The Caterer

Chapter 33

D ELANY DIDN’T EVEN KNOW what happened. One minute he was talking to Olive about the baby, Alice laughing with his mother. The next Olive gripped his arm and motioned behind him. Nadia towered over Alice, who hugged Helene and walked back to the gazebo, her body taut. Then Nadia grabbed Helene’s wrist and started to rebuke her. He walked toward them, Helene on the ground, crying. She ran over when she saw him, burying her head in his shoulder.

“What happened?” Before Helene could tell him, Nadia let him know his girlfriend thought it was a good idea to let Helene eat dirt. “They were having fun. It’s harmless.”

“Harmless?” Nadia snort-laughed. “My daughter being taught to eat grass and any old berry off a bush is harmless? There could be bugs, snakes, poison ivy. It could kill her—harmless.” She put her hands on the back of her hips. She wasn’t mad about the foraging. She was upset because all day she schemed to make them appear like a happy family, butting into conversations, trying to be on his arm, even suggesting they take family photos on the way in. Delany pulled her aside and reiterated what he said at his apartment, Nadia telling him he was delaying the inevitable and to wake up.

“We can talk about this later,” he said.

“We’ll talk about it now!” Nadia was ready for the fight. Delany looked from his little girl to the scene of her broken birthday. Activity had stopped; people watched. Before he could speak, Nadia launched into a tirade about her plight as a single mother and everything he did not do. Chasing a skirt and leaving her alone to raise their daughter. Making out with the help at their daughter’s birthday. She questioned who he let into Helene’s life, threatened to maybe not let her come to D.C. anymore. With him gone all the time, she was a single mother. She even planned the entire party herself.

Only bits and pieces of Nadia’s pity rant made it to his brain as the rest of him focused on just how terrified Helene was. He knew Nadia yelled. At times, their personalities could be like opposing styles on the court. Her mother wanted a doll to dress-up and dictate, whereas Helene was becoming an outdoorsy girl who just wanted to run free and see the world.

“Give me my daughter.” Nadia tried to take Helene off him, but she held on tighter and begged to stay with him.

“Don’t make a scene,” Delany said through clenched teeth. “She’s with me all week. Take a breath, Nod. You’re embarrassing yourself.” He turned his shoulder protectively against her. Nadia stepped back, silenced. He walked toward his family, telling Helene she did nothing wrong. The gazebo was empty, compost trays on the tables. Alice was gone.

The litany of things Nadia screamed at him were unacceptable. If Delany’s blood had not been to the point of threatening to outdo his heart, if his little girl hadn’t been shaking as she clung to him, he might have let out everything he wanted to say to that woman since deciding to be in Helene’s life. But it wouldn’t do any good and only give her something to use against him later. Something needed to change.

He wanted to see Alice but needed to make sure Helene was okay. They got her favorite take out Saturday night. Sunday, he took her kayaking on the Potomac and to his mother’s for dinner. Something in his stance kept her from asking about things. When he went to tuck Helene in Sunday night, she asked if what happened was her fault.

“No, Bear. Your mother overreacted. You were just having fun.”

She rubbed her wrist where Nadia grabbed it.

“Everyone saw her yell at me. They’re going to tease me.”

His heart broke. “Try to get some sleep, okay? You’re with me all week.” He kissed her head and waited while she snuggled in. He turned off the light in her room and walked to the living room, unsure what to do.

HE DROPPED HER OFF at school Monday and then drove back to D.C., stopping by Carver’s bakery. Carver saw Delany and raised his head.

“She’s not here. She’s setting up for a Mystics event later today.”

“How did she seem this morning?” He was delaying going into the office. Bobbie probably told everyone who would listen about the blowup Saturday. Discretion had never been his strong suit.

Carver shrugged. “Quieter than usual. She said she didn’t sleep well. I didn’t ask. Why?”

Delany shook his head. If Alice didn’t say anything he wasn’t going to gossip about it.

“Maybe I’ll stop by after work.”

“I think she has a family thing tonight. You okay? ”

Delany half-nodded and went back to his car. The drive to Rosslyn was easy. He pulled into his spot and took the elevator to the office. Katy stood when she saw him, biting her bottom lip.

“How’s Helene?” She followed him into his office.

“Not good. What did Bobbie say?”

“Just that Alice overstepped her place and is lucky all Nadia did was yell.”

Delany sat. He didn’t see what happened but couldn’t imagine what Alice could have done to deserve that level of anger. No one deserved to be treated like that.

“Collins will be here at two…”

“Ask if he can meet me at RFK. I want to talk to him without Bobbie.”

Katy left. Delany put his head down and worked until Katy told him it was time to leave for the meeting with Collins. Bobbie called his name as he walked to the elevator.

“Where are you off to?” Bobbie asked.

“Mystics event at RFK.”

“Want company?”

“Did you pay Alice for Carrie’s birthday yet?” He waited as Bobbie stumbled over a response. “What is so hard about this? You get a check, pay Alice for what she did, and stop being an ass to her.” He stepped onto the elevator and pushed the button. “I don’t know what your issue is with her, man, but get over it.” The elevator doors closed. Delany leaned on the wall. Yelling at Bobbie did nothing, he was only a surrogate for who he wanted to let loose on.

