The Caterer

Chapter 51

A LICE WALKED TO WORK the next morning, unable to believe what Tabby told her. Delany fired Bobbie. He saw who Bobbie was and cut him off. It almost made her giddy. If he saw the truth about Bobbie, there was hope he’d stand up to Nadia.

Tabby’s burden was gone. She had a light in her eyes and smiled again, looking toward the future. Alice could never have orchestrated that moment for her sister, but was grateful Tabby let go and moved on to a position that seemed perfect for her.

Alice walked into the overly crowded bakery, raising a hand hello to the staff behind the counter.

“Are you proud of yourself?” Jonas’ voice bellowed behind her. Alice paused as activity in the bakery stopped. “You think you can do this—run a restaurant of such esteem? You’re nothing, Alice. That restaurant is the score of the decade. I worked too long and too hard to lose it to you!”

Alice sighed, unsure what this buffoon could want. Any other day she would have cowered to this man who did nothing but tear her down. But she saw it now—it wasn’t that he didn’t believe she could cook, but that he knew he could not. She was a beacon of what he would never be. She laughed once and turned, meeting him full on.

“I’m not the fraud here. I am not the one who relies on their staff to cook and then takes the credit. I am not the one who tried to intimidate a girl in her twenties into a sexual relationship so I could steal her ideas and build my brand off of someone else’s work.” She stepped toward him. Jonas glanced around, Alice refusing to back down now. “You can’t stand that I remade myself and built something on my terms, and you are not even a footnote in my success. That I didn’t bow before you and climb into bed with you and let you get by on what Cornelia taught me. You exist on money, pomp, and intimidation. But hear me—you don’t scare me anymore. I earned my place at this table, and I did it by my talent and creativity. We both know your talent is like your restaurant, cold and devoid of anything real.”

“I will get that restaurant,” he said through clenched teeth, his face red. Alice wondered why this man ever scared her, why she ever let him hold her back for so long.

“Okay.” She stood straighter and shrugged. “Go for it. Call Collins and make your best appeal. We’re not in competition here, Jonas. We’re not even playing the same game.” She stepped back. “You’ve spent your entire career in D.C. trying to erase Cornelia from the industry because you know you will never match up. You can take his restaurant, but you can’t cook his recipes. You can intimidate his staff, but you can’t force us to work for you. You can manipulate his co-owner into perpetuating your lies, but you can’t cover up for your extreme lack of a palate. I don’t know what you expected to gain from this, but I’m done giving you any more time. Move on, I have.” She turned, having forgotten they were in a crowded room. Carver stood beside the pastry case, his elbow resting on the top. The cashier asked the next person in line what they wanted. Alice went to the kitchen not looking back. That was the last time she considered what that man thought about her. He would never define her or her career again.

A staffer came back midmorning to tell her Derek Collins was there. She took off her apron and walked to the front. He stood from the café table he sat at.

“Ms. Gibson.” He shook her hand before they both sat. “I wanted to come ask you to manage the restaurant at The Cora. I’ve tried places all over this town, and, well, what you do is what we want.”

“Mr. Collins…”

“I know there’s been some miscommunication, but I’ve been given the authority to bring on who I think would best serve what we want to do. And that’s you.”

“I accept.”

“We can pay…I’m sorry, you what?” He chuckled. Alice smiled and laughed.

“I’m in. The Cora is my dream. I’ve wanted to be in that building since I was a little girl. It would be my honor to work with you.”

He sat back and smiled wide, letting out a sigh of relief.

“Mr. Clare will be so excited. I can call him right now.” He reached for his cell. Alice leaned forward and put her hand on his wrist.

“Let me tell him, please. It would mean a lot.”

“Of course. Maybe we can get together next week, and I can show you the space.”

#

THE ELEVATOR CLICKED THROUGH the floors, Tabby fighting off the memory of the last time she was there. She spent all weekend picking out what to wear, finally deciding on dark green slacks and an off-white blouse with a tie at the top. Annie said it felt like the first day of school. In many ways, it was. She hoped people would be nice to her, and she’d figure out where to go. She debated for an hour whether to wear her hair up or down and finally went for her power look—a high ponytail, natural make-up and her favorite coral lipstick. Alice came to see the twins on Sunday night, reassuring Tabby that Katy was amazing, and Delany was empowering, and she was going to kick ass.

