Business at Michele’s was going very well. So well, in fact, that he was booked more than a year in advance for functions at the restaurant. Many people were disappointed that they were unable to have their celebration at Michele’s, so he started a catering business. He didn’t have time to manage all the operations himself, so he put an ad in the newspaper. He had at least a dozen applicants, but he felt that none were really qualified enough. Then, one of his employees mentioned that her next-door neighbor was unhappy with her low paying job as a receptionist. She used to work for a catering business. Ben gave the employee the application and told her to have her neighbor fill it out and return it. He got it back the next day. Ben looked at the application and decided she had enough experience. He called her up and scheduled an interview at the restaurant for the next afternoon.
It was cold and windy on the day of the interview, so Ben thought she would be a no-show, but she arrived on time. She was wearing a full-length taupe leather coat with a shearling trim, knee high leather boots and a brown and white crocheted winter hat. Ben couldn’t believe how gorgeous she was. She practically glowed, she was so beautiful.
“Hello,” Ben said, his voice sounding shaky as he walked up to her. “I’m Ben Perrin.”
She smiled and removed her burgundy leather gloves. “My name is Annie Labelle.”
They shook hands. Her palms felt really soft and supple next to his.
“Nice to meet you, Annie. You know, that’s an awfully pretty name.”
“Thanks,” Her greyish brown eyes sparkled as she smiled. Ben thought he was going to melt into a puddle right next to her.
“Well…Annie,” he said. “Why don’t you take a seat at the bar and we can talk? I’ll take your coat and hat for you.”
She took her hat off, revealing silky black hair done up in a bun. When she took her coat off, Ben could see she was wearing a black and white striped sweater coat with black corduroy bell-bottom pants.
“Sorry I didn’t dress up more,” she said, giving him the coat. “It’s just this weather…”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “You look fine. Do you want something to drink?” “Do you guys have Earl Grey tea?”
“Sure,” Ben said, “I’ll bring some out to you right away.”
After, he hung up her coat in the coatroom, he brought out a silver teapot with two porcelain cups.
“Do you mind if I share?” he asked.
“No, not at all,” she replied. “It’s your restaurant.”
He poured a cup for her and for himself.
“So, it says here on your resume that you attended high school in Montreal and were the valedictorian in your graduating class in 1965?”
“Yes,” she said, nodding.
“And you attended The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in British Columbia, right?”
She nodded again.
“You had a 4.0 GPA there then your returned to Montreal and worked for Grand Nord Catering until last year. So, what brings you out west again?”
“Uh…well, I needed a change of scenery.”
“Good reason.”
“I checked all your references yesterday and they were all good. Just one more question to ask, how do you feel about food?”
“I’m passionate about it,” Annie replied. “Always been. If I didn’t have a job, I’d probably weigh about five hundred pounds now. I love to cook almost as much as I love to eat.”
“Excellent answer,” Ben replied. “Well, Annie…welcome to Michele’s. I hope you enjoy working here.”
Annie’s face lit up. “I have the job?”
“Yes.”
“Oh thank you, Mr. Perrin!” She gave him a hug, which made his heart go into overdrive.
“Call me Ben, please,” he said.
“Thank you, Ben!” she said. “I won’t let you down!”
“I know you won’t,” he replied. He was glad she would be working next door and he wouldn’t be seeing her too often, because she was looking more attractive by the minute. The last thing he wanted was to fall in love again. It would kill him to see her every day and know that he couldn’t have her.
Chapter 50: February 4
What They Left Behind Page 49
