Sullivan couldn’t leave Kia hanging even for a moment.
“I do want you more than anyone else.”
She felt Kia’s body relax.
“Were you really in love with me in school?” Sullivan would have to revisit all her school memories. Kia had loved her!
Kia paused for a moment. “I think so. It’s probably good we didn’t date back then, but it wasn’t just a crush. You impressed me more than anyone else I’d ever met, and I come from a family of professional ballerinas, so that says a lot. I guess one of the things I loved about you was that you weren’t just one thing, like my cousin and my aunt were for a long time. You took your work seriously, but you were playful. You have this sexy masc lesbian vibe, and you dated all the men in the program.”
“Notallof them.”
“A significant number of the men in the program, significantif you’re in love with the woman dating those men. You know, after we lost touch, I didn’t look you up because I didn’t want to find out you’d turned out to be an ass.”
“Did you think I’d be an ass?”
“Of course not, but you were so amazing, after we lost touch, I didn’t want anything to ruin that memory.”
“I wish we hadn’t lost touch. I got so busy; I lost touch with everything.”
“Did you ever think about me?”
“Honestly, if you’d asked me back then, I would have said,Not a lot. But that wouldn’t have been true. When I look back, you’ve been everywhere in my life. You were so much a part of me, I didn’t see it. There’s only one dish I serve every single night. It’s the Golden Crisp Experience dessert. It’s puffed rice cooked in brown-butter mixed with homemade marshmallows. Then I finish it with a pear-infused glaze.”
“It’s a Rice Krispies treat!”
“We are not talking Jet-Puffed and Rice Krispies, but it’s all about you. It always has been. When I saw you inAmerican Fare… I was happy for you. Really happy, even though I was distraught over all those forks.”
“I know. I know. I’ve reformed.”
“I didn’t realize how much it mattered to me that you achieve your dreams until I saw you there. And in case you haven’t noticed, I am in love with you, Kia Point Six Percent Jackson.”
“I amstillin love with you, Chef Alice Sullivan.”
Kia turned toward her, and they kissed.
When they finally parted, Sullivan said what had been on her mind since they lay down the night before.
“We didn’t take a chance back in school.” Sullivan felt a flash of déjà vu. They were back in the practice kitchen staring downan unspoken possibility.We could stay together.It had been a ridiculous idea then, and it was a ridiculous idea now. “We didn’t complicate things with a relationship anyone would have told us was crazy to start. I know you’ll want to get back on the road, but I’m willing to give long distance a try.”
“I don’t want to travel like I used to. I want to find an empty used car lot and build Taste the Love Land somewhere where I’m not hurting the environment. I think I could find a place like that in Portland. But mostly, the times in my life when I’ve been the happiest were when I was with you, staying put in one place. I’d rather be here with you. Is that too much too soon?”
That was exactly what Sullivan wanted to hear and knew she shouldn’t wish for since she shouldn’t stand in the way of Kia’s dreams. But if Kia’s dreams didn’t include serving tursnickens in all forty-eight contiguous states, that was just fine with Sullivan.
“That’s not too much at all.”
“I’m not saying we have to live together if you want your space.”
Sullivan took a sip of her deliciously sweet coffee. She felt her brow furrow.
“What is it?” Kia asked.
“We’re still married.”
“We are.” Kia looked everywhere but at Sullivan. “Nina would tell us we should get divorced,” Kia said. It sounded like a question. “Mark emailed me the paperwork.”
“Nina sent it to me too.”
They looked at each other.
