by Stacy Eaton
Yes. That’s exactly what she should have done, and what I should have done. I should have gotten down on my knees and begged her to stay.
Robin
Okay, pity party time is over, I said to myself as I washed my face in my hotel bathroom. It was time to get my butt in gear.
I pulled out the notebook in which I’d jotted my thoughts and picked up the phone to make my first call. The woman on the other end was ecstatic to talk to me, and we made an appointment for that very afternoon to sit down and discuss options.
I unpacked a few of my clothes, knowing that if things worked out, I would be staying here for a few days until I could put the rest of the pieces together.
I was excited when I left my hotel room and made the fifteen-minute drive to the catering company on the edge of town. This was the only catering company in this part of the county, and ironically, it was for sale.
When I sat down for tea with Mrs. Brentway, she explained that her husband was ill and that it was time to retire and spend her time with him and the rest of her family. We talked for over two hours, and then she gave me a tour of the facility.
The building wasn’t large, and it needed a few upgrades, but it was clean and had plenty of work and cooking space. It had a large walk-in freezer and an equally large walk-in fridge. She currently employed seven people full time, with another twelve available for events, and they did most of the work for her. In recent years, she had only been overseeing things, and I asked her if the employees might have a problem working for someone else.
She assured me that they would love to be working with someone so talented, and I laughed, “How do you know I’m talented?”
She gave me a knowing grin, “You’re not the only one who did her research. I did some searching on the internet, and I even called your old boss. He’s not very pleasant, is he?”
“Now that’s an understatement.”
We went on to discuss the financials of her company. Since she was the only major catering company in this part of the county, they did a prosperous business and for years she had made a solid profit.
We were discussing the sale price for the company when she paused and asked me out of the blue, “Why here?”
I’d asked myself that a few times over the last twenty-four hours, and I didn’t have an answer until that very second.
“I’m ready to settle down, have a family, and I don’t want to be in a big city. I want to be someplace small where I can feel like I belong.”
“And is there a special man who will be joining you?”
Chris’s face popped into my head. “There is a special man, and, well, it’s complicated.” How did I even attempt to explain that I had fallen head over heels in love with a man I barely knew, and that his ex-girlfriend was causing all kinds of problems?
As I thought about it, I realized that my leaving had been a good thing. It would give both Chris and me a chance to deal with our own separate issues. Then, if the time came, we could try again. Mrs. Brentway patted my hand, “Good men are always complicated, but they are worth the effort. Trust me.”
I hoped so. My plan was to get settled and get this business underway, and then maybe I could contact Chris and see if we might be able to start over.
By the time I left late that afternoon, Mrs. Brentway and I had come to an agreement. She was going to have her attorney contact me, and I needed to spend the next day finding an attorney for myself. She’d told me she had another person interested, but they had admitted to wanting to change a bunch of things. She was much happier knowing that I wanted to keep the basic foundation of the company the same, and just add some special touches to it.
Between the money I’d saved over the years and the inheritance from my grandmother’s life insurance, I had a good amount of money to put down. I didn’t have any concerns that I wouldn’t be able to get a loan for the rest of the money.
I’d also made plans with Mrs. Brentway that, on Monday, I would come in and meet the employees and start working with them a little bit to see what was going on. They had quite a few engagements booked for the next two weeks leading up to Christmas, and I was excited to be able to jump in with both feet.
There was one thing that Mrs. Brentway had asked that I do, or not do, and I wouldn’t have even if I hadn’t promised her. She’d asked me not to change the name of the catering company, and as I looked down at the catering menu in front of me, I sighed at the printing across the front: Heart of the Family Catering. It was perfect.
I managed to find a small house to rent early Saturday morning, and in the afternoon, got a call that my car was fixed. After picking it up from the repair side, I drove over to the sales side and spent the next few hours trading it in and leasing a small SUV. If I was going to be living here in snow country, I should at least have a car that could handle some of the snow.
Fate had shined down on me. Maybe it had started rough and scary with my near-death experience in the snowstorm, but it had led me to a wonderful family, and a company to call my own. I couldn’t have asked for more. I prayed that fate would stay on my side as all the plans fell into place, and I hoped that Chris would still want me when the time finally came.
By Monday morning, I was raring to go with a mixture of excitement and nervous energy bubbling in my veins. I just hoped the employees accepted me easily.
Mrs. Brentway introduced me, and after a few minutes of a tear-filled speech to the employees, that all seemed like extended family immediately, she left me in the kitchen with two of the head cooks to start learning everything.
The following Wednesday morning, I signed the papers at the bank for the loan, and on Thursday, Mrs. Brentway and I sat down with our attorneys and completed the deal.
I couldn’t believe that in less than two weeks it was done, and I was now the owner of my own catering company. I told Mrs. Brentway that she was always welcome, and she was so thankful for that. She had even said she would stay on as a part-time employee through the season to help. I had every intention of calling my friend back in the city when I was ready to hire someone else. Hopefully, she would join me.
