The Secret Ingredient

by Dianne Blacklock

  ‘Great,’ said Brooke. ‘So we’ll see you there. It’s only in a couple of weeks.’

  Andie looked at Joanna. ‘Are you sure it’ll be okay?’

  ‘You are invited,’ said Joanna. ‘You’re family, for heaven’s sake, you always will be.’

  They said their goodbyes and Andie watched them make their way through the shop. Toby came up behind her.

  ‘Was that Ross’s daughter?’ he asked.

  Andie nodded. ‘And her mum.’

  ‘You mean his first wife?’

  ‘Yep.’ She looked up at him. ‘We’re family, and we always will be.’

  Toby frowned. ‘Have you seen Ross?’

  ‘No, I haven’t, not for a while,’ said Andie. ‘And I have no intention of seeing him, so you can relax. Brooke just told me he’s got someone new.’

  ‘You are kidding me?’ said Toby.

  Andie smiled. ‘What do they say? There’s a sucker born every minute.’

  ‘How about you?’ he asked. ‘Are you still seeing that bloke you told me about?’

  Andie was glad Toby and Donna didn’t know all that much about Dominic.

  ‘No, that didn’t go anywhere,’ she said. And there was the pang, the one she couldn’t muster at the news of Ross.

  Toby put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. ‘Oh, well, there’s plenty more fish in the ocean – and you are quite a catch, after all.’

  Andie just looked at him.

  ‘I can’t believe I just said that. I am actually turning into my father.’

  Donna walked over with Max perched on her hip.

  ‘I blame him,’ said Toby, as Donna passed Max over.

  ‘What for?’ Donna frowned.

  ‘For turning me into a dad.’

  ‘Don’t try and follow the logic,’ Andie reassured Donna.

  ‘I think we’re going to have to go,’ she said. ‘Max is tired.’

  His head was drooping on his father’s shoulder.

  ‘Thanks for everything,’ said Andie. ‘Really, I couldn’t get by without you two. I hope you know that.’

  ‘Stop it,’ said Toby. ‘You want me to start crying? Ruin the burly builder thing I’ve been working on all night?’

  It was only just after ten when Jess saw the last of the guests out the front door of the shop, locking it behind them. But the two of them had been at it since before seven this morning. Andie did all the canapés, borrowing quite a few ideas from Viande, while Jess made three of the dishes that were going to be on the inaugural takeaway menu – a Sri Lankan beef curry, a Moroccan-inspired chicken casserole, and a vegetarian mushroom and leek risotto – served in tiny individual bowls with tiny bamboo forks that were recyclable and compostable and whatever else – Jess was taking a very green approach to the whole thing.

  She came out from the front, waving a bottle of champagne. ‘Time to celebrate,’ she said.

  ‘Should we open another bottle now?’ said Andie. ‘Just for the two of us?’

  ‘Seriously, can you remember finishing even one glass tonight? We were run off our feet. Now we can relax.’

  ‘You’re right. Open away.’

  Jess popped the cork and poured them both a glass. ‘To us!’

  Andie smiled, raising hers and taking a drink.

  Jess was watching her. ‘Okay, spill, Andie.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘There’s something wrong.’

  ‘No there isn’t.’

  ‘Oh yes there is. You don’t seem very happy. There’s no spring in your step.’

  ‘That’s because I’ve been on my feet all day,’ she protested, swinging them up now to plant them on a nearby chair.

  Jess shook her head. ‘No, you’ve been like this all week. Longer. I’ve been jumping out of my skin, but you’ve just been going through the motions, I could tell. And I’m worried about you.’

  ‘I’m just tired.’

  ‘Andie,’ she said, ‘I’m your best friend, right?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Then stop the bullshit and tell me what’s wrong.’

  Andie sighed heavily, thinking about it. ‘When I was still with Ross, and I kept trying out new things here, I’d get into it for a while, but then I’d lose interest. I remember Ross once said I was flitting about, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough . . . But every single day at the restaurant, even when I was doing the most mundane tasks, I was still just thrilled to be there, every dinner and lunch service, being even a small part of creating each and every one of those meals that went out. Even the last day I was still learning something new . . .’

