The Caterer

Chapter 38

D ELANY WOKE FIRST, someone in the bed with him. Helene slept alone in the center of the other bed, her body half out the covers, spread like a snow angel. Alice laid beside him, covered in an extra blanket from the closet. Maybe he should have warned Alice about his daughter’s sleeping tendencies. Hopefully Helene didn’t kick her too much. He rolled to face her, resting his hand on her hip, unable to believe she was there. He kept waiting for her to back out, to say she had to work. He thought what happened with Nadia might have pushed her away, instead, it seemed to have drawn her closer.

He kissed her cheek, Alice drawing in a deep breath.

“I meant to move before you woke up.”

“I should have warned you. Why didn’t you just climb in?” He kept his voice down, loving his daughter but wanting time with Alice who studied him, her brow furrowed.

“Has she seen you sharing a bed with women before?” It wasn’t an accusation. Alice was the first one he let into Helene’s life, and it came so naturally. He didn’t consider how it would look to his daughter or what she might say to her mother.

“Should I have gotten two rooms?”

Alice shrugged. Hearing Helene groan, Alice slipped out and went into the bathroom. Delany laid on his back and stretched.

“What time is it?” Helene smacked her lips.

“Almost eight. Do you want to get breakfast at our spot?”

“Is Alice still here?”

She came out of the bathroom in jeans and a Liberty T-shirt she bought the night before. Sitting on Helene’s bed she asked how she slept. He let them talk, going to get ready for the day. They got breakfast at his favorite place near the arena before catching a one o’clock charter back to D.C.

“Do you want to go with me to drop her off?” Delany asked on the flight down.

“Do you think that’s the best idea?”

Helene colored at her seat, listening to her iPod.

“Alice, you’re in my life. Nadia needs to become okay with that.”

“Did you talk to her about what happened?” She seemed to sense the answer before he could say no. “How do you see this going?”

“I see it going that we’re going to build something, and she can adjust. She’s Helene’s mom, that’s it. One of us was going to meet someone eventually.”

Alice started to say something, but changed her mind. He reached for her hand, turning his body toward her on the couch.

“Listen, we can drop her off and then go walk the Inner Harbor or see if there’s a Ravens game.” He needed to talk to Nadia, but wanted to know what Alice saw coming from things. They’d only known each other for three months, been together for a couple weeks. It felt longer. She glanced at Helene and smiled. If only a woman like Alice could be there to influence his daughter .

“Okay. I can go.”

Delany kissed her softly, Helene giggling from her seat.

“You need to talk to her.” Alice motioned her head toward Helene. He nodded, he would.

Alice waited in the car while he got Helene’s bag and walked toward the front door. He set her bag just inside, calling for Nadia to have a good day. As they drove toward the Inner Harbor, Alice looked up from her cell phone, asking if he liked oysters.

“I love them. Could probably eat far too many in one sitting if I’m honest.”

“Do you want to do that for dinner?”

“Where do I go?”

She texted while they drove, directing him to a warehouse near the water. Alice said she’d be right back and got out. A man came out of the warehouse with an apron on and his hair in a wrap, handing her a bushel of oysters in a nylon bag. They talked for a minute before Alice touched his arm and started back for the car. Delany got out and went to open the back passenger door, looking for something to put the oysters on. Alice told him to take the newspaper she stole from the plane.

“We have about ninety minutes to get these cool again.” She brushed off her hands.

“How fresh are those?”

She shrugged. “Maybe caught yesterday.”

They drove to his apartment, Alice making a list of what she wanted with their meal. They put the oysters in the fridge before walking to the store near his house. She already knew the layout, Delany guessing she shopped there too. Could he have seen her before and never known? The idea of her being blocks away made him feel like a rookie getting drafted. He was excited to see how things would shift without her sister hovering.

“What kind of wine goes with oysters?” He asked when she came back with bacon and fresh veggies .

“Something white, I think.”

He had some in his wine fridge from the vineyard he owned in Napa. He would take her there someday, and she could make something, and they could eat on the back deck and watch the sunset.

Back at his apartment, she started to dig through the kitchen drawers. Delany asked if he could help, not wanting her to think she was stuck doing it all on her own. She motioned toward the stack of veggies to be washed.

