"No, you don't need to do that. You must be exhausted from the party. I can do it." She picked up some silverware that had fallen on the floor.
"I'm not a bit tired. In fact, I'm kind of exhilarated from it."
I bet that's from sitting next to Colleen Michaels all night, she thought.
"Besides, you can't stop me, I'm the boss," he said with a smile. Derek began loading the dirty dishes, wine glasses, and silverware onto the cart.
"The food was excellent tonight. I had so many compliments. It wouldn't surprise me if you get some new clients from this," he said.
"Really? That would be nice. Well, that about does it for the dishes. What should I do with the tablecloth? It will need to be cleaned."
Derek's expression went blank. "I don't know. Louise always took care of that."
"You really need to call a service or hire a new housekeeper, especially after this party. The house will need to be cleaned."
"I suppose you're right. I'll have Ellen call someone on Monday."
"This tablecloth can't wait until you get someone hired next week. If you want, I can drop it off at the cleaners tomorrow when I get off work from the bakery."
"Thank you. Has anyone ever told you that you're a lifesaver?"
Jenny pushed the cart into the kitchen and turned the hot water on in the sink.
"I understand dishes are easier to wash when they have soaked over night. You could come back tomorrow and wash them after they soak."
She laughed at his attempt at household hints. "I have to work tomorrow. I really should do them tonight."
"It's already late and it'll take you a long time to wash and dry, I'll help."
She couldn't help but laugh out loud at that. "I'm sorry, Mr. James, but the thought of you doing dishes is comical."
"Why is that? I've been known to get my hands dirty once in a while," he said, also laughing. "And, it's Derek, remember?"
"It's a nice offer, but the plates will go into your dishwasher. I'm only going to hand-wash your wine glasses and water goblets. They don't sit too well in a dishwasher."
"In that case, do you mind if I just sit and talk while you wash?"
"Not at all." She swished the soapy water around with her hand and began with the water goblets.
"Is any of that cheesecake left?" he asked. "I think it was just about the best dessert I have ever eaten."
"There was about half of a cheesecake left. I put it and the rest of the leftovers in the refrigerator. Since you don't have a cook right now, I thought you might want the leftovers."
"Thank you. That was very thoughtful." He went to the refrigerator. "Well, look at that. You cleaned out the refrigerator just like you said. I'm impressed. He sliced himself a big piece of the cheesecake. "Oh, I'm sorry. I dirtied another dish."
Jenny smiled at his joke.
After he finished his cheesecake, he grabbed a towel and dried the glasses that she had washed. "You don't have to do that."
"I know, but I want to," he said.
In no time, all the water goblets and wine glasses were washed, dried, and stored away. "That looks like everything," she said. "I probably should get going. It's pretty late."
"Thank you for all of your work. I couldn't have pulled this off without you," Derek said.
"Should I send you a bill? I'm really not sure how to go about getting paid," she said, a little embarrassed.
"If you will drop an invoice off at my office on Monday, I'll have a check issued to you by the next day."
"Thank you. I've enjoyed cooking for you," She picked up her jacket and headed for the door.
"Would you be interested in doing a Christmas party for me in mid-December?" Derek asked quickly before she went out the door.
"I'd love to," She answered as quickly as he had asked, happy that she would see him again.
"Promise you won't schedule anyone else's party until you get mine down first."
"Okay, but you should call me soon as you have a date set so I can start planning for it."
"I'll call you next week."
"Great. I'll look forward to it."
Jenny smiled and walked out the door. Sitting inside her car, she felt excited to know that she would be seeing Derek again. She turned the key to start her car and nothing happened. "Oh no." She tried again, still nothing. Looking back at the house, she could see Derek's shadow moving around in the kitchen. With no other alternative, she got out and went back to the house, knocking on the kitchen door.
Derek opened the door and looked a bit surprised to see her. "Did you forget something?" he asked.
"No, my car won't start."
"Come in, it's too cold out for you to stand there."
Jenny walked back into the kitchen. "I'm so sorry. I'll call someone to come and get me." She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket.
"No. There's no need to bother someone this late on a Friday night. I'd be happy to drive you home," he said.
"I couldn't impose on you like that. It's been a long day for you."
"I insist. I won't take no for an answer. You wait here while I pull my car out of the garage." He left Jenny waiting in the kitchen while he went to get his coat.
A few minutes later, Derek had his car out of the garage and Jenny got in.
"It won't take long for the car to warm up. Now, which way to your home?"
Suddenly, Jenny felt embarrassed about Derek seeing her rental home. At least it's dark and he won't be able to see the house very well.
"I live a little past the elementary school on Meridian," she said.
What a perfect night for a drive along the bluff from Derek's home. The Ohio River below reflected the moonlight off of the water.
"How much time will you need to plan the Christmas party?" Derek asked.
"I suppose that depends on what you want for the party. If I have order some special stuff, it might take longer."
"Why don't you call my office Monday morning and schedule an appointment with Ellen to see me that afternoon to work out the details. You can bring your invoice with you when you come."
"Okay. I'll do that. That's my house on the left," she said, as soon as they turned on Meridian.
