The Caterer

Chapter 39

A LICE WAS SORTING THE oyster shells when Delany came into the kitchen the next morning. Her body warmed as her heart raced. What this man could do to her. They had cuddled on the blanket after, Alice watching the flames, unable to deny how safe she felt.

He kissed her and got a cup of coffee. Alice checked her watch, not wanting to be late for meeting her mother.

“It’s my birthday this weekend.” She leaned against the counter and gripped it for support, her heart racing. “We’re doing a big shindig for my dad, our birthdays are only five days apart. Anyway, would you want to come?” She could barely draw in a breath, as it set a deadline for telling Tabby. Alice realized there would always be another excuse to delay. But she cared about Delany. Her sister would have to get over herself.

“You’re inviting me to a family thing?” He tilted his head and took a drink of his coffee.

“At my parents’ house. ”

“So this is more than a meal?” He walked toward her.

“It could be all weekend if you stop being a punk about it.”

He set his coffee beside her, boxing her in with his statue of a body. “I can’t wait.” He kissed her, Alice hoping she hadn’t made a terrible mistake.

She got off the elevator at her apartment. The door to her place was open, her mother talking to Suzi inside. Slowly, she walked into the space she had not seen in a year. The front door opened to the living room, a generic gray couch and loveseat in the middle, a TV on a short bookcase against the wall. The galley kitchen faced the dining nook on the right. The two bedrooms were at the back, a single bathroom between them. The walls were a generic off-white. It felt sterile, foreign, nothing like home. Maybe she’d get new dishes and furniture, a new bed. The space almost crawled with strangers.

“Birdie.” Her mother came out of the spare bedroom with Suzi. “We were just talking, and Suzi thinks they can fit the reno in this week.”

“Your mother is such a friend to the company.” The woman slightly older than her clutched a dark portfolio to her chest. Her black hair was pulled into a ponytail, the dark red dress a perfect complement for her tan skin.

“So what are we doing?” Suzi looked at both of them. Alice glanced at her mother.

“This is your place, Birdie. What do you want?”

Alice laughed. She’d been there five minutes. “New paint, something earth toned. New furniture. Can we get new dishes?”

“I have someone coming to get everything tomorrow. It’s a clean slate,” her mother said.

“I can help with any of the furniture.” Suzi looked at her mother.

“We might go look at Marco’s,” she said. “But we’ll coordinate with you on pickup. ”

“Of course. I have some paint samples. Do you want to do anything with the floor?” They all looked at the sad off-gray carpet below their feet.

“Do you have faux hardwood?” Alice asked.

“Of course.”

They spent far too much time talking about colors and the feeling Alice wanted to emote and while she would claim to have no preferences, Alice jumped in far more than she expected. Shockingly her mother stayed quiet, not trying to force her opinion on how things should look. After Suzi left, her mother took her to Marco’s in Alexandria. Here Alice deferred, letting her mother pick out a new queen bed, dresser, kitchen table, and couches that matched the aesthetic they spent all morning putting together. Afterwards, they got a late lunch.

“Where were you this weekend? We stopped by for dinner Saturday night.”

Alice finished the bite in her mouth. “I was in New York with Delany.”

“For an event?”

“No, we’re dating, I guess.” She had never said it out loud before. I’m dating Delany Clare. She said it to herself again, the realization exciting and overwhelming. “I invited him to dad’s party this weekend.”

Her mother leaned into the table. “Have you told Tabby?”

“I’m going to today. He’s a good man, Mom…”

She waved her off with a flick of her wrist. “I know, Birdie. I’m more concerned about you and your sister.”

Alice glanced out the windows of the restaurant. “Well, she can be happy for me or not. I know what happened hurt but Delany’s not who she thinks, and I won’t…”

Her mother put her hand on her wrist, Alice wanting to shrink back from what she started. For the weekend, she let herself pretend there was no reason they couldn’t be together and things between them were normal. But now she had to tell her sister, and Alice could only pray somehow she’d understand.

“What do I say?” Alice could barely ask her mother.

“The truth.”

Her mother left her outside Tabby’s apartment, telling Alice to be strong and to call her. She went inside, the hallway feeling like a walk down death row. She hoped for the best but got ready for the worse. She opened the door, her sister talking to someone. Alice left her bag on the bench before going to see who was there. Cyndi called hello from the end of the island. Taco came to see her, Alice kneeling to pet her.

“We are going to the Torpedo Factory to let the kids run around after school, do you want to come?” Cyndi reached for her water on the island.

“I need to do laundry and get ready for work tomorrow.”

“How was New York City?” Tabby asked. “Who did you go with?”

Alice glanced at Cyndi. It might be better to say something with another person in the room. Maybe the need to keep up appearances would prevent her sister from going off. Or, it might be better to handle things one-on-one, only then the twins would be there, or she’d be back at work. She closed her eyes.

“Delany and his daughter.”

Tabby stopped the water halfway to her lips. “Delany…”

“Clare, yes.” Her heart raced.

“Why are you going to New York with Delany Clare and his daughter?”

“Who’s Delany Clare?” Cyndi asked, unsure which sister to look at.

“The scoundrel who stole my company.”

Alice stood. “A man who owns over two dozen companies in this town, who also runs a nonprofit that feeds people all over the world and donates millions to projects that help lower income individuals. ”

“What a saint.” Tabby put her hand on her heart.

“He is the one who bought out Tabby’s company, yes.” Alice chose to ignore her sister’s theatrics and plead her case to Cyndi instead. “But it was all his best friend.”

“Why are you going to New York with Delany Clare and his daughter?” Tabby crossed her arms and cocked her head.

A ringing started in her brain, Alice unsure what to say. “Do you really care or are you just going to be mad?”

“No, please, tell me Alice, how did you all go from business contacts to spending the weekend together.” She said the last words slowly, letting out part of the anger Alice knew was in there. “I’m presuming he’s who you stayed with last night since you were not here.”

“We’re dating.”

Tabby started several sentences, cocking her head. “Are you kidding me?”

Alice drew in her breath and stood straighter. “He’s a good man, Tabby. I feel safe with him and think this could be something.”

“You’re so na?ve.” Tabby leaned into the counter and reached for her water. “At thirty you should be able to see when you’re being played. Hear me, Alice, when it turns out I’m right, don’t expect me to pick up the pieces of your life again.”

“I’ll be out by the weekend.” Alice started for her bedroom, unsure why it was so hard for her sister to just be happy for her.