Yes Chef, No Chef

by Willis, Susan

  “Hi,” she said, “Come in and sit down, I’ve got food ready.”

  “You have?” he asked warily following her to the kitchen. He didn’t know what to expect, but this was his Kate and from the first day he’d met her she’d unpredictably kept him on his toes. He took his jacket off and sat down at the table feeling a little off-balance because he’d been expecting an argument not a meal and then wondered if she was going to tip the plate of food over his head, which he reckoned was probably all he deserved. Quickly he decided to get in first with his apologies as he’d planned.

  “Look, Kate,” he said hesitatingly. “I’m truly and sincerely sorry about yesterday…”

  “Oh, that’s ok. I decided when I got home that it’s definitely not a good idea for us to work together,” she said. “And when I offered to come and help you I never dreamt we’d have had the problems we did.”

  She put a plate down in front of him with scallops, blanched vegetables and dressing. “I’ve cooked the scallops and salmon for you,” she said teasing him. “I hoped you may want to eat your words?”

  Unbelievable, he thought, she was completely and utterly priceless - what other woman could turn around a dire situation like this? He relaxed his shoulders, threw his head back and began to roar with laughter and relief. Jenny had been right; he must have been absolutely crazy to let a woman like this get away.

  She popped a scallop into her mouth and felt the juices run from it while she chewed; they were meaty and moist with a delicate flavour and the aroma from the ginger and lemon grass rose up tantalisingly from the plate as she licked her lips appreciatively.

  He ate with gusto declaring, “These are simply delicious.”

  She poured them both a glass of Riesling and then served the salmon fillets with sliced potatoes onto their plates. “I once read that salmon was described as a dish of elegant simplicity,” she said picking her knife and fork up. “I hope the salmon is cooked as chef would like it?”

  Smiling at her he cut through the crispy pine nut and breadcrumb crust and ate a mouthful. “Ok, look, its absolute perfection.” he said staring deeply into her eyes. “It’s fabulous; just like you are.”

  She lifted her shoulders with pride and although she was determined they were going to do some serious talking she decided to get the upper hand first, make him sweat, and have some fun into the bargain.

  Taunting him she pronged a slice of sweet potato onto her fork and held it up in front of his face. “And the potato – is it too hard or maybe too soft?”

  He knew he was well and truly beaten and in these circumstances; he also knew he deserved to be. She was a much bigger person than he could ever hope to be because if it had been the other way around he wasn’t sure if he could ever be as magnanimous. She had been, and still was the love of his life and he knew he’d never forgive himself for treating her so badly and losing her. Could she ever find it in herself to forgive him?

  He nodded his head slightly in the act of submission and muttered, “Just like the salmon, it’s impeccably cooked.”

  Taking hold of her outstretched hand he said, “I really am so very sorry, Kate. I know I was totally out of order and I feel especially crap because you were the one who came to help me. Christ, what was I thinking?”

  She beamed with success but then remembered her stupid pride when they’d split up and if she could have only swallowed it and talked to him then they might not be in this situation. Her eyes softened forgivingly at him. “It’s all right. You were justified with some of your comments. I don’t know what happened to me in that kitchen; maybe it’s because I’m not used to cooking under pressure like you are?”

  “Exactly,” he said relived that she was accepting his apology so well. “You’re an excellent cook and I didn’t help matters by shouting like I did. It’s just sometimes I get so caught up with what I’m doing with the food that everything else, like my manners and behaviour, flies out of the window. God knows how Jessie and Simon put up with me?”

  She thought of how he’d shouted at her about the uncooked salmon and realised what he’d meant when he’d said it wasn’t personal. His manner had been totally different to the old sneering foulness that he’d used before they’d split up – yesterday had been simply an everyday bolshiness that Jessie and Simon accepted as normal chef’s behaviour. She could see now that she shouldn’t have thought he was verbally attacking her as his ex-girlfriend but merely as a member of his team who was making a cock-up with his food.

  Thinking of her father, she wondered how he would tackle this situation and how she could get Tim to open up and talk? If only he would tell her about it, then they could move forward and she’d be able to understand him better.

  She probed gently. “So, how long has the shouting and losing your temper been going on?”

  He took a deep breath and started at the beginning; the night of the Savoy party, Jim stealing from the restaurant, and then settling personal issues with his father and Jenny, how he had never been able to cope with any type of rejection because of Sally and his mum leaving him briefly - he told her everything while she sat quietly listening and understandingly nodding her head.

  “And the only way I could relax was by having a drink, which of course caused its own problems. You see Kate, I’ve had to learn how to handle people and make them want to work for me rather than against me.”

  “Hmm, I can see that with Jessie and Simon,” she murmured giving him a reassuring nod to carry on.

  He shuffled awkwardly in his chair. “And, well, because you are always the consummate professional and brilliant at everything you do, I couldn’t bear telling you what a mess I was making”.

  She was shocked and dumbfounded when she realised Frances was right and he felt undermined by her in a professional capacity. “But Tim, I’ve made loads of mistakes at work,” she said. “Maybe not so much now after years of experience but when I first started I made some real corkers!”

