Fine Dining

by Gale Deitch

  When May arrived, she hugged me tightly. “Shuga. Thank the lord you’re okay. I wish I knew who in the world is wreakin’ such havoc.”

  “I wish I knew, too. But tell me, how bad is the damage?”

  “Well, pretty bad, to tell the truth. First the fire and smoke did their share of the destruction then the fire department, with their axes and water hoses, took care of the rest. They think we can salvage the kitchen. All the cabinets, countertops, appliances and floors were stainless, marble or concrete, pretty durable under the circumstances. Then there’s the smoke that carried out into the dining room. Have to pull up the carpet and remove the wallpaper. All my décor from N’awlins has to go, too. And that smoky smell will be hangin’ in the air for quite some time. Well, I been thinkin’ about redecoratin’ the place for a while. I guess now’s my opportunity. Right?”

  “Oh, May. I’m so sorry.”

  “Ain’t your fault, shuga. Somebody done this, but it wasn’t you.” She shook her head. “All that can be repaired or replaced. The important question is, ‘What do the doctors say about you and Katie?’”

  “They’re releasing me this afternoon. I’ll need bed rest today, but tomorrow I should be back to normal. I was lucky.”

  “And what about Katie?” she asked.

  I frowned. “I think she’s okay, but they’ve admitted her for the night. Why don’t we both go visit her?”

  I rang for the nurse, who disconnected the oxygen tubing from my nose. Then May wheeled me upstairs to Katie’s room.

  With her bright red hair fanned out on the pillow, Katie resembled a little girl holding the stuffed bear her mother had brought her. When she saw us enter, she sat up against her pillow and held out a hand to me. “Trudie, May. What a nice surprise,” she said with a childish delight in her voice.

  I grabbed on to her hand and our eyes locked. I knew both of us were remembering the same thing—lying side-by-side on the floor of May’s office, hoping to survive until help arrived. Now I needed to know about the baby.

  “How are you?” I asked.

  “You saved our lives, Trudie. They’re keeping us overnight for more treatment and observation. Should be able to go home tomorrow.”

  “Us?” May asked. She was standing at the foot of the bed watching our exchange.

  Katie colored and glanced at me. I nodded and squeezed her hand.

  “I have something to tell you, May,” she started.

  May walked to the opposite side of the bed from me and sat in the side chair. “What is it, darlin’? You know you can tell me anything.”

  Katie swallowed. “I—I’m pregnant.”

  May smiled and took Katie’s hands. “Pregnant? How wonderful for you.” She paused. “But, honey, if you’re worried about your job, of course you can continue at Maybelline’s as long as you’re able.”

  Katie glanced over at me and then back to May. “This baby…this baby is….” She peered down, unable to continue, and fidgeted with the edge of the white cotton blanket.

  I saw a light come on in May’s face as her eyes widened. “It’s Micah’s baby, isn’t it?”

  Katie nodded.

  “It’s Micah’s baby. Oh, my child.” She wrapped her arms around Katie and began to sob. Then she put her hands on Katie’s shoulders and held her at arm’s length. “It is, isn’t it? Micah’s baby?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “A baby,” May repeated. “Micah’s baby. He has left us a legacy, hasn’t he? A piece of him that we can both treasure.”

  “Yes, he left us a treasure, didn’t he?” Katie bubbled.

  May frowned. “And the doctors say the baby’s okay?”

  “That’s what I wanted to know, too,” I said. “How is the baby?”

  Katie grinned widely. “He’s perfect.”

  “He?” May and I both said the word at the same time.

  “I’m having Micah’s boy.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “What am I going to do with you, Trudie? I almost lost you—twice in one week.” Daniel lay beside me in bed, unwilling to let me out of his sight now that I was back at May’s house.

  “But you didn’t lose me. I’m here and I don’t plan on going anywhere.” I ran my hand over his cheek and chin, scratchy and in need of a shave.

  “I know you don’t plan on going anywhere, but someone wants you, and maybe Katie, too, out of the way.”

