer gave him. His beard had filled out since they left. He’d smiled more the last few weeks, an ease to him she never encountered in D.C.

No way someone like Bobbie or Jonas could have done what Delany did. He was in the trenches, working hard, helping people, not caring about the credit. The only time he complained was with the press making him the story. What they saw all day was challenging, yet he treated everyone around him with care and dignity. He saw people. They weren’t charity cases or numbers. He took the time to talk to people, know their names, and remember things about them.

After working together for so long, she believed he was being honest about how things went down with Tabby. Bobbie’s need to control with Carrie and Harry’s desire to sell, no wonder they didn’t give her sister any warning. And that wasn’t Delany’s fault. It was wrong for Tabby to blame him for Bobbie’s decisions. Delany was a kind man who tried to do right by people.

Her head told her to walk away. Her heart wanted to lean in, to scoot closer and kiss him, to stop pretending she did not care about him. She had no idea what was going to happen with Tabby. It was wrong not to tell her, but Alice stood by the choice. She hoped her sister would give her the chance to explain, and maybe Alice could help Tabby see who Delany was.