He stopped the car in front of the house and put it in park. "Thank you again for everything you did today," he said.
"It was all in a day's work." She opened the door to get out. "Thanks for the drive home. I'll try and get my car from your house tomorrow." She closed the door and quickly headed inside her house. She gave Derek a wave before going into the house.
Jenny nearly slept through her alarm the next morning. After dragging herself out of bed and into the shower, she remembered she didn't have a car to drive to work. She quickly got herself ready and out the door.
Ding-a-ling. Upon hearing the bakery door open, Becky came out of the back.
"I thought I was going to be late," Jenny said, rushing in.
"Late night?"
"I cleaned up after the dinner last night at Derek's and then my car wouldn't start when it was time to go home." She took her coat and purse to the office and put her hairnet and apron on to start work.
"How did you get home? You didn't stay there, did you?"
"Derek brought me home," she said.
"Oh, how nice of him." Becky raised her eyebrows and chuckled a little.
"It wasn't like that and it was nice of him to do that. Otherwise, I might have had to call you at midnight to come and get me," she teased before walking into the back to bring out a tray of doughnuts to place in the display case.
Din-a-ling.
"Good morning. Can I help you?" Becky said to the customer.
"I need to order two pies to pick up the day before Thanksgiving."
"Of course, that's no problem. If you will write your name, address, and phone number down on this order form, I'll get the rest filled out for you."
Jenny picked up the newspaper that she saw in the office and glanced through it. "Oh my gosh!"
/> Jenny stood at the doorway of the office and saw Becky look her way. "What kind of pies did you want to order, ma'am?" Becky asked the customer.
"I'd like one pumpkin and one pecan."
"And, what time will you be picking them up?"
"Would two-o'clock be okay?" the customer asked.
"That would work just fine." Becky wrote that down on the order form and tore off the bottom portion. "Here you go, Mrs. Nelson. We'll see you then. Thank you."
The customer took the receipt and left the bakery.
"What was that all about?" Becky asked Jenny.
"Sorry about that, but I can't believe what's in the newspaper. It's a picture of Derek standing next to Colleen from last night at the party. I didn't know anyone took pictures."
Becky took the newspaper to see. "Who's Colleen Michaels?"
"From what I overheard last night..."
"Overheard!"
"Not intentionally, well sort of not intentionally. She's the new head of the Distribution Department at the James Corporation and Derek's sister is trying to match him and this lady together." Jenny took the paper back.
"Do I sense a little jealousy in your voice?" Becky asked.
"Jealousy? No. Why would I be jealous?" She put the newspaper back in the office and went into the kitchen.
"Well, Derek James is a very handsome man," Becky said to Jenny through the window to the kitchen. "And, it doesn't hurt that he's rich, now does it?"
"Yes, he's nice looking and rich, but don't be ridiculous, it was a job. That's all." Jenny passed packaged loaves of bread through the window for Becky to put on the display shelf.
Ding-a-ling
Becky turned back to Jenny and whispered," Speak of the devil, guess who just walked in?"
"Derek? Oh my gosh, I look like a mess. Don't let him see me like this."
Becky started laughing. "Not interested, eh? Sweetie, that was just the mailman coming in." She went to the counter. "Hi, Bruce. Can I get you something today?"
"Not today, thanks. Here's your mail," he said, laying a pile of envelopes on top of a display case. "See ya."
Ding-a-ling
"That was really mean," Jenny said, coming out from the kitchen carrying cellophane bags of croissants to the front shelf.
"But, it proved my point. You are interested."
"Well, who wouldn't be? Like you said, he's handsome and rich, and would never be interested in someone like me."
"Why not you? Ever hear of Cinderella?"
"Exactly, a fairytale. That's all that will ever be between Derek James and myself." She finished filling the shelf with the croissants and went back behind the counter. "Don't we have a wedding cake to deliver today?"
"Yes, to the Community Center by one-o'clock."
"Do you mind if I deliver it? I'd like to pick my brother up and take him to see if he can get my car started at Derek's afterward."
"Not a problem," Becky said.
* * * *
"Hi, Andy. Thanks for going with me to get my car," Jenny said to her brother when he got into the bakery van.
"Anything for you, sis. The college football games on TV weren't that good today anyway. Where are we going?"
She pulled the van out onto the street and headed south on Elm. “I have to deliver and assemble that wedding cake in the back first, and then go get my car. I don't know why it wouldn't start last night. I haven't had any problems with it lately. It just wouldn't start."
"Is there something going on with you? You have a tendency to talk a lot when you're wanting to avoid something," Andy said.
"Nothing's wrong. I'm always like this before I put together a cake. It's important to the bride that the cake be perfect and if I mess it up, the reception is ruined."
"Where's your car?"
"I was hired to cook for a party at Derek James' home last night. When I was finished, my car wouldn't start and that's where it is," she explained.
"Derek James, the millionaire? We're going to his house? Wow, I can't wait to see that mansion."
Jenny turned the van into the parking lot and parked next to the building. "Can I help carry something in?" her brother asked.
"You can carry anything in except the cake layers. I'll take care of that." They got out of the van and Jenny opened the side door. "You can take that box of supplies in for me."