  There was that pang again, when she thought of the last day, the last time she drove out of the carpark at Viande, tears streaming down her face.

  ‘Then you have to go back,’ Jess said simply.

  ‘No, I can’t —’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because we’ve got this up and running now, and it’s great, really. Don’t worry, I’ll get into it, in time.’

  ‘I’m afraid that’s not good enough,’ said Jess.

  Andie looked at her. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘If you don’t feel the same excitement I’m feeling about this, then this is not where you should be.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter anyway, I can’t go back to Viande.’

  ‘Then get a job somewhere else,’ said Jess. ‘But you have to do it right now, while your experience is still relevant, and you can put it in your résumé. You can’t wait around another ten years, I won’t let you.’

  Andie frowned, biting her lip. ‘I feel like I’d be letting you down.’

  Jess covered her hand. ‘You’ll only be letting me down if you don’t do it.’

  ‘But how can you run all this on your own?’

  ‘I won’t,’ she said. ‘I’ll get somebody in on a casual basis. I know chefs that would be happy to pick up extra shifts.’

  Andie took a sip of her champagne, thinking.

  ‘You have to do it, Andie,’ Jess said seriously. ‘This place will always be here – it can be your fallback position. Not that I think you’re going to need it.’

  She gave Jess a small, tentative smile. ‘But I am going to need a reference.’

  Viande

  Andie sipped her coffee as she gazed across the carpark to the entrance. She was waiting for Dominic to arrive for work, she had to talk to him before anyone else got here. She needed to see him alone.

  It wasn’t long before his black BMW swept around the corner of the building and pulled into its regular spot. Andie’s heart began to race. Breathe deeply, she told herself. Stay in control. She hadn’t seen him since that day in her apartment, and she wasn’t sure how she was going to cope seeing him now. But she had to do this.

  She watched Dominic get out of the car, and there was that pang again. She took a gulp of her coffee. He hooked his bag over his shoulder and headed for the entrance, unlocked the door and pushed it open, and it swung closed behind him as he walked through. Andie waited for him to reappear, which he did moments later, dropping the chuck and kicking it under the door to wedge it open. Then he went back inside.

  She stepped out of the car. Shoving her hands in the pockets of her jacket, she crossed the carpark to the entrance. Autumn had well and truly arrived, the mornings were getting cooler now. She walked straight through the open doorway into the building. No need to sneak up the corridor this time. As she made her way through the kitchen she glanced over at the office, but he wasn’t there. He preferred to make his calls out in the restaurant, before anyone was around. Andie headed for the double doors, walking straight through the first set, and not hesitating as she pushed through the next. Dominic was pacing the floor, his phone to his ear. He stopped mid-sentence as she entered. He looked surprised, which she supposed he had every right to be.

  ‘I’ll have to call you back,’ he said, before dropping his phone into his pocket. ‘Andie . . .’

  ‘It’s okay, Dominic,’ she
said quickly. ‘I’m not staying, and I’m not here to beg or plead or throw myself at you, so don’t worry.’

  His expression softened, with sadness, or maybe it was regret.

  ‘I came to ask you a favour,’ she pushed on. ‘It’s not a big favour, in fact I’m sure you’ll find it’s quite reasonable. You see, I need a reference.’

  ‘You’re looking for a job?’

  She nodded. ‘I’ve been working at the deli. We’ve expanded, we’re making gourmet takeaway now. It was all Jess’s idea. But it’s not enough for me, I physically miss being in the kitchen.’

  ‘You still have a job here if you want it.’

  ‘I can’t come back,’ said Andie, ‘we both know that. I’ve started looking around, but it’s pretty competitive out there. So a recommendation from you would go a long way. Not that I’m asking you to say anything that isn’t true, you understand.’

  He was just staring at her. ‘Andie, I . . .’

  ‘Look, if it’s a problem, I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. Maybe you could ask Cosmo or Tang if they wouldn’t mind?’

  ‘It’s not a problem,’ he assured her. ‘Of course I’ll write you a reference.’

  ‘You don’t have to write it, usually they just want a phone number, so they can call you.’

  ‘Of course. Do you still have my contact numbers?’