  “Or May,” I said. “What if whoever started the fire expected May to be in by then?”

  “Possible. But wouldn’t they have waited to be sure she was there?”

  “Maybe they only meant to torch the restaurant as a warning to May, before she came in,” I said. “Did you or the fire investigators find any clues about how the fire started?

  “Yes, a small cigarette butt—sitting on a nest of ashes. Could have been a pile of napkins or paper towels, something that made good tinder.”

  “Gina,” I blurted out, sitting up.

  “What about Gina?” he asked.

  “Gina was lighting up a cigarette and heading out back to smoke when Katie and I entered the kitchen.”

  “You think Gina did it?”

  I considered this for a moment. “I know I’m not her favorite person, and she picks on Katie all the time. Gina is hard as a Chesapeake blue crab. But murder? I don’t think so.”

  “Well, we’re investigating. Testing the cigarette butt for DNA. For now, I want you to stay away from Maybelline’s.” Daniel pushed the hair out of my face.

  “Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere near the place.”

  “Good. In fact, this is exactly where I want you.” He bent down to kiss me.

  “I’m so glad you’re spending the night with me,” I mumbled into his lips. “But the doctor said ‘no overexertion tonight; just bed rest.’”

  Daniel groaned.

  “Soon. Very soon,” I said then began to tremble remembering that I’d said those same words to Katie this morning on the floor of May’s smoke-filled office.

  IN THE MORNING, I felt only a slight soreness, and May prepared an herbal tea with slippery elm bark and licorice root to soothe my throat. Daniel, not in the best of moods after a frustrating evening, grumbled something about the concoction being “a lot of voodoo hocus-pocus.”

  “I’m going home to shower and shave,” he said. “I’ll have to change into my tux at the office and meet you at the Gala tonight, baby. I’ll ask Dad to pick you up.”

  “Wait a minute. You mean you’re not coming to pick me up for a big event like this? I’m your date.” I had envisioned myself entering the ballroom on Daniel’s arm. But now I’d be arriving all by myself alone without an escort and Daniel stuck at work for who knows how long. “Why?”

  He leaned down in front of me with his hands on both arms of my chair, his shaggy bangs hanging down in that sexy way that had first attracted me to him. “Sorry, Trudie. I wish I could, but I’ve got to testify in court this afternoon and it’s going to run late.”

  “But I’ll be all dressed up in my new gown and…”

  “I can’t wait to see you in your new dress,” he said. “Meet me there at six-thirty. I promise I won’t be late.” Then, right in front of May, he gave me a long, lingering kiss that left me speechless as he walked out the door.

  “Yowee, shuga,” May said. “Mm, mm, mm. That was one impressive kiss. Bet you can’t be angry with him after that.”

  I laughed. “No I can’t. And I am going to walk into that ballroom tonight and knock his socks off.”

  “He’ll be beggin’ for mercy,” May chuckled. “What you have planned today? Rememba’, you’re supposed to take it easy.”

  “I know. My chauffeur, Stu, should be here shortly. My dress is ready at the shop, and I’ll have to go to my parents’ house to pick up my jewelry, shoes and bag for tonight.” I paused, watching May clean the breakfast dishes. “What’s happening with the restaurant today?”

  She shut off the faucet and turned to me. “The poli
ce and fire investigators will be back, and the office is a disaster area. If they’ll let me, I need to go through a ton of charred and soggy paperwork to see what can be salvaged. I’ve got a slew of friends waitin’ to come help when I give ‘em the word. You know that, Trudie.”

  “Yes, I do.” These were the same friends who’d helped put my office and warehouse back into business.

  “What about your computer files and records?” I asked.

  “Well, the bad news is that the water hoses completely totaled my CPU. The good news—I kept everythin’ backed up on my thumb drive. An important lesson I learned back when my home and business were flooded out in N’awlins.”

  “What are you going to do in the meantime, May, without that income? What’s your staff going to do?”