Paul kissed her goodbye when she dropped him off at the EPA. Tabby pulled into the building and parked where Katy had told her to. Katy waited when she got off the elevator.

“It’s nice to see you again, Mrs. Black. I’m Katy O’Toole, welcome to Macon. Mr. Clare is this way.” She led her to Delany’s office, who stood when he saw her.

“Welcome.” Delany shook her hand. They went to talk at the conference table in his office by the windows. Tabby glanced over the view again wondering how he got anything done. A schedule of meetings was on her open portfolio, next to the list of things Tabby wanted to do. Delany reiterated that he and Katy were there to help however they could. He stood, Katy waiting with all the forms she needed to fill out.

“Where is Moe’s office?” she asked.

“I can take you,” Katy said. They chatted while they walked, Tabby unsure what she was going to say. Katy showed her the open door and told her to take her time. Tabby let her walk away before running a hand over her blouse and knocking on the door.

“Hey Tabby,” Moe stood slowly. “I saw the email from Delany…”

“I owe you an apology, Moe.” She refused to chicken out. “You were a good friend and did a lot for me. I’d never have gotten TabiKat off the ground without you. I know what happened wasn’t ideal and faced with those three, not easy. But I want you to know I’m sorry for taking your friendship and talent for granted, and I hope we can find a way to work together. ”

He moved around the desk to hug her, Tabby slowly closing her arms. This was their second chance to do what they talked about at her kitchen table when TabiKat was getting started.

“Welcome to the team,” he said. She met his gaze and nodded.

“What do I need to know?”

He motioned for her to sit. They spent the rest of the morning talking, her ideas only getting bigger.

#

KATY KNOCKED ON DELANY’S door mid-afternoon.

“How is Tabby doing?” he asked.

“Like she’s been here forever. The foreman called. They have some questions with things at The Cora. He wondered if you could stop by.”

He sighed, wanting to go home and watch the game and forget. But they were behind schedule and every day cost him money.

“I’ll go by after I leave.”

He went to check in with Tabby, her office dark. He rode the Metro, needing to call Collins to see what the game plan was now that Alice said no. Anyone else would be a step down. Maybe in time he’d stop comparing whatever they cooked to what Alice could do.

The building looked dark, a note waiting at the service entrance in the back.

‘Follow the path.’ An electric candle flickered on the ground just inside the fence. He found the next one, the path leading him to the entrance for the elevator exclusively for the tower which opened, a candle inside. The doors closed and Delany pushed the button for the only other floor the elevator went to. He faced the glass enclosure, the elevator rising into the dark. It opened on the 10th floor to another candle. Now he was curious.

“Hello?” He went into the illuminated landing, an arrow of candles pointing him toward the door to the observation deck. The chill from the open deck hit him as he stepped outside. He started around the lower deck, Alice looking over her shoulder.

“Have you ever seen the view up here at night?” She faced him in the dress she had worn to Emre.

“No. I can’t say I have.”

She turned toward the Washington Monument, the lights of Virginia shining in the distance. He stopped behind her, taking off his jacket and putting it over her shoulders. She pulled it closer.

“Pretty remarkable, right?” she asked.

“It’s amazing.” He rested his hand on her far side and pressed a kiss to her hair, the moment still sinking in.

She faced him and reached for his hand. “I got a new gig this weekend.”

“Yeah? Where?” His heart dropped; please don’t say she was leaving town.

“Collins came to see me.”

“Wait, so when he asks you to do it?” He tilted his head, Alice smiling. It took all his restraint not to just kiss her, things needed to be said.

“I never talked to Tabby about my decision to work for you and took my guilt out on you. I convinced myself that what I felt wasn’t enough when really, I’ve never cared about anyone as much as I care about you. You and Helene, you’re home to me.”

He squared his body to hers, running his knuckles down her face. “I love you,” he said. “And you were right, I was being played. But I’m getting primary custody of Helene, and I spoke to Tabby…”

“I know. I helped her pick out an outfit. It’s a whole new day for you, mi amor. ”

“That is so much better than Bulldog.”

“I thought you might like it.” She smiled as Delany put his arm around her. He leaned in, Alice going on her tiptoes. He kissed her, pulling her closer. There was nothing between them now, Delany grateful for those drinks over the summer and the woman who never left his mind. She led him to a picnic she set up on the upper deck with her infused Cherry Blossom gin and tonics and his favorite dessert. They sat there and watched the lights. Delany able to see a lifetime play out before him, humbled.