Friday afternoon, we were making the final preparations for a holiday party. It was a private engagement at a family’s home for approximately fifty people.
The van was loaded with the food that was needed, and final cooking would be done on site. I’d been assured that there was ample space for the final preparations and cooking.
Stewart, one of the other chefs, and Monica, one of my servers, drove in the van, and I followed behind them. I had no idea where we were going, as I’d been too preoccupied with the food to worry about those details this time.
When they turned into a driveway thirty minutes later, I slammed on the brakes in the middle of the roadway. What were the odds, I laughed to myself a little hysterically in the car. Fate still had a hand in my future.
Over the last week, I’d thought about calling Chris and telling him I was in the area to maybe get a feel for how he would react and to ask how things were going with Molly, but one day turned into another and before I knew it, well here I was. I guess I would find out firsthand.
When I parked the car, I stared up at the house. A sick feeling slithered through my stomach, and I gripped the steering wheel to try and stop the dizzy feeling that washed over me. What if he didn’t want to see me again? What if my coming here only caused pain for the kids?
Why hadn’t I asked where this party was? I owned the damned company! I should have known this information. Crap!
Well, it was too late now. Even if I called one of the other employees to come take my place, it would take them too long to get here. I couldn’t let my first catering job go down the tubes because of a personal issue.
“Pull up those big girl panties and deal with it, Robin,” I said to myself in the rearview mirror.
When I got out of my car, Stewart was walking up to the door. “They left us a key so we could set up,” he called out as he unl
ocked the door.
“I guess we should go in and see where things need to go before we start unloading,” Monica said.
A bubble of laughter flitted out of my mouth.
“Don’t bother. I know where it all goes. The bar supplies will go downstairs. There is a beautiful setup on the far side of the room. The kitchen is to the left through the family room. The fridge is big enough to keep a lot of this cold.”
Monica stared at me and then the house. “You know the Landrys?”
“Yeah, I do. Come on, let’s get this stuff unpacked and get started.” The sooner I got busy, the less nervous I’d be. Yeah, well, the thought sounded good anyway.
Chris
“You swam awesome today,” I declared to Matt as we climbed into my truck. “I’m proud of you.”
“I can’t believe I shaved almost a second off my butterfly!”
“And you won!” Geri cried out excitedly from the back seat.
“Yeah, and I won!” He grinned, “I am still amazed that we won the championships! Now we get to go to the state finals. Yes!” He pounded on the dashboard to release his excitement like he was playing the bongo drum.
“You guys did a great job. I’m not surprised you’re going to state.”
“I’m going to have to train really hard. I need to take off another second if I want any chance of beating the record from last year.”
“If you put your mind to it, you can do it,” I reminded him.
“Man, I wish Robin could have seen me swim.” Well, that came out of left field.
“Why’s that?” I asked cautiously and glanced in the rearview mirror to see Geri frowning.
“I don’t know. I just wish she could have been there.”
“I miss Robin,” Geri intoned solemnly from the backseat and I sighed. I missed her, too, and I wanted to kick myself in the ass for not having gotten a phone number or e-mail address from her. I didn’t have any idea how to find her—and that’s exactly what I wanted to do. I’d wracked my brain on how to locate her. I’d called the hotel, but she had checked out two days after she checked in, and the only reason they told me that was because I’d paid for the room.
I’d even called the car dealership, but they refused to pass along any personal information on her.
If I didn’t think of a way to find her, I was set to hire a private detective after the holidays and track her down.
Since the day she’d left, I’d beaten myself up every which way I could. I should have begged her to stay, or at least to stay in touch with us. Fine, maybe she needed to go someplace else, but the kids wanted to talk to her.
I was still amazed at the connection she had made with all three of us, and when I found her again, I was going to use that connection any way I could. I just hoped she felt the same. There wasn’t a night that I hadn’t lain in bed and wondered where she was or wished that she was beside me so I could make love to her again.
We pulled up to the house and found the catering van parked off to the side, along with another small SUV.
“I’m going to go take a shower,” Matt called over his shoulder as he ran into the house, and I unbuckled Geri from her booster seat.
“No way!” I heard Matt shout from inside the house, and I hustled up the steps to find out what was going on. When I stepped through the door, I almost slid to a stop. Matt stood near the kitchen, his swim bag lying haphazardly on the floor, and he had his arms thrown around a woman. She was shorter than he was, but the moment he pulled away, I saw her face, and so did Geri.
“Robin!” she squealed and ran to her. It took everything I had in me not to do the same. Robin picked her up and hugged her tightly, looking at me over her shoulder.
What was she doing here?
“Matt just won the championships in swimming! We get to go to states next.”
“He did?” She pulled Geri back and smiled into her face before she grinned up at Matt. “You won?”
