Cooking Up Passion

by Kiana Lee

  “Master Jason,” the butler said, looking surprised when he opened the door.

  “Morning, Leo.” Jason ran his hand over his slightly dampened hair. “Is my dad in?”

  “He’s in his office.”

  “Right, where else would he be?”

  Jason took off his leather sandals and parked them near the front door. Several months had passed since he was last here, and he saw nothing had changed. A long spiral staircase led to a second floor and overlooked the grand entrance. The foyer was as impressive as ever, and the dark hardwood on the floor gleamed with polish. As soon as a guest walked in, he was treated to a view of the large front room. The elegant furniture that decorated the space was flown in from the mainland. However, the true accent was the massive window built at the far end. The window spanned the entire length of the wall, affording visitors an impressive view of land, sky, and ocean.

  But Jason remembered that it wasn’t always like this. Before Phil Wekiu started his first restaurant, their ohana lived in a dingy house he inherited from his grandmother. With time, the restaurant became a success, and his father expanded his empire. And with that expansion, their living conditions improved.

  Walking across the mahogany floor, Jason made his way to his father’s home office. He should’ve called ahead, but he figured that if he just showed up, he’d at least have the element of surprise on his side. His father was a man of careful control, and he didn’t like his world messed up.

  As Jason reached the office, he heard a female voice on the other side of the door. A moment of indecision gripped him as he tapped his fingers against his thigh. Was this a good time to come calling? Jason had reviewed all the things he wanted to say to his old man, but nothing sounded right. Maybe Jason needed to be honest with him and come clean. He forcefully shook away the feeling of doubt that sat in the middle of his chest and stepped forward. Since he was here already, there was no point in delaying the inevitable.

  He rapped lightly on the door with his knuckles.

  “What is it, Leo?” his father said through the door.

  “It’s Jason,” he said.

  He heard some rustling noise before the door opened.

  “Why, Jason,” his stepmother said, her ruby lips stretched into a smile. “It’s such a surprise to see you!”

  There was no doubt that his father’s new wife was a stunning woman, although she went overboard with her makeup. And while she was pleasant, she always looked slightly wary whenever she encountered Jason.

  “Aloha, Stella,” he said. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a word with my dad.”

  “Of course.” She exchanged glances with her husband before slipping out of the office.

  His father watched him as Jason approached his desk.

  “David Molowa called me earlier,” his father said, lacing his fingers together. The relaxed look when his wife was present had all but disappeared. His face was now stern and unmoving.

  “I know that look,” Jason said, taking a deep breath. “You’re angry with me for not finishing at the top of the class.” He glanced at the wall behind his father, seeing a picture of his brother smiling back at him. Wincing, he dropped his gaze. “Maybe you’re disappointed that I’ll never turn out like Vincent.”

  “No, you’ll never be like Vincent.” Jason caught the bitterness in his father’s voice. “Your brother was a stellar student, and he would’ve become an excellent chef had he lived. You don’t have the drive, and at the rate you’re going, you won’t amount to anything.”

  Jason frowned ferociously at the corner of the oak desk. He knew that his father spoke the truth, but he didn’t like to be reminded of his failings every time they met.

  “I know you think I screwed up,” he blurted. “And you probably think I didn’t apply myself in school.”

  “The thought crossed my mind, yes.” His eyes narrowed as if he deliberated whether he should launch into a new speech about his son’s latest shortcomings. But Jason didn’t come here to be reprimanded.

  Ignoring the dangerous look, Jason continued as if his father hadn’t spoken. “The person who won the job deserved it more than I did, so I helped her get the position.” He took out the keys from his pocket and placed them on the desk. “As per our initial agreement, I’m giving you back the car keys. I haven’t packed my things yet, but I’ll be out of the condo by the end of the month.”

  His father’s gaze dropped to the keys, although he didn’t reach for them. Instead, he lifted his scrutiny and studied him. Jason couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but then he figured that maybe he didn’t want to know.

  “All right, I’m going to take off now,” he said, turning to make his exit.

  “I don’t know whether I should be surprised that you won’t be graduating as the leading student,” he said loudly, his words stopping Jason in his tracks. “Or maybe I should be more surprised that you gave up your Porsche and condominium so easily for a classmate.”

  “Giving up the job was the right thing to do.” He turned to face his father. “Caitlin Moray is a good chef, and I feel she deserves a break.”

  The cold, simmering anger from before had disappeared from his father’s features, and was replaced by puzzlement and something else. Suddenly he let out a sigh. “To be truthful, I never thought you could replace Vincent, nor should you. I only wanted you to find your way and maybe reach your true potential.”

  His words momentarily stunned Jason. Then just as quick, he felt his throat tightening. “Ever since Vincent died, you’ve compared me to him all the time,” he reminded him. “You said that I would never measure up to him and what he achieved. You never let me forget how disappointed you were in me.”

  “I did, didn’t I?” Guilt splashed across his face. “I saw many things in you that are similar to people I know from the industry. Take David Molowa for example. The man is an extremely talented chef, but he’s obsessed with taking shortcuts.”

  This was the first time Jason heard him speak about Molowa. “What’s wrong with taking shortcuts?” he asked.

