by Peg Cochran
The parking lot at Declan’s was filled when Gigi got there. She was pleased to see that he had such a great turnout. She drove past and found a spot on the street outside Bon Appétit. She pulled her collar closer around her neck, yanked her hat down over her ears and began to walk the block back toward the restaurant. A plume rose from Declan’s chimney, and the delicious scent of wood smoke filled the air.
The mellow sounds of voices and tinkling glasses, along with the aroma of roast turkey and other delicious dishes, washed over Gigi as soon as she pulled open the door. She stood for a moment to take in the scene. Fires crackled in the fireplaces where groups of people gathered, the men in blazers and sweaters, the women in knit dresses and suede jackets. Once again, Gigi was glad she’d splurged on her new outfit. She looked good, and she knew it.
The tables were already set with pumpkin-colored napery and vases filled with autumn leaves. The silver shined, the glasses twinkled; it was magical. Declan had done a splendid job. Gigi noticed Joe Flanagan ensconced in a deep red velvet armchair, his leg propped on an ottoman. The small table at his side held a drink and a plate of hors d’oeuvres. He was being treated like royalty, and Gigi thought he looked like he was enjoying it thoroughly. She wondered how he’d feel if he knew that his wife and Declan were going around behind his back.
“Gigi!”
Gigi turned to see Alice rushing toward her, her cheeks flushed red and her halo of curls flying every which way.
“It’s wonderful, isn’t it?” She grabbed Gigi’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I couldn’t believe it when I found out Declan was planning this. It’s incredible. This is going to mean the world to Joe and Stacy.”
Alice waved to someone, and Gigi turned to look in that direction. It was Stacy . . . in an old-fashioned barmaid’s uniform, complete with full skirt and off-the-shoulder blouse.
Alice squeezed Gigi’s arm. “Stacy has been working here! Isn’t that great? I had no idea. I’m afraid I jumped to the wrong conclusion.”
“So did I,” Gigi admitted.
“And everything with her and Joe is okay again. Nearly losing him after that fall made her realize what he means to her.” Alice smiled benignly in Stacy’s direction, but Stacy was busy handing around a tray of drinks.
A blast of cold air blew across the room, and Gigi glanced toward the door. Sienna and Oliver were closing it behind them. Oliver was holding a baby carrier that was completely swathed in a pink and white knitted blanket.
“Oh, it’s Sienna with the baby!” Alice exclaimed. “I haven’t seen the little angel since the hospital.”
Gigi and Alice wended their way through the crowd toward the front of the room. Oliver had placed the carrier on a chair and was hanging up his and Sienna’s coats. Sienna began to unwrap the blanket, and Gigi and Alice waited with bated breath until the little sleeping beauty was revealed. She had soft curls and long, dark lashes that rested against her plump, pink cheeks. Gigi thought she was the most beautiful baby she’d ever seen.
“And how is little Miss Camille today?”
“She’s wonderful,” Sienna cooed as she undid the baby’s tiny pink jacket. “A little gassy, though.”
“Fennel tea,” Alice said knowledgeably. “It worked a charm for my Stacy. My grandmother used it, and so did my mother.”
“Really?” Sienna paused in removing Camille’s coat.
Alice nodded, and her curls bobbed briskly. “Boil a spoonful of fennel seeds in some water, add a little sugar and let it cool. It will have her right as rain in no time.” Alice chucked Camille under the chin, and the baby sighed and turned her head but didn’t wake.
“I’ll have to try that.”
Oliver returned from the coat check with two ticket stubs which he tucked into his pocket. “I hear we’ve got some celebrating to do.” He smiled at Gigi.
Gigi grinned back. “I guess we do.”
“What’s this?” Alice looked from Gigi to Oliver and back again.
“I’ve just signed a contract with Branston Foods.”
“Gigi’s Gourmet De-Lite is going big time,” Sienna said.
Alice clapped her hands. “Wonderful news! Just wonderful.”
Gigi beamed at them all.
Sienna grinned as well. “Oliver has some good news, too.”
Oliver looked down at his shoes briefly. “Yes, I do. I’ve snared a couple of new clients so everything is going to be all right.”
“That’s great,” they all chorused.
“As a matter of fact, Jack Winchel is one of them. He’s being investigated for some SEC irregularities.”
“No more gambling,” Sienna said, shaking her finger at her husband in mock-sternness.
“Absolutely no more gambling,” Oliver said. “It was terribly boring and not very lucrative.”