He picked up the box and they went inside to see where the cake needed to be placed. "Excuse me, I'm from the Sweet Tooth Bakery and I have the wedding cake out in van. Can you tell me where it goes?"
An older lady came over. "Can you put it on that table over there against that wall?"
Jenny started to go back to the van, but was stopped by someone.
"Weren't you at Derek James' dinner party last night?"
Colleen Michaels. "Yes, I was, well sort of. I was the chef."
"Yes, I remember now. You brought out the dessert."
"I did. I hope you enjoyed the meal." She did all she could to be polite, but this was the woman that wanted Derek.
"The meal was wonderful. Are you catering this reception, too?"
"No, I don't cater. I'm only here to assemble the wedding cake and if I don't get to it soon, it won't be ready for the bride and groom when they get here."
"I'm sorry to delay you. By all means, please do your work," Colleen said.
Jenny walked back out to the van to get the layers of cake.
"Who was that?" Andy asked. "She's hot."
"Oh please. She's such a phony."
"What did she ever do to you?"
"Nothing. I need to get busy. Would you carry the top layer of cake in for me?"
"What? You’re actually going to let me carry part of cake. What if I drop it?" he joked.
"Not funny. Please help me. I just want to get this job done and get out of here."
"Boy, she really got to you, didn't she?"
"I don't want to talk about it." She picked up the bottom layer of the cake and carried it inside, followed by Andy.
While she got the bottom layer ready, he went out and brought in the last one.
"I didn't catch your name last night," Colleen said, walking up.
"Jenny Marshall." She placed the plastic base on top of the first layer and then attached the pillars and top plate. On top of that she placed the second layer and finally the top. Carefully she lowered the plastic bride and groom on the top piece of the cake. "There, it's ready."
"It looks marvelous," Colleen said. "I'm having a small dinner party in two weeks and was wondering if you would be available?"
"I'm not sure. I don't have my calendar with me. How many people?" she said, putting the tools from the bakery back in the box.
"Only four people. It's just an intimate dinner and I really don't cook much."
Jenny suspected Derek would be one of the guests and didn't want to have to deal with seeing he and Colleen together. "Two weeks from now? That's right after Thanksgiving. I'm sure I'm booked." Liar.
"Do you have a card? I could call you later to confirm."
Jenny had the cards in her pocket. After needing one when she first met Derek, she made a habit of carrying them with her. "Sure." She handed Colleen one of her cards. "If I don't answer, leave a message and I'll get back to you." Fat chance of that, she thought.
"Thank you."
"Andy, we better go pick up my car from Mr. James' house," she said purposely so Colleen would hear it.
Once back in the van, Jenny turned onto the street and headed south toward the river bluff and the James' mansion.
It only took about five minutes to get there. Jenny hoped Derek had something planned and would not be there. She turned onto the driveway and headed to the back of the house.
"This place is really something, isn't it?" Andy said. "Look at that view of the river."
She gazed over behind the garage. Most of the leaves across the river on the Kentucky side had fallen, but just enough remained for the scene to still be a beautiful s
ight.
"It is nice. Come on, I want to get my car started and out of here. If you can drive it to my house, I'll follow you and then take you back home."
Andy got out and tried to start the car. It still didn't turn over. "I think if we can jumpstart it and drive it back to your place, I can work on it there," he said. "Do you have any jumper cables?"
"You're kidding, right? Me, have jumper cables?" She laughed.
"I have some in the garage."
Jenny turned and found Derek walking toward them.
"Hi, Derek. This is my brother, Andy. Andy, this is Derek James."
Andy got out of the car and shook Derek's hand. "I have some jumper cables in the garage, if you need them," Derek said.
"I sure could use them."
Derek opened the garage door.
"Wow, that's a '76 black Trans Am, just like the one in that Smokey and the Bandit movie. Where did you get it?" Andy asked, walking in the garage to look at it.
"It was my first car. I wrecked it once, but restored it."
"I bet it drives great," Andy said.
"You know, I haven't driven it in years. I just can't seem to part with it though. Here you go." Derek handed Andy the jumper cables.
Jenny pulled the bakery van up next to her car while Andy connected the two batteries together.
After a couple attempts, the car finally started.
Andy went around and detached the cables and handed them back to Derek. "Thanks for the use of the cables, Mr. James."
"You're welcome."
Andy got in Jenny's car and rolled the window down. "I'm taking your car to my house. I have tools there that I may need depending on what's wrong with your car. Will you stop by later?"
"Sure. I get off work at four. I'll walk over."
"That's going to be a cold walk," Andy said.
"That's okay. It's a nice day," she said.
Andy waved as he drove off.
Jenny stood there feeling awkward, not knowing what to say to Derek now that they were alone. "I really should be getting back to the bakery, too."
"Wait, can you come in for a cup of coffee?" Derek asked. "Have you had lunch yet?"
Jenny looked at her watch. "It's two-thirty."
"I know it's late, but you've been working, right?"
"Yes, I had to deliver a wedding cake, and yes I've had lunch."
A Kitchen Affair Page 4