  “There’s nothing wrong with it in theory. There’s an incredible amount of hard work and passion involved in making anything happen. Molowa tells me that he’s getting his own TV show; however, I’m willing to bet that the show won’t last long. The reason? It’s because Molowa lacks direction and doesn’t like working. Soon he’ll discover that the show will require too much from him. He’ll quit, and search for the next get-rich-quick scheme. It’s inevitable for a man like him.” He dropped his hands to the desk surface. “So if you’re not careful, you might find yourself walking a similar path. I believe you’ve got great potential, Jason. And I want more for you than a series of short-term enterprises.”

  Jason crossed his arms over his chest and moved to the window. The sky was dark and gloomy. Peering out of the rain splattered pane, he saw that he had just missed being caught in the storm. Although his father’s house wasn’t located next to the water, the beach was still within view. The few palm trees scattered on the water’s edge bent slightly, their fronds whipping dramatically in the storm. Meanwhile, the wind had full control of the ocean, causing the waves to surge and plunge at irregular intervals.

  “You could have spared me the barrage of criticisms, and just told me this right from the start,” he said, his tone accusatory.

  “I doubt you would have listened. You needed to come to your own conclusions. As I said, I only want you to be at your best.” He paused as if reflecting on his previous behavior. “Perhaps I went about it the wrong way.”

  Jason spun around to face his father and dropped his arms to his side. “You did,” he agreed. While his father didn’t outright apologize for his conduct, he was telling him in his own way that he was sorry. “But I forgive you. At first, I was angry that you forced me into the culinary program. But it turns out the course has been the best thing that happened to me in a long time. In these past five weeks, I’ve discovered who I am, and wha
t I want to do with my life.”

  His father held still as if he braced himself for the worst. “And it doesn’t involve cooking, does it?”

  “Not really,” Jason said. “Although it involves a lot of baking.”

  “Baking?” he repeated, the ends of his lips curving downward.

  Jason already started in this direction so he needed to finish his explanation. “I discovered that I like making cakes and desserts.” The image of the birthday party flashed through his mind, and he remembered the happy chatter and laughter as the keiki gobbled up the Minecraft cake. Another image floated in front of him as he saw Caitlin closing her eyes as she bit into the cupcake he had made. But it was his turn to brace himself. His father was a classically trained chef who was highly regarded, and Jason was about to tell him that he, his only remaining son, wasn’t going to follow in his footsteps. He took a deep breath. “People seem to enjoy my creations, so I’m opening up a bakery.”

  “A bakery,” he said, his expression unreadable. “Why would you get into that when my restaurants are already established and successful? If you open a bake shop, you’ll have to toil in the early mornings. You won’t have time to relax or be social because all you’ll be doing is work. Is this what you want?”

  Jason had already spent hours researching his options, and he knew what he was up against. “Yes, this is what I want.”

  His father nodded as he considered his response. “How much do you need to start this venture?”

  “I have some savings so I’m not asking for your money,” he said, shaking his head. “And while I can always use your guidance, I have to do this on my own.”

  Observing him for a long while, his father said finally, “You’ve changed.”

  “Yeah,” Jason said. “I’ve grown up.”

  Phil Wekiu got up from his chair and came to stand in front of him. He locked eyes with Jason. “You won’t be taking any shortcuts,” he said, his voice stern.

  “I don’t intend to.”

  His father clapped him on the back and smiled. “Then I have no doubt you’ll succeed in your endeavor.”

  Chapter 20

  The school had decided to take the graduation ceremony outside, and it was a magnificent day for it. The warm tropical air brushed across Caitlin’s skin as she reflected over the past few weeks. It was a relief that the intensive program was at an end, but until she held the diploma in her hand she couldn’t celebrate. Her palms felt clammy and she discreetly wiped them on the uniform jacket. Yesterday she had visited the school director and informed him of the grading mistake. But he dismissed her concerns as if she were some deluded child. When she woke this morning, she decided that it was wrong for her to claim the job at Signatures. After convocation, she planned to visit Phil Wekiu and tell him that she couldn’t take the position. With luck, he would understand where she was coming from.

  Caitlin scanned the crowd in the hopes of spotting Jessie and Maya. The sisters had dropped her off at the school earlier, saying that they needed to run an errand. By now they would be seated in the audience somewhere. Unfortunately, she couldn’t see much through the stream of people walking around on the green lawn. Music blasted from the speakers as the keiki raced around, feeding on the electric energy already in the air. Laughter and shouts of congratulations surrounded her. Each student was dressed in their crisp white uniforms, their toques angled proudly on their heads. Colorful, vibrant leis adorned the necks of graduating students.

  It was too early to take their places, but when the time came, they would line up and be seated in the appropriate rows. Standing on her tippy toes, she spied Jane who stood with a group of her friends. At the same time, her friend noticed her.

  “Caitlin!” she squealed. She ran over to Caitlin and pulled her into a tight hug. “We did it!” she laughed. “We survived these five hellish weeks. Halfway into the program, I thought I wasn’t going to make it.”

