by Mona Ingram
“So,” said Jesse, looking at each of them for several moments. “How can we help you?”
Jean-Marc shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “That’s a big question, Mr. Cooper.”
“Call me Jesse, or Coop.”
“Okay, Mr. – er, Mr. Coop.”
Jesse smiled. “Let’s approach this another way. What are your goals?”
“Wow. Nobody ever asked me that before.”
“They must have asked you in school.” Jesse smiled to soften the rebuke.
“Yeah, but we answer some questions on a standard form and nobody follows up. They shove a bunch of brochures in your hand about career choices and that’s it.”
“Fair enough.” Jesse switched his attention to Brandon. “You’ve had more time to think about this. What are your plans?”
“That’s easy. I’d like to start with a truck selling fries.”
“You mean like a food truck.”
“Yes. I’m obviously a few years away from that, but you asked what our goals are, and that’s mine. I hope to find work in one of the beachside food stands this summer. I don’t think practical experience will be too hard to get, but I would also need to learn the financial side. And then there are the permits and everything that goes with that. As Mr. Cousins said, a lot of us need mentors for that kind of stuff. Not someone to do the work for us, but someone to steer us in the right direction.”
Jesse turned back to Jean-Marc. “What about you? What are you really passionate about?”
“Passionate?”
“Yeah. You must have seen someone doing something and thought “I’d really like to do that... forget about how outrageous it might seem.”
Understanding dawned in the young man’s eyes. “It’s nothing glamorous, but I saw a man setting tile once and thought I’d really like to do that. But I have no idea how to learn. I mean, they don’t exactly offer tile setting in shop class.”
“Good man.” Jesse gave him a pat on the back. “Now how about you two?” He spoke to the other two teens, and discovered that one had an interest in learning how to build log homes, and one was keen to learn web design.
“You know,” said Brandon during a lull in the conversation, “there are a lot of kids at school who could really use some inspiration. We’re all at loose ends since the Youth Centre closed, but if we could get together, say once a week and bring someone in to talk to us, it would make a huge difference.”
“I was thinking about that,” said Jesse. “You could use help with things like putting together a business plan, and setting up an accounting system. Not all of you are going to start your own businesses, but those who do need to know the basic requirements. Come to think of it, that sort of knowledge benefits everyone, not just business owners.” He took a breath and looked to Larry for confirmation. “Larry and I would like to try to re-open the Youth Centre, but we want the four of you and anyone else who’s interested to start a fund-raising campaign. For every dollar you raise, Larry and I will put in ten. But we’re going to leave it up to you to contact city hall and bring us the details on what’s required to re-open it. They’ll want a responsible caretaker, and I have someone in mind.”
“Hey, there’s a kitchen at the Youth Centre.” Brandon’s enthusiasm bubbled to the surface. “If the kids start coming around, I could look into selling food.”
Jesse laughed. “Don’t get carried away, but sure, find out about that, too.”
“Jesse,” said Brandon, suddenly serious. “And Mr. Cousins. Why are you doing this for us?”
Larry looked at Jesse. “Because there was nobody around to help us when we started.” They began to laugh at the same time, and Larry continued. “Both of us made some incredibly poor decisions that could have been avoided with a little guidance. Our mistakes made us stronger, but I don’t recommend you follow our lead.” He rose. “And now, if you don’t mind, I should get in an hour or two of work before I leave.”
CARLY WAS UNUSUALLY quiet as she cleaned up the kitchen.
“Are you feeling left out?” Lexie looked outside, where the meeting was breaking up.
“What?” Carly smiled. “No, I was just day dreaming. I already know what I want to do.”
“Feel like sharing?”
“I want to open a small restaurant. More of a tea room, really. I’d like to specialize in desserts, and light lunches, but I have a feeling I probably need to open for breakfast as well to make a go of it.” She gave a small, self-conscious laugh. “I have time to work it out. First, I need to learn to make pastry as well as you.”