  May sat down at the table and shook her head. “That’s a concern, but there are plenty of restaurants in town. They’ll find work. I’ll lose some good people. Have to start all over when I reopen. Far as I’m concerned, I’ve got a workin’ kitchen. I’d open up if I could, but can’t do that until the smoke damage is taken care of and the health department gives me the go-ahead. Could be weeks.”

  “May, what about a food truck in the meantime?” I asked, taking a sip of my tea.

  May smiled. “Started out here in town with a food truck, didn’t I? Suppose I could do it again, if I had a truck and a license. I guess I’ll have to do some caterin’ for a while. If I can’t use my kitchen, one of my friends will let me use theirs. Been through all this before. I’ll be fine.”

  “What about Katie? Are you going to see her today?”

  May grinned. “Yes, I am. We had a good chat yesterday evenin’. Well, I did most of the talkin’ what with her throat and lungs still burnin’ a little. She told me about her parents’ ultimatum, and I told her she’s welcome to stay with me as long as she wants, even after the baby’s born.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. “What did she say to that?”

  “She was grateful but wants to think about it. She’s worried that the only reason I’m offerin’ her a place to stay is because she’s carryin’ Micah’s baby.”

  “Is that the reason?”

  May thought about this a moment. “It’s a big part of it. Katie’s the only person I know who really understood my baby brotha’ and still loved him and misses him as I do. It would be so comfortin’ for me to have her, and her baby, in my home as livin’ reminders of Micah.”

  May sat down at the table with me, gazed out the window and then at me. “But it’s more than that. What a joy it would be to follow this pregnancy with Katie as the baby develops and to be there when he’s born. She’s been with me at the restaurant for a year and a half. She’s like family to me. I want to help her in any way I can.”

  “Well, I hope she decides to stay with you. I can only see good coming out of a situation like that.”

  “There’s one more benefit that Katie brought up to me. Said it was your idea, Trudie.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I’d have to ask Alan Bernstein about it, but she suggested the judge might approve her living with me instead of you. Who knows how long it would be until I stand trial? You could finally have your life back with Daniel. What do you think?”

  I smiled. “May, as much as I love spending time with you and want to help you out, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to get back to my normal life with Daniel.”

  STU DROVE ME to Charmaine’s and pulled up to the curb. “Now Trudie, I’m going to wait for you right here. It’s a busy street, and I’m parked illegally, so if a cop asks me to move, I’ll mention Daniel’s name and who I am, and he’ll probably let me stay. But if I have to move the car, I’ll drive around the block. So do not under any circumstance walk out that front door unless you see me sitting here. Comprende?”

  “Si, Senor,” I said. “Ten-four.”

  Stu laughed and motioned for me to go inside the store.

  Charmaine greeted me warmly with a hug and had the dress ready in a satin garment bag. I’d forgotten how attractive she was with her silver hair and ice blue eyes, the exact color of the raw silk suit she wore today.

  “Now are you sure you wouldn’t like to pick out a nice necklace and earrings to complement the dress?”

  I perused the display case and its fabulous collection of baubles, but I wouldn’t add anything else to Daniel’s bill. “They’re gorgeous, Charmaine. But I’ve got a couple of options at home.”

  “What about shoes and a bag?” she persisted, pointing to some shelves with an appealing selection.

  “No, I’m good. Thank you so much for all your help.”

  “Any time, Trudie. Please give my regards to Daniel.”

  I started to walk toward the door then glanced back at her. “Charmaine,” I said, not knowing how I was going to word my question. “I get a sense from Daniel and from you that there may have been more to your relationship than you’ve both admitted.”

  She busied herself by straightening the merchandise on the shelves then turned to me. “Back then, I was a bruised soul. I’d been living with an abusive husband for far too long and didn’t see any way out of it. Daniel had been to my house more than once on domestic violence calls, calls made by our concerned neighbors. He saw what I was going through and tried to get me to leave. He said one day that man was going to kill me.”

  She shook her head. “I just couldn’t do it. Too frightened to stay and too frightened to leave.”

  I stood frozen, listening to her, not wanting to hear what I knew was coming.