“I did. Man, I wish you had been there. It was awesome.” Matt shifted and I saw the look of love on his face, the same look that was on Geri’s face as she stared at Robin.
“Okay, Matt, shower, now. Geri, you can visit with Robin later. Go get changed, we have a party about to start.”
“You’re not going to leave again without saying goodbye, are you?” Geri asked as Robin set her on the ground.
“No, sweetie, I promise if I have to leave again, I’ll say goodbye.”
Did she say if? Geri scurried over to the stairs and ran up them, grinning the whole way, and I turned to study Robin. Neither of us said anything for a long moment.
We both opened our mouths to speak at the same time that another woman grabbed her arm and pulled her into the kitchen and my cellphone began to ring.
Fine, we could talk later. We had a lot to talk about, and I needed to get changed and ready myself. Obviously, she was here with the caterers. Did she get a job with them? Could I even hope that she’d stayed around here because of me, no, because of us?
After I changed, I went toward the kitchen, but things were crazy in there and I decided it was best to avoid it for now. I coaxed Geri out and had her help me make sure all the lights were plugged in and the decorations were where they needed to be.
I went to my office where I’d stashed a surprise just in case the team did win and paused by my desk. From under my desk calendar, I pulled out Robin’s letter. I folded it and put it in my pocket. She said I stole her heart and a piece of her soul, well if she wanted them back, then we needed to talk.
Matt grinned when he saw the banner I’d had made, and we hung it on the balcony so everyone in the family room could see it. He was still flying high, and I assumed the rest of his teammates would be, too.
This party was a mix of things. It was a celebration for the swim team for the end of their season, but now also for their championships. It was also for their families who had supported them through the season and a holiday party all in one.
From time to time, I would catch a glimpse of Robin in the kitchen, and once I found her watching me. I winked at her and watched a tentative smile begin on her lips.
There was no doubt that by the end of the night, I was going to taste those lips again. I wasn’t letting her go this time.
Robin gave commands around the kitchen to the other two people helping her, and I wondered what position she held at the catering company.
When the other woman passed by me, I stopped her. “What does Robin Cove do for you all?”
She beamed, “She owns the place now.” The woman walked away, her hands filled with treats she was setting around the room.
She bought the catering company? Which meant she was staying around, right? Could I even dare to hope? I was staring at her when she glanced my way again, and it took everything in me to not go take her into my arms that very moment.
A few minutes later, people began to arrive, and I was busy playing host. Geri was running from room to room with some of the other younger kids, and all the swim team members and older kids disappeared to the basement.
The food was incredible, and I wouldn’t have expected anything less, especially with Robin behind the wheel. From time to time, I would see her pop into the family room and speak with people. Sometimes she had a plate of food to pass along, and other times, she just stopped to chat.
I’d even seen her pass out a few things, and I quickly realized it was her business card when I saw someone looking down and reading it.
I was amazed at her. Not only did she rock the party with her cooking, but she was incredible with all the guests. Matt had come by and hugged her a few times, showing her off to his friends who seemed as taken with her as everyone else. Even Wade had hugged her when he saw her again.
All I could think about was getting the party over, so we could talk.
The party was starting to wind down, and people were just beginning to take their leave when I turned from the door and bumped into Robin, grabbing her arms to keep from
knocking her over.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I was trying to scoot past you. I didn’t think you’d turn so quickly.”
“My fault,” I replied softly. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I am,” she said softly.
“Hey, Dad, you’re standing under the mistletoe. I guess you need to kiss her now.”
Robin pressed her lips together to hide a smile, but I let mine loose.
“I guess he’s right, it is tradition.” I looked over my head to find the sprig of green and red hanging right above us. “Yep, he’s right.”
She caught her breath as I descended on her and let my lips glide gently over hers once. Matt and his friends began to clap.
“We’re going to take this back up when we don’t have an audience. Don’t you dare leave before we get to talk.”
“Okay,” the word was so quiet I could barely hear it, but I did, and it made my heart soar.
I let her go and said goodbye to a few more guests, wishing I could kick them all out right that second, while she disappeared into the kitchen. Her lips had tasted like hot chocolate, and I couldn’t wait to taste them again.
Once the last guest had left, Matt took Geri up to her room to help her get ready for bed. A few minutes later, Geri came running back down and past me into the kitchen.
Robin stepped through the archway carrying Geri. “She wanted me to tuck her in. Do you mind?” She bit her bottom lip after she spoke.
“I’d love for you to.”
Her shoulders relaxed slightly as she walked away, Geri babbling the whole way up the stairs.
I went into the kitchen to see how much cleanup needed to be done and was amazed at how clean it was. The man, I think his name was Stewart, was washing the final dishes, and Monica was drying them. There was a crate on the counter where they stored them once they were clean.
Robin came back in and passed by me, “We’ll be out of your way in a few minutes.”