“I do enjoy it,” said Lexie, wrapping the last of the pastry dough and slipping it into the cooler. “They say you need a light hand, and from what I can see, you have that. I’ll be happy to teach you all I can while I’m here.”
“Thank you, Lexie.”
“You’re welcome,” she said distractedly. Jesse and Larry had walked to the edge of the deck and were conversing casually.
Carly cocked her head to one side and looked at the two men. “You like him, don’t you.” It was more of a statement than a question.
Lexie turned to deny it, but thought better of the idea. “Does it show?”
“Oh yeah.” Carly came to stand beside her and pretended to fan her face. “That’s one fine looking man you’ve got there.”
Lexie shook her head. “I don’t have him.” She could still feel his thumb on her bottom lip, still smell his after-shave.
“Oh no?” Carly turned away with a laugh. “We’ll see about that.”
“THOSE KIDS ARE GOING to be a handful.” Larry directed an amused glance at Jesse. “Reminds me of us at that age.”
“I enjoyed hearing them talk, and I like the fact that they have reasonable goals. None of them want to take over the world.” He raised an eyebrow. “At least not yet.”
“We’re lucky to have this opportunity to help them.” Larry gazed into the distance. “I hope we still feel the same way a year from now.”
“We’re bound to run into some problems along the way, but we have a secret weapon.”
“Which is?”
Jesse turned to his friend. “They’re in on this from the get-go. It’s their project, not something that’s being handed to them. In my experience, peer pressure can solve just about any problem that pops up. They’re going to fight for this and they won’t want to give it up easily.”
“Good point.” Larry leaned on the railing and thought for a while. “According to Brandon, it was Lexie who lit a fire under both him and Carly. She believed in them, and that’s all it took.
“I know.” Jesse tried to keep the pride out of his voice.
Larry pretended not to notice. “She’s done a lot for this place in a few days. You gotta keep her, man.”
“I intend to.”
Larry gave him a knowing look. “I meant for cooking.”
Jesse frowned. “So did I.”
Larry laughed out loud. “Yeah, right.” He punched Jesse in the arm and walked away.
Jesse straightened and watched his friend’s retreating back. Larry had always been able to read him, and it looked like that hadn’t changed. But his friend’s words were enough to give him pause. Was he about to break his rule about not becoming personally involved with an employee? Of course Lexie wasn’t technically an employee yet because she hadn’t accepted his offer.
A sticky wicket, as the Brits would say. A conundrum. A problem, and one that required further study. He strode purposefully into the kitchen.
“How many more days?” he asked without preamble.
“Three.”
“Is that all?”
“That’s it.”
“Very well,” he said. “Have dinner with me tomorrow night.”
Carly looked from one to the other and tried to hide her smile.
“Here?”
“No, in Victoria. Let’s do something unexpected and go to Bistro Provencal.”
Much as she hated to admit it, Lexi
e was curious to see how the restaurant was getting along without her. Not that she wished them any bad luck, but...
“Okay.”
“Shall I fly up for you?”
“No, that won’t be necessary. Why don’t I meet you there?” She turned to Carly. “You can open by yourself on Saturday, can’t you? You were doing it before I came along.”
Carly nodded.
Lexie turned back to Jesse. “All right. I’ll meet you at six thirty in the bar at the Bistro.”
“Done.” His gaze lingered on her lips for much longer than necessary, and her body started to come alive in places that had been dormant for too long. “See you then.”
“DAAAAD!” LUC DRAGGED his feet and Jesse was forced to slow down. “Wait.”
Jesse had been so focused on Lexie, he hadn’t paid attention to Luc’s protestations. “What is it, Son?”
Luc held out a small, misshapen piece of driftwood. “I made this for Lexie.”
Jesse kneeled down and examined it studiously. “What is it?”
A slow grin blossomed on Luc’s face. “It’s a key chain! Lexie needs one so she doesn’t lose her key to the cabin.” Luc held it up proudly. “Brandon helped me put the wire on it.”
