The Caterer

Chapter 49

A LICE WALKED TO THE END of the alleyway before she glanced over her shoulder, willing Delany to follow her. Just call her name and let them have one of those cheesy scenes from the movies. Only he wasn’t there for her. Whatever they had wasn’t more important than his pseudo-brother. He’d come to settle their business accounts, to make-up for Bobbie’s stunt, to rebuild what she’d lost in the fire. He acted like they could just go back to how things were before New Mexico, as if the time since meant nothing. Only, why he was talking to Tabby didn’t make any sense. Knowing her sister, she got mad over something else and, without Alice there to kick, called Delany to yell and tell him what a scoundrel he was. Maybe if she’d gotten it off her chest in June, they’d all be better off.

Needing to move, she walked around the block. The last week hurt. She lost the best thing in her life and didn’t know how long Tabby would choose to ignore her. But she’d rebuilt her life once before; she could do it again .

Things were quiet when she got back, Carver working in the office. She reached for her messenger bag, ready to head home.

“You’re letting your fear dictate things again,” he said. Alice knelt on the chair across from the desk. “We’re not dropping the Macon events.”

“That’s fine. Rita can keep taking the lead on them.”

He sighed and leaned into the desk. “Why are you doing this? He’s offering you everything you want.”

“Because it’s what I should have done in June.” She stood. “Have a good night.” She walked home, keeping her head down. Of course she wanted The Cora. It was her dream. Knowing Delany bought it assured her it would stay a D.C. treasure. But she didn’t want it as some consolation prize. She couldn’t work for him and not be with him. If Alice had any hope of moving on, she had to get Delany out of her life entirely.

The doorman welcomed her, Alice stepping on the elevator. The apartment felt quiet and sterile again. Paul moved home the night before, leaving Alice a note that simply said he and Tabby talked. She grabbed her notebook and leftovers from one of their events and went to eat on the rooftop, sitting where she couldn’t see Delany’s building. Her father’s comment lingered. She had come into her own. Hasty Pudding’s reputation and success were because Alice cooked her way. Delany opened the door, but Alice’s ingenuity turned her business into a premiere catering company.

That article all those years ago that called Alice a chef with a vision who could change the culinary reputation of D.C. could be correct, if she stayed true to who she was. What Carver did not see was the base they had. Macon accounted for only half their events, and they turned down other clients to accommodate them. The decision to walk away was doing what Delany always said he wanted to help her do—soar on her own.

Alice had taken time over the week to visit local farms, walking the fields and talking about ways they could partner. She met with oyster farmers, fishers, and ranchers, who could accommodate the volume Hasty Pudding required. After she finished eating, she reached for her notebook. She was tired of cooking boring food for people who did not get it. It was time to niche Hasty Pudding as local flare, with a foraging and creative twist. Losing the food truck hurt, but she didn’t want one replacement—she wanted four or five, a fleet to go out to company events and schoolyards and festivals. Carver might not get it yet, but Alice saw a way forward that aligned with who she was as a chef and let them have fun with food, while subtly challenging the way people ate.

THE NEXT DAY, Alice parked the catering van at the twins’ school and went inside. Cyndi called earlier and asked her to do the food for the students’ entrepreneurship event where Annie was presenting her gaming idea. Alice donated the payment for the event back to the fund to pull more girls into STEM. She decided to attend the rehearsal to hear Annie’s practice run, not wanting to risk Tabby’s ire by showing up for the main event.

She brought two boxes of cupcakes for the students, sliding them onto a table in the back. A student came over, asking if he could have one. She opened the second box as more students made their way over.

Annie stepped onto the stage. She cleared her throat and nodded. A female avatar came onto the screen with a green tiara and short teal jumpsuit, her hair a messy pixie cut.

“This is Princess A. She is here to save the prince, who can’t seem to wake up to his alarm.” While she talked, a mix of stills and basic videos from her game played behind her. “She needs him to be ready to go for the basketball tournament to decide who will rule Mac-Land. Their opponents are The Stooges, a duo of tricksters hellbent on stealing what Princess A has built.” A few adults in the room for the practice run booed and hissed as the tricksters flashed on screen. “It’s only by believing in herself and facing her fears that Princess A can reach the prince and get them both to the game on time.”

Alice knelt and waited while Annie ran to see her. She hugged her close. “I am so proud of you!” Alice met her gaze. “That was amazing.”