He pulled into a parking lot close to the decaying stadium. His uncle used to bring him to RFK when the Redskins were something to be feared. They’d sit in the top section and cheer for the home team. The stadium sat largely unused since the team moved to Maryland. The space around it had become a community space with soccer fields and open space and finally the Anacostia River. Food trucks lined the back end of a parking lot by a series of basketball courts.

Collins called his name. The man was shorter than him with full black hair and square-framed sunglasses. He wore a tan, cotton suit with a blue button-up underneath, the top two buttons undone.

“Thanks for meeting me here.” Delany shook his hand.

“I hate being in an office. You’ll never find me in it once we open, hope that’s okay.”

“I’ve stayed in your hotels. Get this one on par with those and I will never second-guess you.”

Collins smiled. “I heard the Jonas deal might be on hold.”

“I don’t know what Bobbie said, but I want the right chef in this location. We went to Jonas’ flagship restaurant, pretty underwhelming. If he’s your first choice…” He couldn’t even finish the sentence before Collins shook his head. “Are you hungry?” He led Collins to Alice’s truck. She leaned by the tailgate, talking to the center for the Mystics.

“Hello, Mr. Clare,” the center said. Alice stood fully, a hesitant smile on her face. Delany made introductions, noting Alice ran the best food truck and catering company in D.C.

“Mr. Clare might be biased.” Alice shook Collins’ hand. “What can I get you?”

“You should try the Valencia special. It’s not on the menu, but it should be.” Delany smiled at her, Alice shifting her gaze.

“Sold,” Collins said.

“Can I get in on that?” The center asked. Alice rolled her eyes playfully and disappeared into the food truck. Delany went to the front. A younger guy punched in the order and took Delany’s card.

“You were at the basketball event,” Delany said. The boy nodded.

“I talked to Ms. Gibson after we lost. She's going to teach me how to cook.”

Delany took his card back and went to talk to Collins until the food was ready. They sat at a picnic table and looked over the city while Delany gave him an update on The Cora.

“This is amazing.” Collins took another bite. “I wish I knew more chefs in D.C. If you want to relocate someone, I have some names…”

“I want someone with local ties. It’s important to me. Go around town, try some places, see who you like.”

“Is she available?” Collins motioned to the food truck. “This rivals what I get in Miami. It’s a fun menu, and might tie into the eclectic D.C. vibe we’re going for.”

Delany smiled. “If you try other places and if Alice is still who you want, we can talk to her. I know it would mean a lot.”

He stayed after Collins left. The manager of Mystics thanked him for being there. Delany was happy to be present, he owned the team, after all. He stayed close while the team played basketball with local kids and gave them tips on the fundamentals. Most of the kids were connected to local nonprofits that worked with at-risk youth or those who needed adult figures in their lives. Halfway through, more press vans showed up. The manager must have tweeted he was there. It helped get the word out about the team. He stood and redid his jacket button, telling the team's captains to stay close. The press were not going to make the event all about him. He’d answer a few questions, but they needed to interview the players.

His sister texted after she got Helene from school. They were going to their mother’s house. He’d go by after the event. Once things started to wind down, he wandered toward Alice’s truck where she worked to put leftovers away. She saw him in the doorway and said a tentative hello.

“Do you have a minute?” he asked. Alice told the guy inside to wipe down the counters and keep covering what was in the prep table. She ran her hands over her arms when she got outside, dressed only in a short orange jumpsuit. He started to take off his jacket, but she told him to keep it .

“I can’t acquire a collection of your jackets in Carver’s office.” She slid her hands into the back pockets.

“I just wanted to check in, see how you were.”

“Got yelled at pretty good Saturday for no reason. Is Helene okay?”

“I think so. What happened?”

“I have no idea. I went with Helene to look at what was around the garden and next thing I know I am being called the help and told to get back to my place.” She crossed her arms. “Is this what I can expect? Being degraded and belittled by your ex?” Her eyes were hard, mouth pinched.

“She overreacted. She didn’t know what was going on…”

“And she couldn’t ask? She came over ready for a fight, Delany.” She studied him. “I have met this woman twice and both times she’s come at me like I’m beneath her. She didn’t care what was going on. She didn’t care that Helene was happy. She hates me because I’m with you.”

That was Nadia’s way, dramatic and fired up. She’d always been the largest presence in the room. The day probably put a lot of pressure on her and maybe seeing her daughter eating leaves did look weird. He sighed.

“I’ll talk to her.” He had no idea what to say. “Do you want to come with me to get Helene and we can get dinner?”

She flexed her jaw. “I can’t. I need to get the truck back and clean up.” She turned to go.

“Are we still good for the game this weekend?” It was only Monday but, for some reason, he wanted to make sure. “I was thinking we could fly up, get dinner, go to the game.” She looked beyond him, seeming to debate herself.

“Let me check the calendar, make sure we’re not booked. I need to get this done.”

He let her go. He turned back to his car and cursed to himself, unsure why it felt like things were shifting out of control.