A small hole had been drilled in the wood – no doubt by one of the construction workers – and a thin piece of twisted wire acted as a makeshift chain.
“It’s the Big Bad Wolf,” he said proudly, pointing to what, with a great deal of imagination, might be the wolf’s head. “I made it so she won’t forget me.”
Emotion clogged Jesse’s throat, but he forced himself to speak normally. “Well we can’t have that, can we?” He took Luc’s hand. “Come on, let’s see if she’s still in the kitchen.”
Lexie looked up as they entered the kitchen, and the look on her face when she spotted Luc melted Jesse’s heart.
“Well hello there,” she said, smiling down at him. “If it isn’t my friend the Big Bad Wolf.”
Luc’s grin just about split his face. “This is for you,” he said, handing her the piece of wood. “It’s so you won’t lose your key.”
“It’s beautiful,” said Lexie, turning it over and over. “Did you make it yourself?”
“Brandon helped,” he announced. “It’s supposed to be the Big Bad Wolf, see?” He turned it toward her and she nodded solemnly. “Yes, I can see that.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Luc. I love it.” She examined it again, then clutched it to her chest.
“I knew you would,” he said, then turned to Jesse. “Okay, we can go now.”
Jesse shrugged and held out his hand for his son. “Looks like we’re leaving,” he said with a smile.
Luc’s small figure bounced along beside Jesse all the way down to the dock. It wasn’t until the big radial engine started up that she loosened her grip on the piece of wood and pressed it against her lips.
“I LIKE HER, DAD.” LUC adjusted his headset as though he’d been doing it all his life. “I really like her.” He waited several moments. “Do you like her Dad?”
Jesse smiled. “Yeah, Bud, I do... a lot.”
Chapter Twelve
TRAFFIC CLOSED IN AROUND Lexie as she approached the downtown. How could she have forgotten in only a few days what it was like to drive in the city? If she hadn’t needed the strappy high heels in her locker at New Beginnings she wouldn’t have gone within five miles of the place, but she wanted to look her best tonight.
“Hello, stranger.” Jodi eyed her cautiously. “I see you survived. As a matter of fact, you look great.”
“Thanks, I feel great.”
“So.” Jodi leaned an elbow on the counter. “Where did you end up? I’ve been imagining you walking on the beach somewhere, your hair blowing in the wind.”
Lexie grinned. “Close, but no cigar.”
“Come on, girl. Don’t keep me waiting.”
“Wait. Let me go grab a bottle of water. Want one?”
“I’d love it.”
Lexie returned with two bottles and handed one to her friend. “You won’t believe this, but I ended up working in the kitchen of a diner part way up the island. It’s in a small little place called Arbutus Cove.”
“Never heard of it.”
“See? I told you it was small. But the story gets better.”
Jodi tipped up her bottle. “I hope so. So far it’s a real snore.”
“Come on, Jodi. Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“Okay, okay.”
“Now that I’m telling you this, it sounds almost unbelievable. I mean who walks into a restaurant where the cook didn’t show up, then goes into the kitchen to cook their own food?”
“You, evidently.”
“Yeah, well...” Her thoughts drifted off a moment. “Anyway, the owner showed up the second day and you’ll never guess who he is.”
Jodi yawned and patted her mouth.
“Jodi come on, play along.”
The studio owner rolled her eyes. “Okay, who is he?”
Lexie leaned across the counter and lowered her voice. “The same man I’ve been watching through your window. You know... the pilot? Only he isn’t a pilot. He owns Coastal Air. No, wait. He’s a pilot and he owns Coastal Air.”
“Whoa. Let me get this straight. The man you’ve been obsessing over owns Coastal Air, plus he owns this little place you’ve been working.”
“I didn’t exactly obsess over him.” She paused. “Did I?”
“Only every time you saw him.”
Lexie tossed her hair. “Well if you’re going to be like that, I guess I won’t tell you that I’m meeting him for dinner tonight.”
