“If you find risotto labeled as that at the store, it’s more than likely going to be a pre-made thing that has nothing on what I’m about to make.”
“Okay, you don’t have to rub it in that you’re fucking amazing.I know, which is why I asked you to cook dinner tonight,” Dylan chides back, smirking at me.
“I’m not sure that’s how it went down.I’m pretty sure you asked me to stay for dinner because you were cooking and somehow, I got conned into doing the cooking.”
He steps toward me, pulling me in for a hug, letting out a hard sigh when I relax against him.It hits me now what he was doing and while it was a backhanded way of getting me out of this funk for a bit, I’m grateful.I need to focus on something else other than this disaster that is still playing out with Leo and his dad.
“Thank you,” I say, resting my head on Dylan’s shoulder.
“No problem, sis.Now what else do I need to get?”
“Arborio rice, ginger ale and a pint of all-natural vanilla ice cream.”
He pulls back, hitting me with a funny look as if he’s questioning my grocery store requests.It is an odd order, but it’s not all going into the risotto.
“The ginger ale and the ice cream are for Tessa.They’ll help with the heartburn, but I’m hoping my risotto does the trick.”I wink at him, as he pulls out his phone and begins to make a list.
“I’ll be back soon.Tessa should be home in an hour or so, as long as she doesn’t get caught up obsessing over something with the restaurant,” Dylan jokes.“She’s going to be excited that you’re still here.She’s going to talk your ear off about all the things you want for your kitchen.”
And just as I’m about to get excited about the prospect of designing my dream kitchen over dinner with Dylan and Tessa, I’m hit with the realization that I might not be working at Somerville’s much longer.If things between Leo and I don’t get resolved, I can’t see him wanting to work so closely with me.
I try to hold it together, biting down on my cheek to keep myself from crying and waiting until Dylan walks out the door.He doesn’t need me blubbering to him all over again now that he found a way to get my mind off all the craziness.
As soon as the door closes, I’m crying again.I have to figure out a way to fix this.
A few hours later, we’re sitting down to dinner, the risotto is made and the wine is poured, while Tessa has a glass of ginger ale that Dylan picked up for her.
“Thank you so much for making dinner,” Tessa gushes.“I’m starving.Well, I’m always starving.”She takes a large forkful of the risotto, moaning when it touches her lips.
This is seriously what I live for as a chef.Watching or in this case, hearing how much someone enjoys something I made, makes it all worthwhile.I just hope I can continue doing what I love at Somerville’s.I’ve never been more excited about a menu that I’ve designed as I am about the one Ellen and I discussed just recently.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.Dylan told me your heartburn has been really bad.Low fat cheese, carbs, and parsley should help and if not, there’s a pint of vanilla ice cream in the fridge for you.”
“You’re the best, Hannah.Thank you,” Tessa replies, and the table falls silent.The stillness floats between all of us, basically screaming out the question both Dylan and Tessa have been wanting to ask.
Instead of letting this awkward silence play out any longer, I say, “No, I haven’t talked to Leo, but I’m going home after we finish eating.”
“Are you going to talk to him?”Dylan asks, basically putting it out there for me to say it out loud that I will probably continue to avoid it all.
Hiding out here at Dylan and Tessa’s hasn’t been that bad.Their guest bedroom and bathroom are much nicer than what I have with that giant soaking tub.Maybe I could stay just one more day.
“Han?”Dylan says, prodding when I don’t answer him right away.
“I don’t want to.I could just stay here and be your personal chef and then maybe your nanny after the baby comes?”I try, making both of them laugh a little.
“You don’t really like babies,” Dylan says, narrowing his eyes at me.
“I’m going to like your baby.I’m going to be the baby’s aunt.”
“You’re avoiding him.You’re avoiding it,” Dylan says, hitting the nail on the head.Of course I’m avoiding it.No one likes confrontation.I’m sure there’s people who do, but it’s certainly not me.
“Obviously,” I chide, rolling my eyes.
“It will be good to have it behind you no matter what the outcome,” Tessa says.“I’ve been here and I’m thinking Leo might surprise you.”
I don’t bother to tell them that his most recent text message basically says he doesn’t care what happened, and that he loves me, but I can’t seem to wrap my head around how we can fix this.I said some horrible things to his dad, things I now regret in hindsight.Had I known that I would one day fall in love with the son of the volatile Roy Langston, I certainly would not have quit the way I did.But I couldn’t possibly have known, and I was actually really proud of myself for the way I quit.At least at the time I was.
I stood up for myself, I had taken back my voice and I wasn’t going to let anyone treat me the way he did, no matter how much I needed a job.It could have been done without all the swearing though.
