“Deal. Thanks, Father.” Adam hung up the phone and pondered before making the next call.
Chapter 32
Lena stood in the kitchen prepping for the evening’s trade early. Someone had booked for a birthday party and asked for a special cake to be made for dessert. As well as her usual scattered bookings, the restaurant was almost full.
The cake was sitting in the cold room ready for the party. She thought about stringing up some streamers and gave her mother a quick call to arrange it. Kyle came over with the box of decorations and dumped them on a table.
“Nona said I should blow up balloons too. Reckons there are enough in here. What do you think?”
Of course her mother had balloons too. “Sure, fine by me. They’ll have to be a unisex color because I don’t know who the party’s for.” She wiped her hands on the apron and walked over to see what was in the box. Lena picked out a packet of black and a packet of gold balloons left over from a New Year’s party. Perfect.
“This would do. What do you think?”
“I like it. Looks pretty up market too.” He rummaged in the box and pulled out a balloon inflator and got to work. Lena kept an eye on him as he worked, his face set with determination. She wondered where hers had gone. Not long ago she would be the one getting excited over the bookings for tonight. After the whole debacle with Cole and Simon, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do anymore. Nothing for it but to soldier on and see how things go.
Lena put the prepped salads in the cold room and unhooked the venison hanging in the corner. It’d been a special request for the birthday dinner. Apparently someone had talked about her entrée at the school fundraiser and had obviously loved it. Lucky for her Adam had given her some more last week.
She placed it on the cutting board and took her time slicing it into thin fingers ready to marinate in her own red wine concoction before it went onto the barbeque to grill.
“How does that look?” Kyle was standing on one of the tables attaching a group of balloons to the overhead railing that held the milking cups.
Lena went weak at the knees watching him. “Kyle, be careful.”
“Geeze, Mum, settle down. I’m all good. So how does it look?”
She held her hand over her chest and took a deep shuddering breath. “Wonderful, thanks.”
“Hey, I like that.” Adam walked in through the back door, linked his arm through hers, and watched Kyle stringing the balloons. “Makes it look all party like.”
Her sanity had arrived. She breathed deeply to calm her frazzled nerves “Well, that’s because someone booked for a party and asked for a cake.”
He nodded his head in approval. “Great. Who is it, anyone local?”
“No idea. I don’t even know if it’s a male or female, hence the gold and black balloons.”
“Right. Hey listen, do you have a spare table tonight by any chance?”
“Only one left. Why?” She leaned into him, taking pleasure in having him so close.
“I thought I’d like to invite your folks to dinner.”
Aww, how sweet. “Adam, you don’t have to do that.” I love that you are though.
“I want to. Humor me please.”
“Fine. Put it in the book then. You might have to come over early and play maitre de for me if the girls get too busy. It’s a full house now.” And I’m a bit nervous for some reason.
Adam pulled her around to face him and planted a big kiss on her lips. Kyle showed his amusement by wolf whistling before he burst into laughter, much to Lena’s embarrassment.
“Don’t let him stop you. Kid will get his just desserts when he starts dating, I can promise you that.”
“Fine, we can fight over it later. I have to get on or I’ll be running behind all night and I don’t want to annoy anymore diners, especially when I’m doing my damndest to get people coming back here.”
“Stop worrying so much. It will all come together. You’re too good a chef for it not to.” He kissed her again. “Right, I have stock to feed, then a shower, and I’ll be back to help you out.”
You’re such a sweet guy. “Thanks, Adam. It means a lot to me that you’d help.”
“I told you, I love you, Lena, and I’m here for you.”
I think I love you too. I’m still trying to figure it out. She fought back tears and watched him walk away. She knew he meant it and she had deep feelings for him. Otherwise there wouldn’t be any sex. It wasn’t how she rolled. Love had to accompany the act in her mind, and she would try to stick to that philosophy.
As the evening progressed, Lena was too busy to keep an eye on what was happening in the front end of her restaurant apart from the occasional glimpse as people passed her kitchen, calling out hello. The tables were all full and the food orders were coming thick and fast, giving her no time to lean on the counter and watch the customers enjoying their dining experience.
She plated the last main for the evening and placed it on the counter before calling out, “Order up.” Lena stepped back and wiped her hands on the apron folded and tied at her waist. She reached for a bottle of water and unscrewed the top. After a couple of hours cooking, she was hot and thirsty, the adrenaline running through her veins could have kept her going for another hour or so. It made her heart soar to see the restaurant full and hear the chatter of happy customers.
She
