The Winemaker's Dinner: Appetizers

by Rusilko, Dr. Ivan

  A large banner that read Congratulations, Chef Thorne! hung across the main entrance of Bianca, and Geoff had closed an hour early to accommodate all the people planning to attend the soiree. A sea of familiar faces swam before Jaden’s eyes as she made her way out into the restaurant, followed closely by Michael and Tasha. Teary eyed, Susan stood front and center with a large bouquet of flowers from the kitchen staff, and a white tissue stuck out of her shirt pocket. Nearby stood Geoff, looking even more somber than usual, and behind him stood Bert, Jaden’s hand-picked sous chef, already wiping away the tears that gathered in the corners of his eyes. Even the food critic from the Miami Herald had made a surprise appearance. Jaden scanned the crowd for the one person she’d hoped would show up, but Ivan was nowhere to be seen.

  Shrugging off the somber mood that threatened to descend upon her, Jaden forced a smile and joined in the festivities. Halfway through the party, her phone buzzed with an incoming text from Ivan.

  Have a blast at the party, Jaden. See you in the morning! J

  He called her Jaden…She’d become so accustomed to baby girl, and she suddenly realized how much she’d be missing it. But life moves forward, she told herself. Mustering her courage, she texted back:

  Ivan, thanks, and I wish you were here for this. See you tomorrow early.

  After a long string of well wishes and more than a few tears, Jaden, Tasha, and Michael excused themselves only to be stopped at the door by a very drunk and very upset waitress.

  “I’m gonna miss you,” Susan bawled as she grabbed Jaden in a hug and cried on her shoulder. “It’s not going to be the same without you here.”

  “Susan,” Jaden said soothingly, patting her friend on the back, partly to console her and partly to prevent the poor girl from going into hysterics. “It’s okay, sweetie. You can come and visit whenever you’d like. As soon as I get set up out there, I’ll email you my address and phone number. We won’t lose touch, I promise.”

  “Really, you mean I can come and visit you in LA?”

  “Of course you can. Besides, it’s not like I’m never coming back to Miami. Tasha still lives here, so I’m sure I’ll be back to visit everyone.” Yeah, everyone but Ivan, Jaden thought. Would they ever get past this? What if she came back and he was with someone else-- would she be able to handle that? Jaden forced the thought from her mind. That problem wasn’t going to be solved tonight.

  With Susan under control, the three hailed a taxi and headed for home. Tasha and Michael seemed tipsy, but Jaden was stone sober. She’d had a few drinks to be sociable, but they’d had absolutely no effect. She unlocked the door of the apartment, and Michael and Tasha stumbled by her, giggling off to bed. Jaden looked at her watch. She had just enough time to catch a quick nap before her eight a.m. flight.

  Still in her pajamas, Jaden stood in the doorway of the living room giving the apartment the once-over. She told herself she was making sure she hadn’t forgotten to pack anything, but mostly she was just going to miss this place. A cold hand touched her shoulder and she jumped. Turning around, she came face to face with a teary Tasha. Michael stood at her side with his arm around her waist.

  “Well, Chef, I guess this is it,” he said.

  “I’ll be back to visit.”

  “You better be,” Michael teased. “Tasha won’t let you live it down if you don’t.” Untwining his arm from Tasha, Michael gave her a long hug.

  “I’m going to miss you,” Jaden whispered, her own eyes clogging with tears as she hugged him back. In the few short months they’d known each other, they’d grown to be good friends, and Jaden appreciated all he’d done for Tasha.

  “I’ll give the two of you some privacy.” And with that, Michael disappeared down the hall, leaving Jaden and Tasha to say their goodbyes.

  As they took a seat on the sofa, Tasha grabbed Jaden in a hug and cried, “What am I going to do without you?”

  “The same thing you did before I moved to Miami,” Jaden replied in the most reassuring tone she could muster. “Only this time, you won’t be here alone. You’ll have Micky.”

  “I know,” Tasha cried. “But it won’t be the same without you.”

  “I’ll come back as often as I can, and we’ll talk every day on the phone. It’ll be like I’m still here. Maybe I’ll come and spend a few weeks when the show is on hiatus. I’m sure they’re not going to film year round.”