  ‘Yes, I do.’ She hadn’t been able to bring herself to delete them.

  He nodded. ‘Well, feel free to give them to anyone who asks. And I’ll write something for you as well, in case.’

  ‘Thank you, I appreciate it.’

  There was a pause before he asked, ‘So, how are you?’

  ‘I’m okay. Busy, you know, with the shop.’

  ‘Everyone has been asking after you. They . . . we . . . miss you.’

  She nodded. ‘I should drop in some time for staffy’s, say hi.’

  ‘You should.’

  ‘How are you, Dominic?’

  He looked as though that was the hardest question in the world to answer. So he just shrugged. Andie couldn’t help it, she felt a rush of tenderness towards him.

  She took a breath. ‘Before I go . . . there’s something I have to say.’

  ‘Go ahead.’

  She took a moment. She’d been rehearsing this, she needed to say it, it needed to be said. He was watching her, waiting.

  ‘Look, I’m sorry I messed up, Dominic, I really am,’ she began. ‘I think you were right, that maybe I was expecting an advantage, not consciously —’

  ‘Andie, no, I was —’

  ‘Please, Dominic,’ she interrupted. ‘Just let me get this out?’

  He nodded faintly, gazing at her.

  ‘I wanted to apologise, because I know what a mess your life was all those years ago, and how important having control is to you. And I brought a whole lot of chaos into your life that you didn’t ask for.’ She paused. ‘But the thing is, life is messy, Dominic, people are messy, relationships are messy. And wonderful. I don’t know whether you can have one without the other. It’s just like the best food. I remember you told me once that it needs contrast, of flavours and textures, or else it just ends up bland.’

  He was staring down at the floor now.

  ‘Anyway, I don’t want to take up any more of your time,’ said Andie. ‘I just wanted you to know I’ll always appreciate the chance you gave me. It changed my life.’

  She turned and walked to the doorway.

  ‘Andie . . .’

  She stopped, looking back at him.

  ‘I’ll write you the reference.’

  ‘Thank you.’ She turned again and walked out of the restaurant.

  Easter

  ‘What are you wearing?’ asked Jess.

  ‘What does it look like?’ said Andie.

  ‘Seriously? Bunny ears?’

  ‘They have a function,’ she defended. ‘They help keep my hair back.’

  ‘You’ve gone soft in the head.’

  ‘Ah, bah humbug.’

  ‘That has to do with Christmas,’ said Jess.

  ‘You’re still being a Scroogey McScrooge Scrooge,’ said Andie.

  They had decided to officially launch the takeaway menu over the Easter long weekend. They thought it might be a good opportunity while other businesses were closed, or only operating on reduced hours. It had paid off, they could barely keep up with the demand. So today Jess had called in the casual chef she had hired, who turned out to be a rather handsome young man called Ben, who was not only a good cook, he was good with the customers as well.

  ‘Where did you find Ben?’ Andie asked in a low voice.

  ‘Around the traps,’ Jess answered demurely. ‘I’ve known him for a while,’ she added, and Andie noticed the sparkle in her eyes.

  ‘And just how well do you know him?’

  ‘Let’s just say he likes to watch DVDs on a rainy afternoon,’ she winked.

  Andie smiled, stirring the risotto. ‘We’re going to need more takeaway containers,’ she said.

  ‘Coming right up.’

  Jess walked into the storeroom and inspected the boxes stacked on the shelves. She thought she heard knocking and she craned her head around into the corridor that led to the back entrance. She could see a figure through the frosted glass.

  ‘Can someone get the back door?’ she called into the shop.

  No one responded. Jess sighed, and went to open it. They weren’t expecting any deliveries today, but the guy standing on the other side of the door didn’t look like a delivery man. ‘Can I help you?’

  ‘I hope so,’ he said. ‘I’m looking for Andie Lonergan.’

  He didn’t sound like a delivery man either, he had a bit of a toffee accent. ‘In regards to?’ said Jess in her best officious voice.

  He cleared his throat. ‘She used to work . . . We used to work together.’

  ‘Oh, okay.’ That seemed innocent enough. ‘Can I give her a name?’

  ‘Tell her it’s Dominic.’