“I found out something interesting,” Sienna said. “A former colleague in New York heard it and passed the information along to me. With Vanessa Huff still in jail for theft, they decided to replace her with that girl, Tammy, who Gigi met at Derek’s funeral.”
“I’m happy about that.” Gigi felt a warm glow. She had liked Tammy and was glad to hear that she was going to be getting ahead.
“Is there a quiet place where we can sit with the baby?” Camille had begun to stir, and Sienna stroked her cheek soothingly.
Gigi craned her neck. “Your best bet seems to be over there.” She pointed toward the other end of the room where the crowd was thinner.
Sienna and Oliver moved off, with Alice clucking along behind them, and Gigi was momentarily alone. Before she could move, Declan was at her elbow.
“I’m so sorry. I meant to come over and greet you as soon as you came in, but there was a crisis in the kitchen.”
“Oh no.”
He waved a hand. “Nothing that couldn’t be solved. But I hate to see a pretty lady standing alone.”
Gigi didn’t know what to say, but she did know that her face was getting as red as the flames in the fireplace. “Everything looks wonderful,” she said to change the subject.
Declan gave a satisfied smile. “I’m very pleased. We’re going to raise a lot of money for Stacy and Joe.”
“It really is amazing of you to go to all this trouble.”
Declan shot her a wicked grin. “It’s marketing, remember? I had to find some way to ingratiate myself with your little community. The fact that it’s helping two really nice people is icing on the cake.”
Gigi felt a movement at her side and turned to see Mertz standing there. Very close, so close that they were almost touching. He looked down at Gigi. Their eyes met, and the look in his said everything.
“I’ve brought you a glass of that wine you like.” Mertz handed her a goblet half full of a ruby red liquid and looked up to glare at Declan.
Declan shrugged, raised an eyebrow and gave Gigi a crooked grin that said You win some, you lose some.
Gigi felt a momentary pang of regret, but then she looked at Mertz, who was smiling at her, and it passed, replaced by a warm glow of satisfaction.
Recipes
“Magic” Omelet
This is an easy way to have breakfast cooking while you’re in the shower!
2 eggs
2 tablespoons chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped red or green peppe (or combination)
2 mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons low-fat cheese, grate (cheddar, Swiss or your favorite)
1 heavy-duty gallon-size ziplock bag
Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Crack the eggs into the ziplock bag and add the remaining ingredients (or your favorite omelet fixings). Close the bag securely and “squish” the ingredients together, breaking up the eggs. Carefully place the bag in boiling water and boil for 13 minutes. Remove the bag from the water, roll the omelet from the bag onto a plate, top with salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!
1 serving, 190 calories
For a festive brunch, set out quantities of omelet ingredients. Have
each guest label their bag with their name in permanent marker and choose their ingredients. Place all bags in a large pot of boiling water for 13 minutes, then serve.
Smoky Chipotle Chili
This is a rich-tasting, smoky chili with the addition of a “secret” ingredient—chocolate! The chocolate adds depth, and the dried chipotle chili (a smoked jalapeno) adds the smokiness. It is on the thick side, so if you prefer your chili to be closer to a soup, add water. To make it “de-liteful,” I’ve used ground turkey. Feel free to substitute lean ground beef if you prefer. I like a combination of beans—feel free to substitute your favorites.
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1.25 pounds lean ground turkey
2 ½ tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 15-ounce can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 dried chipotle chili
Sauté the onions and garlic in the extra-virgin olive oil over medium heat until the onion softens. Add the turkey and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned. Add the remaining ingredients (bury chipotle chili in the pot) and simmer for 30 minutes.
Top individual servings with low-fat sour cream and low-fat grated cheese, if desired.
Makes 10 servings, 235 calories per serving, not including toppings.
Tilapia à la Provençal
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 small onion, diced
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
¼ cup white wine or vermouth
½ teaspoon herbes de Provence
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tilapia fillets (or other mild white fish), approximately 6 ounces each
In a medium sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and diced onions and sauté 3 to 4 minutes until translucent.
Add the tomatoes and sauté briefly. Add the wine or vermouth and bring to a boil for 30 to 60 seconds to burn off the alcohol. Stir in the herbes de Provence and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer on low for 5 minutes.
Place the fish on top of the tomato mixture and spoon some tomatoes over the fillets. Cover and simmer gently until the fish is opaque and cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes depending on the thickness.
Serve over rice or orzo (rice-shaped pasta).
2 servings, 294 calories per serving (not including rice)