“Where?”
Lexie couldn’t resist a smug smile. “Bistro Provencal.”
“You’re kidding. This just gets better and better.”
“Why not? They have good food. Or at least, they used to.”
Jodi studied her for a moment.
“You’re different, Lexie. What happened to you up there?”
Lexie couldn’t meet her friend’s eyes. “I don’t know.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for this guy.”
“Come on, Jodi. It’s just a date. I barely know him.”
“That’s good.” Jodi reached under the counter, pulled out a newspaper and tossed it across the counter. “Because they say he’s one of the most eligible bachelors in town.”
Jodi tried not to look, but her eyes were drawn inexorably to the article. “What’s this?” she asked, her throat suddenly dry. “It says something about a fundraiser.” Jesse grinned at her from the newsprint, mouth-wateringly handsome in a tux, his arm around an attractive blonde.
“Who’s the woman?” Her voice didn’t sound like her own.
“Let’s see.” Jodi pulled the newspaper back to her side of the counter. “Sylvia MacMillan.” She read for a moment, and her face fell. “Do you want me to read it to you?”
“Sure. Might as well hear the worst.”
“Okay, here goes.”
‘CNVI, Vancouver Island’s local television station, kicks off their annual fundraising week with a gala event at Crystal Garden. The highlight of the night will be a bachelor auction, featuring such notable locals as Jesse Cooper, owner of Coastal Air. Cooper is pictured here with Sylvia MacMillan, his long-time girlfriend, and employee of CNVI.’ She scanned the rest of the article and shoved the paper under the counter. “They don’t say when the auction takes place. I’m sorry, Lex. I didn’t mean to be a downer.”
“It’s okay.” Lexie offered a weak smile. And it was okay... at least that’s what she’d keep telling herself. But if everything was so okay, why did her heart feel like someone had stomped on it? She dug through her locker and yanked out the heels. If she was going to go down in flames, at least she’d look good doing it!
“THANKS,” SAID LEXIE, handing the cab driver a generous tip. He drove off and she turned toward the building where she’d worked for almost five years. She couldn’t
remember the last time she’d entered from the front; tonight’s experience was surreal in more ways than one.
“Shoulders back.” She heard her mother’s voice. “Show you’re confident and no-one will ever doubt you.”
“Easy for you to say,” Lexie muttered to herself, and pushed open the door.
“Good evening mademoiselle.” Gaetan the maitre d’ greeted her with a smile. “Good to see you again.”
“Thanks, Gaetan. How is your son?”
“Recovering nicely,” he said with a grin. “I wish I could say he’s learned his lesson about climbing trees, but that’s not likely.” He nodded toward the far corner of the bar. “Your party is waiting.”
“Thank you.” A few customers looked up and nodded as she passed, but her attention was on Jesse. Dressed simply in a crisp white open-necked shirt and a dark jacket, she looked at him through fresh eyes. And no matter what it said in the newspaper, he was here with her, and what she saw made her heart race. Eligible or not, he was definitely one of the most appealing men in Victoria.
He rose, took her hand and leaned in to place a kiss on her cheek. “I was hoping you’d wear your hair down,” he murmured, his scent doing strange things to her equilibrium. “You look beautiful, Lexie.”
“Thank you.” She looked at him boldly. His hair, usually wild and wind-blown was almost under control tonight; apparently he’d made an effort to tame it. His cheeks were clean-shaven, and she wasn’t sure if she liked him better this way. Masculinity rolled off Jesse Cooper in waves, and she’d need all her wits not to get caught up in the tsunami.
She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “I confess, I was a bit nervous about coming here tonight.”
He laid a hand on hers. “Hold that thought,” he murmured, and looked up at their server. “What would you like to drink?”
Lexie looked up. “Oh, hello Joel. How are you?”
“Fine,” he said, pretending not to notice Jesse holding her hand. “May I bring you something to drink?”
“A glass of dry white wine, please.”