  “Do you promise?”

  “I promise,” Jaden said, somewhat reluctantly. Lately it seemed she’d made many promises, most of which she’d broken. If she were a woman of her word, she and Ivan would still be together. Jaden had promised him forever, and failed.

  Wiping the tears from her eyes, Tasha stood up. “Call me as soon as you get there.”

  “I will.”

  “You’re gonna be amazing. Ivan was right—you’re a rock star.” With one last hug, and a parting kiss, Tasha said her final farewell and went back to her bedroom.

  Even though she knew Michael and Tasha were still in the other room, the apartment felt cold and empty, and Jaden felt helplessly alone. She knew she should be double checking her luggage and maybe sneaking a few moments of rest before Ivan picked her up, but she also knew sleep would elude her. In a sorrowful stupor, she trudged across the living room and sat down in front of the computer. Maybe checking her emails would help the time pass.

  Opening her inbox, she found a new message from a Stacey Anderson with a subject line reading: Welcome to the big leagues! Jaden clicked on it and began to read.

  Hello, Jaden.

  Congratulations on becoming our new superstar. I hope you’re ready for a whirlwind of publicity and excitement. Kevin Gibbs, owner of the network, and myself would like to meet with you on Tuesday. I know that’s only a few days away, but in this business time is money. Looking forward to seeing you again.

  Stacey Anderson

  Casting Director, Bravo

  555-818-3298

  stacey.anderson@thefc.com

  Wait, “seeing you again”? What does that mean? Jaden wracked her brain trying to remember a time she’d been introduced to someone named Stacey Anderson. Maybe at one of the parties Ivan had taken her to? But surely she’d remember meeting someone that important. At a loss, Jaden turned off the computer, and within moments her phone beeped to alert her to an incoming text message. It was Ivan making sure she was up.

  I hope you’re awake, beautiful. It’s time to fly!

  For a split second, Jaden let a smile creep onto her face. This was the first time Ivan had shown any humor or real cheer since their breakup—was that what it was? But her smile quickly faded. It was also the longest they’d gone without actually talking since they met. Then sadness washed over her, sending Jaden into an all-out panic attack. If this was the right thing to do, why was it so hard? Shouldn’t she be happy now, not feeling uncertain? What if she were making the wrong choice by leaving? What if she were meant to stay in Miami and live out her happily ever after with Ivan? No, she told herself firmly. This was her dream, and she needed to take hold of it.

  Jaden’s fingers trembled as she tried to formulate an equally pleasant response.

  Up and ready. Thank you, handsome.

  She took her time dressing. She’d laid out comfy yoga pants and a top as the perfect ensemble for the six-hour flight to LA. With any luck she’d be able to get some much-needed sleep and arrive ready to jump right into the thick of things. Saying goodbye once had been hard enough, so instead of telling Tasha she was off, she scribbled out a note and left it on the kitchen table.

  The morning breeze chilled her as she stood in front of her former building, but soon the black beast that had picked her up for their first date rounded the corner. The Jeep, with its top down, pulled to a stop in front, and Ivan slid out the driver’s side door wearing flip flops, camouflage shorts, and a white tank top. Just one look at him and memories of the passionate nights they’d shared overcame her, but they were safely and promptly tucked away.
>
  “Hey, girl,” he said as he pecked her on the cheek and started to grab the luggage that sat on the curb.

  “Hi.” Jaden had been half hoping for a kiss on the lips. But what did she expect? He wasn’t her boyfriend any more, merely her friend bringing a greeting.

  Cramming the last suitcase into the back of the Jeep, Ivan returned to the passenger side and opened the door, ushering her inside.

  “Always the gentleman,” Jaden said as she took Ivan’s hand and let him help her in.

  The sun was still low on the horizon as Ivan pulled away from the curb and sped off in the direction of Miami International Airport. The greenish lights on the stereo clock cast an eerie glow inside the Jeep, and they drove in silence, only occasionally glancing in each other’s direction. She wanted to speak, but what was there to say? Nothing would change Ivan’s mind. Or at least she was pretty sure…

  “Are you okay with everything, Ivan?” she asked, breaking their silence.

