I round the corner and get in my car. When I clear the parking lot, I raise the volume of my stereo, pumping “Fire Tribute” out my rolled-down windows. I need to clear my head and think. We need all our bases covered before we can leave in a week for the competition. Plus, now the show wants to come this weekend for their B-roll filming. They’re already scheduled for the Everheart Bar and Fine Dining Saturday.
Daddy’s truck is in what’s coming to be his regular spot when I drive up to Lillie’s house. It’s a comfort to know we can depend on him to still take care of Mama when she isn’t well. I use my key in case she’s resting.
First, I check the kitchen, but no one’s there so I continue through to the dining room. Daddy is seated at the table with his laptop out and glasses on, studying his screen so attentively, he doesn’t even notice me.
“Hi, Daddy. Everything okay?” I lay a kiss on his forehead.
He closes his laptop and squeezes my hand. “Mostly. I have a meeting in Houston I’ll have to be at early Monday morning so I’ll need to leave Sunday. Will you be able to look after your mother?”
“That’s why I came over. We’re back in the competition. They’ll be here during Sunday’s lunch service to film, then I can come over here after. Is she really not doing so well that she needs care all the time?” I hold my breath, waiting for his reply, my heart beating a worried tune.
“She’s just been so tired. Occasionally she has a headache with blurry vision. Been more moody than usual, but otherwise she said she doesn’t feel bad. Just really tired.” He rubs his chin, today’s stubble sprouting out. “You know she can’t go to San Francisco, don’t you?”
I nod. “I know. I plan to ask the show if Hannah can sub in for her since she’s engaged to Wyatt. Then I have to ask Hannah if she wants to do it.” I pull out a chair and relax into it. My emotions have been all over the place this evening and now I’m feeling a bit tired. “Are you worried about Mama?”
“I am because these flares are lasting longer and occurring more frequently. Her doctors say it’s just a phase of the disease and she has to be better with her diet. After forty plus years of eating the same way, it’s been a difficult adjustment. I’m not sure how she does when nobody’s watching.”
He takes his glasses off, then leans back in his chair. His button-down shirt is wrinkled, something completely out of character.
“I guess you heard about the lease for the restaurant.”
He nods, a frown creasing his face. “I did. I think that’s causing a much bigger strain on your mother than she’s letting on. You know I’d help her if she’d let me.”
“I do know. I honestly don’t understand how she can be so stubborn when she needs her income so badly. And her health insurance. I hope we can win this competition.” I fidget with the hem of my T-shirt miserably.
“I know, sweetheart. What about you?”
I’ve been so focused on saving Mama’s restaurant, I haven’t had a lot of brain space to think about myself too much. “I’ll figure something out for me. I’ll be out of an apartment soon so I should probably start there. I have a little savings and I’m not worried about finding a job. Hopefully I can take my time to get the right one though.”
“Don’t you want a restaurant of your own?”
I desperately do, but I’m not sure I’m ready. I’ve happily let Mama look after the business side while I concentrated on improving the menu when she let me. “Someday.”
“You know that if you need my help until you get everything sorted out, you have it.”
Unlike my stubborn mother, I don’t hesitate to take my father’s help. Yeah, I’m grown and not his responsibility anymore technically, but I don’t mind having that safety net. “Thanks, Daddy. I know, and I’ll definitely take you up on it if I can’t work everything out. I just hate having to give up my apartment. It’s perfect for me at this point in my life. And I’m sad about giving up the garden too.”
He rubs his eyes and sags in the chair.
“Go home and get some rest. I’ll stay here tonight.”
He stands and leans down to me, wrapping me in a one-arm hug. “Call me if you need me.”
Once Daddy’s gone, I peek into Mama’s room. She’s asleep, and since it’s getting late, I make up the bed in a spare bedroom, then pull out my phone. I open my contacts and select the name, staring at it a long time before I make the call.
How to Disappoint Your Mama
1 caring daughter/slightly overbearing chef
1 cooking competition
1 unsuspecting mother/controlling restaurant owner
Start with daughter making a unilateral decision about competition. Add mother blowing a gasket.
Yield: 1 very angry mother
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Unexpected caregiver.
I’m almost surprised when Mike answers, since he’s behind us in time and they’re probably still doing dinner service. That was likely more wishful thinking on my part than anything else.
“Hi there. It’s Rowan.” Like that wouldn’t have come up on his caller ID.
“Hey. Everything okay?”
Yeah, I deserve that. I haven’t exactly been a bastion of returning phone calls and texts the past couple weeks.
“Well, yes. I guess everything’s okay. The Ortiz family dropped out of the competition so we’re back in.”
The surprise in his voice definitely comes through the phone, but he also sounds happy enough. “That’s wonderful. I’m so glad for you.”
“Thank you. So, I don’t know how to say this, but since we’ll see each other next week, I wanted to call.” Seriously, I really don’t know how to say this.
“It’s okay. We’re better as friends. I get that.”
“Sorry. I’m the worst.”
“Seriously not true, Rowan. You’re a great person. I get that you didn’t realize