  She spread her hands out on the table towards him in a conciliatory manner shaking her head slowly. “Jeez, I wish you’d told me all of this before. I mean, we should have tried to talk about it?”

  “Well, most of it has happened since you left”, he said, looking vulnerable and dropping his head and shoulders in shame. “I know I should have told you and when I think of how I took it all out on you when we were together...” Slowly and deliberately he shook his head and then whistled through his teeth as if he still couldn’t believe how badly he’d behaved.

  “Oh, Tim,” she murmured. His defences were not just down now but well and truly flattened and her heart melted for him.

  “I can’t bear to think about how awful I was to you and what’s even worse is that a lot of it happened in a drunken stupor and I can’t even remember it clearly – which in itself is disgusting. Please believe me, Kate, it’s something I’ll regret for the rest of my life”.

  She saw the pain shaped in his slumped shoulders and finally knew that he’d admitted his fault in the breakdown of their relationship. If this had happened the day after she’d walked out she might have felt some type of victory or satisfaction but looking at him now she couldn’t. All she felt was a great sadness to think that as close as she’d always thought they were he hadn’t felt able to talk to her about what was happening.

  “It’s ok, I wasn’t completely blameless in the situation either,” she said. “I should have tried to be more understanding and I should never have walked away without at least talking to you first. My Dad always said I’m too stubborn for my own good, and he was right.”

  Her big gentle eyes looked watery with tears of sympathy and tenderness. And because he couldn’t cope with her pity he looked up and said in a more buoyant voice, “No Kate, none of this was your fault. But don’t worry, I’m working my way through things and I’ll be fine.”

  Her mind was spinning with everything he’d told her and stalling for time she stood up and went to the sink to fill a glass of water. From w
hat he’d told her he’d obviously been on a massive learning curve since they’d parted and it was no wonder he’d been struggling to cope. But at least they were talking, she thought; they weren’t screaming and shouting at each other and he wasn’t being blasé and arrogant. Feelings of relief and pure joy flooded through her when she saw what looked remarkably like her old Tim - the Tim she’d fallen head over heels in love with, and the Tim she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

  Take it slowly she cautioned, remember what Lisa told you, tread carefully and keep your feet on the floor because there are still unanswered questions about size eight Julie and she needed to know for certain that he had definitely changed. She returned to the table sipping the water and, not wanting to spoil the intimate atmosphere by mentioning Julie or their separation, she decided that what they’d talked about was a good enough start. He looked emotionally wrung out and she could tell he’d had enough upset for one day.

  Changing the subject altogether she tried to sound more upbeat. “So, back to yesterday, did you manage to get anything out of the food critic?”

  “Oh yes,” he said brightly. “He loved the food and the new Victorian dishes and was more than satisfied when he left. And so was Jack, thanks to you.”

  Pleased to see he was back in a more confident mood she grinned playfully at him twirling the wine glass in her hand. “That’s good,” she said. “Because basically it’s the only reason I put up with you yesterday. I knew how important it was to you and if it hadn’t been for the critic I would have run for the hills...”

  “I know, Kate, and thanks a million,” he said.

  She stood up, cleared the plates from the table and then went around to his chair and stood in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her to him and groaning he buried his face into her while she lovingly ran her hands through his thick hair.

  “Sorry, I didn’t hear that,” she said. “You didn’t shout it loud enough, Chef!”

  “Thanks a million!” he yelled, and they both burst out laughing.

  Chapter Thirty One

  "Oh Lisa, I hope I've done the right thing?" Katie said, serving two breasts of duck onto plates.

  Lisa leaned forward and sniffed appreciatively. "Well, from what you've told me I think you got it spot on.”

  Katie handed Lisa a spoon to help herself to caramelised red cabbage, green beans and potatoes. "I know, and all that about Graham and Jenny was a shock. I’d no idea he had all that resentment trapped inside him.”

  Lisa nodded her head understandingly. “Yeah, resentment and bad feelings are not good things to have festering away in your head,” she said piling red cabbage onto her plate.

  “But do you think I should have at least kissed him when he had his head sunk into my chest? I could so easily have lifted his face up and kissed him. In fact, I was longing to," she said wistfully.

  Lisa crunched into a green bean. "No, I think stroking his hair was a big enough gesture to make. Which, considering the stressful time you’d spent together in the restaurant, was probably more than he was hoping for,” she said and then raising an eyebrow she emphasized, “But, it was a loving response and he will have left knowing that you're still interested but not a complete walk-over and the bad behaviour from weeks ago will simply not be tolerated...”

  Katie giggled at her kind but schoolmistress expression and felt more reassured than she had done since he’d left. She piled her plate with cabbage and potatoes. "You should work in psychology, Lisa; you've such a rational way of summing up situations. You've no idea what a comfort you are."

  Lisa snorted. “Yeah, that’s me all right, always ready with the answers to everyone’s problems. It’s a pity I can’t be as level headed with my own …”

  Katie looked at her friend and wished she knew how to break down her steel barriers so she could help her in return.

  Lisa cut through the roasted skin on her duck breast. "This is simply de-lici-ous,"

  But, the moment was gone and Katie smiled at her pleasure eating the duck.