  “Yep, it was rough, that’s for sure,” she grinned. “But look at us now. We’re getting our diplomas!” Caitlin turned to scan the campus grounds. The sun was shining and a strong breeze rustled the fronds of the nearby palms. “I’m really going to miss this place.”

  “Me too,” Jane said.

  Caitlin started to say something else when someone tapped her on the shoulder.

  “Hey, can I talk with you for a second?”

  Jane looked past her shoulder, and her voice suddenly became awkward. “Um, I should probably get back to the gang.”

  But Caitlin hardly heard her friend. She turned her head and saw Jason’s handsome face. Her heart stopped for a split second before it jump-started and began thudding anew. Only he could affect her like this. Until now, she wasn’t aware of how much she’d missed him. But while she loved him, she obviously she couldn’t trust him.

  The thought of his deceptive ways suddenly killed the thrill of seeing him. At the memory, her body tensed and all the pain and anger he caused stirred within her breast once again. If they were alone, she might have attacked him. Luckily for him, there were too many people present, and she didn’t want to ruin convocation for her classmates.

  “You have one second,” she said, her voice cold. “Start talking.”

  “It wasn’t supposed to happen like this,” he said. “I only meant to secure the job placement for you.”

  “So you didn’t think I could do it on my own.”

  He let out a sigh. “There were so many variables that could’ve gone wrong.”

  “You stole whatever esteem I’d built,” she said with simmering anger. “You made me feel inadequate, like all I did and achieved was a sham. And you did it for your own selfish reason.”

  “I’m sorry you feel that way.” His face twisted with pain and remorse. “But I had to make a deal with the director because that was the only way I could secure the job placement for you.”

  “That doesn’t make what you did right.” She had enough of him and his lies, and started to move away from him.

  “Caitlin, believe me. I never meant to upset you,” he caught her arm. “Can you forgive me?”

  His eyes bored into hers, but she didn’t want to give in to his pleading. He deserved to be as miserable as she felt. Though she found periods of happiness with him, the suffering she experienced afterward was too great. She could no longer handle it.

  “I have to go,” she said, pulling at her arm.

  He slackened his grip, and she walked away without a backward glance. She was determined to thrust Jason from her mind. As she reached the line of students, Caitlin scanned the back rows to search for her friends. Jessie saw her and waved. She started to raise her hand in return when she paused. Her mouth fell open, and she was momentarily struck dumb. Her grandparents were sitting in the audience with huge smiles on their faces. Suddenly all the dark feelings that she felt vanished into the warm island air.

  Caitlin broke away from her classmates and rushed over to them, not caring that she broke protocol. “What are you guys doing here?” she asked as she folded them into a fierce embrace. It was so long since she last saw them.

  “That nice young man you spoke with said that we won tickets to your commencement,” her grandmother said, pointing in the direction that Caitlin had come.

  “Tickets?” she asked, her mind going blank. “What tickets?”

  “She won them from a contest,” her grandfather explained. “It’s a good thing your grandma enters so many. Otherwise, we’d never be here.”

  “Yes, and now you’re here to see me get my degree,” Caitlin said, forcing a smile to her lips. She narrowed her eyes at Jessie and Maya, and pulled them aside. “The two of you knew about this, didn’t you?”

  “Guilty,” Jessie said, although there was no trace of guilt on her face. “When Jason told me he wanted to bring your grandparents over, I swiped their number from your phone, and gave it to him.”

  “Then when they arrived at the airport, we went with Jason to pick them up,” Maya added.
<
br />   “That was the errand you had to run this morning.”

  Jessie smiled. “Jason wanted to surprise you.”

  Caitlin let out a groan as understanding came to the fore. She was wrong about Jason all this time. Although he had wealth and privilege, he was also kind, generous and sweet. Her pride prevented her from seeing this. Was he ever going to forgive her?

  “So what are you waiting for?” Jessie asked, gently nudging her forward. “Go get him.”

  “You’re right,” she said, breaking out of her agonized stupor. “I should go see him.”

  Taking off, she ran to where she last saw Jason. But he was no longer there. Just when she was about to give up her search, she spied his imposing form. He was in line, chatting with a classmate in front of him as he waited to be seated.

  Caitlin maneuvered around the crush of students and hurried over to him.

  “Jason, can I talk to you in private?” she asked. “It’s important.”

  He broke off his conversation and looked over at her, surprised to find her at his side. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself in case he rejected her request. If he refused to go with her, then she would be forced to speak to him in front of their schoolmates.

  To her relief, Jason left the line and followed her to the edge of the landscaped lawn.

  “Commencement will start at any minute, but this can’t wait. I have to know. Why did you do it?” she said. “You must have known that it was wrong to manipulate the marks.”

  “You’re right. I cheated and I lied.” Taking her hand, he looked down as he traced his thumb along the base of her palm. “But it was for you, Caitlin. I did it because I love you. Normally I don’t go around saying —”

  “Wait.” Her heart stopped. “You love me?”

  Jason looked up. “Yeah, I do,” he said, sincerity and warmth reflecting in his depths. “I fell for you when we ran into each other at the registrar’s office. And since then I couldn’t get you out of my mind.”