  Slowly turning to face her, Ivan offered a forced half smile. “Do you want the truth or the sugar-coated answer?”

  “The truth,” Jaden answered.

  “I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. Three years ago I would’ve packed up and followed you, or I would’ve asked you to stay. Or I might’ve even taken the chance on the whole long-distance-relationship thing.”

  Stopped at a red light, Ivan turned and faced her head on. “I won’t lie, it sucks right now. But it’s something I’ll deal with, and in time get over—maybe not all the way over, but I’ll get through it. I’m happy for you, Jaden, happy that your dreams are coming true. That’s all I ever wanted for you, even if I’m not there to share it.”

  “Ivan…” She struggled for the right thing to say, but nothing would mend a broken heart, hers or his.

  “It is what it is. We all have a cross to bear, and this just happens to be mine at the moment. But this too shall pass.” Then he abruptly shifted the gears of the conversation before she could even formulate a response. “You excited, young lady? Ready for stardom?”

  “Yeah, I think so,” Jaden said after a moment. She’d been correct. There was nothing she could say to change his mind. “I’m scared shitless but excited.”

  “Don’t be. They’ll treat you great,” he replied with a wink.

  As the Jeep pulled to a stop in front of the departures area, Jaden leaned across and placed a tender kiss on his cheek, letting his addictive aroma fill her senses one last time. Damn, she was going to miss that smell. “Thank you for everything, Ivan.”

  He nodded sadly but said nothing.

  Jaden watched as Ivan retrieved her luggage from the back of the car and placed it at the curbside check-in. He offered her a final look, and Jaden crumbled and rushed into his arms, giving him the patented Rusilko Bear Hug.

  “Don’t forget me,” Jaden cried, clinging harder.

  “How could I forget the best thing that’s ever happened to me?” Ivan whispered low in her ear. Pulling back, he looked Jaden square in the face and smiled. “I stumbled across a quote last night, and it made me think of you,” he said. “Life is short: Forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile. Jaden, you made my soul smile, and I’ll never forget that.”

  Jaden nodded and watched as Ivan returned to his Jeep. With a final wave goodbye he drove away. “Don’t cry because it’s over,” she said softly to herself. “Smile because it happened.”

  Jaden traversed the airport feeling isolated and put off. Less than two weeks ago she’d taken this exact route with Ivan as they made the trek to visit his family in Pennsylvania. She reached the gate with time to spare, which meant more time to mull over everything that had happened in the past few days. They hadn’t been separated for an hour, and already Jaden found herself remembering the silly little things that had made their relationship so great: his random childish voices, the way they both loved cheesy, scary movies, the way she could get him hard with just a look, and the way he could get her wet by licking the base of her neck…or licking other things… They’d known each other so well after only a few months.

  That’s over now, Jaden scolded herself. It’s time to grow up and make grown-up decisions. I’m going to get on this plane, sit in my seat, fly across the country, and realize my dreams. I have to.

  The attendant at the counter announced the boarding call for first class passengers. Grabbing her personal items, Jaden prepared to board her flight—the flight that would lead to a dream but had taken away her miracle.

  The wheels of the 747 touched down with a bone-rattling bump as Jaden and the other one hundred fifty passengers celebrated the end of the six-hour flight. She was in LA, which meant her new life as a celebrity chef had officially begun.

  LAX was a mob scene compared to the laid back feeling of MIA. As she pushed her way through the throngs of people and followed the signs to the baggage claim, she kept a lookout for the driver the network was supposed to have sent to take her to her new apartment. Well, her temporary, network-owned apartment that was hers to use until she could find a place of her own. The escalator carried her down toward the baggage claim, and Jaden noticed a Hispanic man with a bushy moustache holding a sign labeled Thorne.

  Jaden couldn’t help but be impressed. They’d actually sent someone. The network had really pulled out all the stops in their rush to get her to LA. “Hello,” she said, approaching the man. “I’m Jaden Thorne.”

  “Good afternoon, Ms. Thorne,” he said with a thick Spanish accent. “My name is Adam, and I’ll be your chauffeur.”