  Grinning, Lisa asked, "Does this happen to have been cut by the butcher with the enormous hands?"

  "No, it wasn't," Katie winced. “And when I think how close I came to shagging him, well, it makes me cringe."

  Lisa ate ravenously enjoying every mouthful. "This cabbage is lovely, Katie. Is it easy to cook? I mean, how do you get it to turn red in colour?"

  She burst out laughing. "Lisa, it's already red in colour. You buy it like this and just cook it like green cabbage."

  "Really! Oh that's good,” she said innocently. “I’ll have to try it one day. I'm thinking of maybe doing a cookery course because my diet is so crap. Apart from the mackerel I’ve learned to cook, most days I'm lucky to have one portion of fruit or vegetables a day, never mind the recommended five. You see, I’d always hoped to meet a guy who could cook and then that would solve all my problems."

  Katie smiled at her friend wondering when, or if, she would ever meet her match in life. Although Lisa didn't believe in Mr Right, her mum always maintained there was someone for everyone out there, and she prayed there was such a guy for Lisa.

  They spent the rest of the evening watching a DVD and just after she’d bid Lisa goodnight she checked her emails. Tim’s email address popped up on the screen and she read it savouring every word.

  From tim.davies to katie.charles

  Thanks again for helping out in the restaurant, and for the lovely meal you cooked – I really enjoyed being with you again. When my chef is back next week, Jack is sending me over to France to meet with some buyers and to source new wines and ingredients. It’s going to be an exciting trip and I’ll probably be there about two weeks. Would it be ok to email or text you while I’m away?

  Love Tim.

  Shit, shit, shit! She raged, she knew she should have kissed him. Now he would go away thinking she's wasn’t into him anymore and who knows what would happen or who he'd meet. She wanted to scream ‘please don’t go’ or ‘please take me with you’ but instead she calmly replied;

  To tim.davies from katie.charles

  Hey, that sounds great! Hope you have a good trip and yes, of course, drop me a line anytime – I’d love to hear from you…

  Love Kate

  She rang Lisa. “I knew I should have kissed him,” she wailed. “And now he’s gone off to France thinking I’m not interested in him - what a stupid mistake to make…”

  But Lisa firmly and kindly disagreed, repeating her mantra, “Treat ‘em mean, to keep ‘em keen”.

  So for the next week she kept herself busy and tried not to keep checking for texts or emails from him but found it difficult because the days seemed to be dragging by.

  Frances came for supper one night and Katie hadn’t realised until she was sitting opposite her just how much she’d missed her friendship and the daily camaraderie. Sarah had suggested weeks ago that she might find it hard to adjust to working alone, after being part of a team all her life, but Katie had dismissed the theory as simply another one of Sarah’s worries. Now as she looked at Frances’s familiar face and her peculiar but endearing mannerisms while tucking into her supper she agreed that Sarah could have a point.

  With her mouth full Frances talked non-stop about work and relived the email Katie had sent her about Terry’s disastrous night with the beef bourguignon. “What a prick!” she cried out laughing and spluttering before heaping her next forkful ready to put into her mouth.

  Katie laughed with her. “Are they still together?”

  “Nah, he’s got a new babe in tow now,” she said. “Poor cow”.

  Katie smiled, remembering the night and how long ago it seemed, and also how detached from them all she felt.

  Frances shook her mane of frizzy hair. “And Alexander Jennings? Well, what a chump he’s turned out to be,” she said giggling. “David Shaw is having to step in every week and sort out the mess he’s making of every project. And I did hear he’d told someone that the da
y you’d left was the worst thing that had ever happened to his team.”

  Katie couldn’t help giving Frances a ‘told you so’ smile and felt gratified to be proven right. “Oh, what a bloody shame,” she said laughing and pulling a smug face.

  Frances finished eating and laid her knife and fork slowly together on her plate. “That was lovely, thanks, Katie,” she said. “Would you ever want to come back? I mean, if Alex left and David Shaw was to ring and beg you to come back, would you?”

  Katie was startled at the question because not once since she left had she even considered it, but really she didn’t have to think twice. “No, Frances,” she said confidently. “I don’t think I ever would.”

  Katie brought her up to date with the catering bookings and the adventures she’d had with the butcher and Sam in the greenhouse. Frances had laughed until the tears rolled her down her chubby cheeks and then Katie explained what had happened so far with Tim and how they were at least talking again but that he’d gone off to France.

  “And he’s had rave reviews in The Telegraph about his new royal wedding recipes for the banquet,” she said handing the newspaper cutting to Frances. “I’m so proud of what he’s managed to do and how he’s turning the place around.”

  When Frances was pulling on her coat at the front door and Katie was reluctantly bidding her goodnight she smiled and lightly touched Katie’s cheek. “If it’s any help, I agree with Lisa on this one. Make him sweat and be doubly sure he’s definitely changed before you go steaming back in, love. I’d hate to see you hurt again,” she said.

  Katie hugged her. “I will and thanks again for coming.”

  Frances started to walk down the path and turning she called over her shoulder. “But I really hope it does work out for you, Katie, because I still think he’s your other half in life.”

  Finally on the fourth day late at night an email arrived.