“My mom thinks maybe we can make it into a real game.”

“I think you will have a room full of people tonight ready to buy it.” She rested her hand on Annie’s side.

“Are you okay, Aunt A?”

How to answer that. It was hard not seeing the twins all the time; they had been such a bright spot in her life after her ex left and Cornelia died, and she pieced herself back together. Annie’s room was a sanctuary, but only for a time. Now she needed to stand on her own. For once, she wasn’t in anyone’s shadow. It was scary, but also freeing.

“I’m getting there, sweetheart. Maybe your dad can bring you on Sunday to see me?”

Annie nodded. Her teacher called for her to come on. Alice left behind what they would need for the night, two staffers coming back for the actual event. She drove the van back to the bakery and walked to her apartment.

She unlocked the door and rested her messenger bag on the short table by the door. Her parents came by earlier in the week to start the process of getting her name on the deed. She had a place of her own. Still too quiet. The twins weren’t there, Taco wouldn’t come and sit on her bed. She couldn’t hear Tabby and Paul banter in the kitchen. New accessories and paint did not change how alone she felt.

She looked up and let out an expletive, her hand on her heart. Tabby sat on the chard-colored sofa against the wall, her legs pulled under her.

“I told Mom peach was much more your color.” Tabby pointed to the painted walls .

“We put new locks on the door.”

“Please. Mom gave me a set before they left town. You think dad’s going to drive three hours when you lock yourself out when I am here to take care of you?” She put her hand on her heart.

Alice went to the kitchenette, a bottle of red wine on the counter beside two glasses.

“Did you go through everything?”

“I tried to find your diary. Then I realized your life is just as dull as it was in sixth grade so gave up and reorganized your closet instead. You don’t have as many jumpsuits as you once did.”

“Maybe I’m growing up.” Alice finished her first glass.

“Don’t drink the whole bottle before you even sit down. I’m not that horrible.”

Alice sipped her second glass and went to sit beside her sister. Tabby poured herself a glass and hit it against Alice’s.

“What are we toasting?”

“My little girl’s presentation tonight. Cyndi thinks you might get some appointments from it.”

“Don’t worry I’ll give the STEM club the 30 percent I promised.”

“Thank you for doing that.” Tabby took a sip. “Not just her event, but her idea. I didn’t know she was into all that.” She leaned further back onto the couch. “I really checked out there. You were there so I didn’t have to engage my children and felt free to pursue other things. Feels so horrible to say.”

Alice stayed quiet, taking another sip. Her sister was there for a purpose.

“So, thank you for being there for my kids. I am sorry for what I said to you. I overreacted.”

Alice finished her glass. “I didn’t know how to tell you. I got the Macon gig before I knew who he was, and then he came to the food truck, and I needed the money. I thought it would be a gig or two. I never intended for it to go so long. I should have told you, but I was getting my chance and if I admitted it to you then I had to recognize what I was doing and…” She was rambling. She shook her head, running the stem of the glass between her hands. “I never meant to hurt you.”

Tabby scooted closer to her, putting her hand on Alice’s knee.

“You were right. Paul was right. I was wallowing. I was angry and full of self-pity. I lost sight of what was important. I understand why you took the job and why you didn’t tell me. It still hurts, but I forgive you.”

“Thank you.” Alice could barely get the words out. Tabby hugged her from the side before she reached for the wine and refilled their glasses before hitting them again. “Are we toasting making up?”

Tabby shook her head and finished her sip. “That is for my new job,” she said. Alice repeated the line back to her. “I am the new, oh what did he call it? We are going to have to rework the title, ‘Chief of Initiatives’. Only men think of stupid titles like that.”

“Chief of Initiatives?” She only ever heard that stupid title given to one person.

“At Macon. Delany asked me to lunch yesterday, cleared the air as it were. He told me he was firing Bobbie and wanted me to take his job.”

“Wait, Delany fired Bobbie?” Alice faced her more on the couch.

“Can we stay on me, please?” Tabby dropped her jaw and playfully scoffed. “He’s a lovely man, Alice, not at all like I thought. I can see why you love him.”

“I do not…” She stopped and closed her eyes. “You’re such a pain in the ass.”

Tabby laughed behind her wine glass. Alice met her sister’s gaze.

“You deserve this, Tabby. I’m proud of you.”