  Jess blinked. ‘You’re Dominic? Dominic Gerou? From Viande?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Well, it’s nice to meet you!’ she said with a wide smile. ‘I’m Jess.’

  He shook her outstretched hand. ‘Jess,’ he nodded, ‘Andie talked about you.’

  ‘Then you can’t say you haven’t been warned.’

  He smiled. ‘I hope you don’t mind that I came round the back, there’s a queue at the front door.’

  ‘I know, isn’t it great?’

  ‘Yes, yes it is.’

  ‘We just started the takeaway this weekend, we weren’t sure how it was going to go at Easter.’

  ‘Seems like you made the right decision.’

  He was quite good-looking, Jess decided, nice eyes. He had that dark, smouldering thing happening. Though right now he was looking a little nervous, like he was going for a job interview or something.

  ‘Um . . . so is Andie about?’ he prompted her.

  Jess stirred. ‘Oh yeah, sure. Sorry. I’ll just go grab her.’

  She ducked back through to the kitchen. Andie was standing at the stove, still stirring the risotto.

  ‘Andie, someone for you at the back door.’

  ‘What?’ she frowned. ‘Who is it?’

  Jess shrugged. ‘Someone who wants to see you.’

  She sighed. ‘Well, I can’t leave this.’

  ‘Yes you can.’

  ‘Then you’ll have to take over.’

  ‘No I can’t.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Ahh . . . I’m in the middle of something,’ she said. ‘Just take it off the jet for a sec, it’ll be okay.’

  Andie looked at her. ‘Why are you acting weird?’

  ‘I’m not acting weird, just hurry.’

  She moved the pot and Jess ushered her through the storeroom and hovered behind as she went for the door. Andie turned around. ‘Didn’t you say you were in the middle of something?’

  ‘Just open the door, will
you?’

  ‘Fine.’ She grabbed the handle and opened the door.

  ‘Hello, Andie,’ said Dominic.

  She couldn’t speak, she just stared at him. His gaze drifted to the top of her head, and Andie quickly grabbed the rabbit ears and yanked them off, thrusting them at Jess.

  ‘Hi,’ she said, flustered.

  ‘I can see you’re busy,’ he said, ‘so I don’t want to hold you up. I just came to drop this off.’ She noticed then that he was holding an envelope. ‘It’s the reference you asked for.’

  ‘Oh, you didn’t have to bring it over in person, you could have mailed it.’

  ‘I wanted to make sure you got it.’ He hesitated. ‘Actually, do you have a minute?’

  ‘She has five,’ said Jess. ‘Take ten.’ She shoved Andie out the door and closed it behind her.

  Andie looked up at Dominic. ‘Apparently I do have a minute.’

  He smiled. She’d missed that smile.

  ‘You’re not at work today?’ she said.

  ‘Religious holiday, the restaurant’s closed.’

  ‘Of course.’ Andie nodded. ‘So, um, well, thanks for the reference.’

  He was still clutching the envelope. He seemed nervous. Like when he asked her out the first time.

  ‘I was hoping you might read it, while I’m here, check if it’s all right,’ he said finally.

  ‘I’m sure it’ll be fine.’

  ‘But I want to make sure I’ve said everything . . . that needs to be said.’

  Andie felt nervous now, her heart started to flutter in her chest uncomfortably. What the hell was this about?

  He handed her the envelope. ‘Would you read it, please?’

  ‘Sure.’

  She slipped the folded paper out of the envelope as Dominic retreated down a couple of stairs and leaned against the railing, watching her. Andie decided it might be best to sit down, so she settled herself on the top step, unfolded the sheet of paper, and read.

  To whom it concerns,

  Andrea Lonergan has been an employee of Viande for over six months. While this may not seem enough time to get to know someone, let me assure you that it is.

  That was an odd thing to say . . . in a reference.

  Ms Lonergan, known to us as Andie, began on a trial basis in August of last year, but quickly established her competence to earn a place on our staff. Working under the direct supervision of the senior sous chefs, she was soon moved from bread and salad to main meal prep. Andie is a talented chef who takes on any task given to her with enthusiasm. She is hardworking and reliable, and she became a valuable member of the team at Viande.