Page 27 of Finding Yesterday
“SO, I GOTa job,” I tell Emma, smiling. She and Dylan came to Daddy’s for the weekend. Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, and we all made a vow a long time ago never to spend it alone.
We’re on the porch, and Dylan is with Daddy somewhere in the vineyard, doing who knows what. Daddy’s probably giving the poor kid lessons on how to prune a grape vine.
“That’s great, Claire!” She smiles, but then it fades as she studies my face. “Where?”
I bite my lip. “At The Fine Bone.”
“The Fine Bone!” she blurts, fiddling with the straw in her wildberry seltzer. “That’s…” Her jaw is seemingly stuck mid-word. “Well, that’ll be interesting for sure.”
Interesting? Translation—not great. But I brush away her underhanded disapproval, proceeding to tell her about the co-head chef position. “I’m going to need to make Ms. Hannah’s dishes at The Fine Bone a success, but I’ll also build a name for myself in Blue Vine. And with the nice salary, I’ll be in a good financial position to start my own place.”
“I’ll miss you, baby sister.” She leans over and touches my shoulder. “But this could be a good stepping-stone for you. It’ll help you so you can have yourownrestaurant someday. Sans Hudson.” Emma never liked Hudson, and I didn’t listen to her. This time, I should have, but it’s hard to distinguish when she’s being legitimate or too tough on me.
I take a big gulp of sweet tea. “Jack said he needs to train me before he returns to San Francisco.”
Emma’s eyes brighten. “Claire, that’s really great. Training fromtheJack Brady. So huge!”
“Yes, it is.” I smile, and I mean it. I don’t bring up what happened with Pops. She doesn’t need to know about that.
“Wow. And Jack’s, like, seriously hot.”
“Emma, no.” I glare at her. “Donotgo there.”
“I’m not saying you need to marry him, jeez.” Her eyes go huge as she waves a hand in the air. “Or…or even date him, or whatever. I’m just saying it’s nice eye candy while you work.”
“I’m never getting married.” I flash back to that awful day. I took my wedding dress straight to the thrift store, but after, I worried it might be some sort of bad luck charm or something. And my stupid ring. I was going to give it back to Hudson, but not after he locked me out of my own restaurant. I sold it.
Screw him.
“Yeah, well, I’m never getting married either.” She looks at me, and for the first time in our entire lives, it feels like we understand each other.Reallyunderstand each other.
I can’t imagine Emma marrying a man unless he took in Dylan like his own son.
“Poor Daddy.” I twist my lips. “None of us are getting married.”
“Maybe Nate,” Emma offers.
We both burst into laughter.
Nate is sweet but so adorably clueless. I’m sure he’ll get married someday, he just has to find someone willing to put up with him and his guitar. And the fact that he’ll never grow up. I say, “If Nate manages to lure someone in, bless her heart.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
IT’S MY FIRSTday on the job, Monday morning.
I’ve got a serious case of the jitters, but I have to just get into a groove. With Jack’s help, I can learn the scheduling, the dishes, and the books in a gradual way versus drinking from the fire hose. This time, I’ll be paying attention toeverything, not just the cooking and the customer service.
I walk in, say hello to Kristy, who’s wearing a turtleneck, poor girl. Then I head back through the kitchen, and the smell hits me. Holy moly, it’s bliss. This is going to be tough, and I’ve got to figure out a way to manage it.
I pass Nick, a line chef, and introduce myself. Then Jordan, the head chef, gives my hand a hearty shake when he says, “I’m here if you need help with anything.”
“Thank you. I’ll definitely be taking you up on that offer.” I pull my hand away, rubbing out the ache. This guy has a seriously strong grip. Glancing at his hands, I can tell he’s an experienced chef by the sheer number of mottled pink burn scars that color his umber skin.
“My wife wants you to teach me how to cook veggie stuff.” Jordan crinkles his nose. “Not my thing, but she’s glad you’re here too.”
I laugh. “I’d be happy to teach you.” Jordan and Nick both seem like nice enough guys, which makes things a whole lot easier. And I’m sure Jordan has mad meat cooking skills—Jack wouldn’t have hired him as head chef if he didn’t.
So, for now, when Jack is busy out front and Pops is going to be, well, Pops, at least I have two other guys I can turn to for questions.