  “Daniel was right, almost. Found me on the floor half dead. Saved my life. Prosecuted that monster I lived with and put him behind bars.”

  “And?” I asked.

  “He visited me in the hospital, and then in rehab, every day. Made sure I had help when I got home.”

  I didn’t move, waiting for her to finally answer my question.

  Charmaine looked directly at me, her eyes moist. “Daniel was that tiny ray of light, that speck of hope that seeped in through a crack in the dark room that was my life. Yes, we were intimate, once. Something I initiated in my desperation to grasp at anything that would pull me out of that darkness.”

  “Oh,” I muttered, sorry I had asked the question.

  She approached me and took my hands in hers. “Trudie, the real answer to your question is ‘no.’ Beyond that one time with Daniel, the only relationship we’ve had over the years has been friendship. And I’m so happy for him now that he’s found someone wonderful to love.”

  “Well,” I said. “It’s not the answer I was hoping for, but thank you for being honest with me.”

  I turned to look out the storefront window and was gratified to see Stu still parked at the curb. I grabbed my dress and made my escape.

  My parents were out when I dropped by their house. I rummaged through my closet and found a pair of strappy silver heels and a matching clutch, both of which I’d bought a few years before to wear with a bridesmaid dress. The dress, a gaudy hot pink monstrosity with a giant bow in the back, was never wearable beyond that wedding. But the shoes and bag would work tonight.

  I opened my jewelry box to find something I could wear with this stunning emerald green gown. The only possibility was a pair of rhinestone studs and a simple matching necklace. These would have to do; they were all I had.

  Stu drove me back to May’s so I could take an afternoon nap and then get ready for the Gala. “I’ll pick you up at six in my royal carriage, milady,” he said, bowing down to me with panache after he’d escorted me inside the house.

  “Stu, I feel terrible making you chauffeur me all over town like this.”

  “Feel terrible? I’m enjoying every minute of it. If I were home in Philly, you know what I’d be doing right now?”

  “What?”

  “I’d probably be making myself a tuna sandwich and plopping myself down in front of the boob tube to watch something on TV Land Network, some old series like M
y Three Sons or Full House.”

  “I used to love Full House,” I said.

  “Yeah, but that’s pretty much all I have to do these days.”

  “Come on in the kitchen. Now you got me hungry. I’ll make us tuna sandwiches and we’ll talk.”

  I poured a couple of glasses of Diet Coke and found a bag of chips in the pantry for him to munch on while I made our sandwiches.

  “You know what, Stu? You may be a retired cop, but you’ve got a lot of years ahead of you. You can do anything you want. Maybe get your own limo or Town Car and become a real chauffeur. Or do some volunteer work at a homeless shelter or nursing home. You’re great with people. Or what about taking some classes in a foreign language or a musical instrument? There must be something you’ve always wanted to do, isn’t there?”

  He was quiet for moment. “Evelyn and I always wanted to travel, but it was hard to find the time. We were waiting for my retirement to see the world. We talked about the Far East and Australia, the Mediterranean, Tahiti.” He looked down at his drink and swirled the ice cubes so they clinked against the glass. “She never made it to my retirement years.”

  I put our plates on the table and sat across from him, neither of us picking up our sandwiches to eat yet. “You know,” I said. “There are travel companies that lead tour groups all over the world—people your age, some couples, some singles. My parents have gone on a few and thought they were great. You should speak to them about it.”

  He took a bite of his sandwich, and I could see the smile in his eyes. They crinkled in the corners the way Daniel’s did. “You know, Trudie, you are a gem of a woman. I think my son has found himself a winner.”

  “DANIEL, DANIEL,” I called, feeling my way through the smoke-filled room.

  “Trudie.” His muffled voice sounded so far away.

  The white wisps thickened to a gray fog that penetrated my lungs with each breath.

  “Daniel, where are you?” I continued forward through the dense gray matter surrounding me that now became more solid, like charcoal cotton candy. With each step forward, I tore through the sticky clumped strands.