  Adam? How un-Spanish, she thought as the pair waited to collect her bags. It was nice to have someone do all the heavy lifting for her, although it reminded her that Ivan was not here, grabbing her bags as usual. Of course schlepping her bags herself would probably have reminded her of that too. After gathering all of her belongings, Jaden followed Adam outside, then waited as he’d instructed while he went to pull the around.

  As she waited, Jaden turned on her phone and sifted through her messages. There were several from various friends and family wishing her well, but there was nothing from Ivan. Disappointed and a little perturbed that he hadn’t even texted her, she answered the important messages, letting Tasha and the network know she’d arrived, and then slid the phone back into her pocket.

  Jaden took careful note of her surroundings as she slid silently into the backseat of the car. Sleek black leather covered the interior, black tint darkened the windows, and refrigerated air blew from the vents that encircled her. “This sure isn’t a Jeep.”

  “No, ma’am, it’s a Lincoln,” Adam replied stiffly, not getting the joke. How could he?

  They wove into the dense LA traffic and onto the freeway. Jaden noticed how different the landscape was. LA was brown and hilly, whereas Miami was colorful and vibrant. And the traffic was horrendous. Jeez, she didn’t want to deal with that every day. Traveling twelve miles in just under two hours, they finally arrived at her new apartment.

  A quaint, white, one-bedroom townhouse in a secluded community would serve as her abode for the next few months. It even came equipped with a garage, which her car could live in once it had been shipped across the country. Jaden unlocked the front door and stepped inside. Semi-new furnishings decorated the interior in a tasteful but rather bland style. It might not be the best, but heck, it was free, Jaden reminded herself. Following closely behind, Adam entered the living room and set the bags down in the middle of the floor.

  “Thank you,” Jaden said as she fished in her pocket for a tip.

  Adam nodded, accepted the folded bills, and retreated from the townhouse, shutting the door behind him as he left. The sound of the door was very final, and Jaden was hit with the sudden realization that she was alone. But this was something she needed to do—or at least that’s what she kept telling herself.

  She poked her way through the townhouse, familiarizing herself with each of the rooms and
where everything was located. Her bags still sat in the middle of the living room floor, but they’d have to wait until later. Tomorrow was a huge day. She had to meet this Stacey and the network owner, and she’d begin her new life as a celebrity chef, but for now all Jaden wanted to do was sleep. Digging in her biggest suitcase, she searched feverishly for her toiletry bag only to find an out-of-place envelope she didn’t remember packing. She flopped on her bed in a heap and opened it, immediately recognizing the atrocious handwriting.

  Jaden,

  There will always be a taste of you in my mouth, the sound of your heart in my ear, and the feel of your skin etched in my mind. You deserve the world, so never settle for anything less. I will always cherish the time we spent as lovers and look forward to the memories we’ll make in the years to come as friends.

  Your fellow turtle watcher,

  Ivan

  How on earth had Ivan had the time to sneak this into her suitcase? She’d been standing beside him practically the entire time. That’s why he didn’t call. He was waiting for me to find this. Smiling, Jaden suddenly felt better about everything. She tucked the note back in the envelope and placed it on her dresser. Then, grabbing her phone, she texted the author of this sweet gesture:

  I got the card, Ivan…Thank you for creating my first smile in Los Angeles.

  Chapter 32

  “Under Pressure”

  TODAY WAS THE BIG DAY. Jet lag slowed Jaden to a crawl as she opened the first of her suitcases and began to unpack. It was a dreaded chore, but if she wanted something clean to wear—or anything to wear, actually—it was a necessary one. She settled on high heels and her favorite blue sundress, one that could flaunt her curves yet look semiprofessional at the same time.

  With the sundress in hand, she gathered her makeup case and headed for the first floor bathroom. She dumped the entirety of her makeup collection on the counter and set to work, somehow achieving the desired results in record time, even without Tasha’s help. She then sifted through her jewelry case for accessories and found the tiger-eye rosary. She slipped it on as a necklace. Something so special could only bring her luck. With one last appraising look in the mirror, Jaden picked up her cell phone and dialed Adam, only to learn he was already waiting with the car out front.