“Do you have a grill on the roof?” she asked. He had no idea but gave Alice the keycard to check it out since she’d be able to tell if it was adequate or not better than he could. He hummed while he worked until his phone buzzed. Delany dried his hands, the text from Nadia.

‘You took the caterer to NYC w/o asking me? WTF Bulldog?’

He closed the message and went to get a bottle of wine, unwilling to justify his choices. Alice came back and said she’d turned on one of the grills, suggesting they eat up there. That sounded like the perfect idea. He found what they would need, plates and forks and a shucking knife he had no idea he owned until that moment. Another bottle of wine and two glasses.

“I’ll be back.”

“Uh-huh,” she called over her shoulder from the stove. When he got back, prepped bacon and asparagus waited near unshucked corn on the counter beside a red sauce, Alice working on slicing lemons.

“Did you make this?”

“Of course.” She slid a baguette out of the bag and started to cut it open.

“I usually just do cocktail sauce.”

She leaned into the island and glared. “Well, you’re with me now. We’re going to update your tastebuds.”

His heart raced, Delany not bothering to hold back his smile. With her. She turned to do something, but he rotated her toward him and kissed her like he wanted to since he picked her up. He started to bunch her shirt in his hands, wanting to feel her body against his again.

“After dinner.” Her playful smile made him want her more. Before he could push, she stepped back and reached for a bottle of wine off the counter. His brow furrowed, not sure what Forager Wine was.

“My dad makes dandelion wine. It’s not that alcoholic and can be sweet, but he made it, and I wanted you to have a bottle.” She shrugged, flustered.

“Will it go with the oysters?”

“It should.”

It took some maneuvering, but they managed to get all the food to the rooftop in one trip. Alice set the asparagus, corn, and baguette on the grill before closing the lid. He reached for her, but she went to see the city. He stood beside her, watching her as much as the view.

“So which rooftop is yours?”

She smiled and pointed in the direction of the Archives.

“It would be easier if the greenhouse was on this end. Not quite a clear shot for smoke signals or anything.”

Alice checked what was on the grill before fishing the shucking knife out of the bag he used to bring the dishes up. “Do you know how to use this?”

He shook his head and poured her a glass of wine. Alice took a sip before emptying the dish bag. She shucked three oysters before he realized, handing him one. He drank it back, like butter down his throat.

“How much did you get?” He reached for the second one.

“Three pounds. This is about half.” She turned to do something on the grill. He stood and reached for the knife.

“Tell me what to do.”

She sat in a chair and talked him through it. How did the guys at the Macon picnic make this look so easy? He kept chucking until she pulled the rest of their food off the grill. They sat down, Alice facing the view. They talked about anything but Helene or work or their careers. He wanted to know what she did for fun, what she was curious about. He told her about the thoughts that never got shared, what he wanted to do with his life, why he was involved all over the place. The respect in her gaze humbled him. Somehow, she got what he was saying.

They cleaned up, Delany dumping their table scraps into the bag with the oyster shells.

“Can I take those?” Alice asked. Delany scowled. “There’s a nonprofit that dumbs the shells back into the harbor. It helps.”

He looked at the bag, wishing he hadn’t made such a mess of things.

“I can clean them downstairs.” She ducked to make sure the grill was off. He collected the trash and used plates, Alice working to get their wine glasses and the empty bottles before they started for his apartment. Alice reached for his keys and got the front door. He told her to set it all in the sink, he could clean up.

“I can help.”

“You made dinner.” He kissed her cheek. “This is my part.”

That lasted all of three seconds before Alice helped him dry dishes and load things into the dishwasher. He wanted to tell her to relax, but enjoyed having her close. After, they went to watch the Sunday night football game. On a commercial, Alice asked how to turn on the fireplace. Delany found the remote he wanted. She reached for a blanket off the back of the couch and unfurled it in front of the fireplace. He turned the TV off and walked toward her. Alice finished her glass of wine, setting it just off the blanket.

“Tell me if I got something wrong.” She held his gaze. The only light came from the kitchen and the city lights outside. He glanced over his shoulder for who might be able to see in but realized he didn’t care. He got closer, Alice motioning with her eyes for him to lie down.

“This is a whole new side of you.”

“Just because I have standards doesn’t mean I’m a prude.” She sat over him and started to undo the buttons of his shirt.

“I’m glad I meet your standards.” He put an arm behind his head.

“Mr. Clare, you exceed them.”