The Guestbook

by Andrea Hurst

  “No way,” Lily said. “New beginnings, yes, marriage…I don’t think so.”

  Very briefly, Kyla’s eyes clouded over as they had during the tea leaf reading. “You never know what gifts await you, Lily. Keep your mind and your heart open.”

  Arms filled with her new presents all wrapped with bows and cellophane, Lily nudged open the front door. The chimes rang softly, signaling an end to the magical experience.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The snake struck fast and hard through the morning mail.

  There would be a court-ordered hearing to have her vocationally evaluated before spousal support could be determined. When her new Madrona Island house had been a successfully run B&B, her grandmother’s tax form showed a profit of close to $50,000 a year. So now, if she was going to stay here, that would be calculated as potential income for her against any alimony payments. It felt so unfair. She had no idea how to run a bed and breakfast, nor did she have the money to get it going again. But that didn’t matter to Brad. It was either that or get a job, or no alimony.

  She didn’t need his damn money. The walls felt like they were closing in on her. Fists clenched, she paced the room. There was only one way out of his grasp, to let him keep everything and walk away. Now! She’d been fine before she met him and she would be again. She would find a way to earn the money to reopen the Inn even if it meant baking day and night. Lily grabbed her keys and slammed the door on the way out.

  ✦✦✦✦

  Jude checked the clock. It was almost 1:00, where was Lily? A few minutes later Lily blew in the door like a whirlwind.

  “Sorry I’m late. Why is it when you’re in a hurry there is always someone driving 15 miles an hour in front of you?”

  “Come on and sit down at the booth over here. I want to hear all about Kyla’s reading over lunch.”

  Lily followed her to a booth and threw her keys down on the table.

  “Do I dare ask what is wrong?” Jude said.

  “Nothing. Everything.”

  Jude stayed quiet waiting for Lily to open up to her. The poor woman had enough on her plate. What now? Jude ventured into what she hoped was calmer water. “How was the reading with Kyla?”

  “She was right on target.”

  “And?”

  “It made me think a lot about what I’m going to do with my life,” Lily answered.

  “Sounds intense,” Jude said, waving the waitress over to take their order. “Two lunch specials,” she ordered, “and two glasses of Madrona White.” She turned back to Lily. “So, did you come up with anything?”

  “Lots to think about. Mostly money.”

  Jude stared at her. “And can I help?”

  Lily stared at the table. “We could brainstorm sometime soon about how to build my baking business up.”

  “Happy to share my business expertise. Making money cures a lot of ills.”

  Lily laughed. “And while you’re at it, if I don’t see the sun soon, I may just stop getting out of bed.”

  Karen personally brought over their food and wine and placed them on the table in front of them.

  “Thanks,” Jude said. “The long, drab winter has made me stir-crazy too. Business is down and so are everyone’s spirits.”

  Outside the window, sheets of rain splashed into the gray water of the Sound. “Enough,” Jude proclaimed. She laid down her fork and walked briskly to grab a pen, paper, and manila folder from a shelf underneath the bar.

  It was time to put some long-range plans into motion and to do what always worked in times like these…have a party! She yelled into the kitchen, “Karen, come on out here, and leave your apron behind.” A very pregnant Karen waddled into the dining room and joined them at the table by the window.

  “What’s up, boss?”

  Jude held up the page and pointed to the bold letters at the top—Island Café Spring Fling, March 20th. “Time to get these rain-soaked locals out of their houses before the whole town turns moldy! We need to spread some spring cheer around.” She waved her hands around the café. “Flowers, I want color everywhere, roses, tulips, daffodils, and carnations in every color. And fabulous food. That will be your department, Karen. Are you up to it?”

  Karen patted her protruding belly. “Sure, as long as this little guy stays put and doesn’t cause any trouble.”

  Jude sighed. “Lily, I hate to lose this girl. Soon Karen will only be available very part time, if that.”

  “What about the chef who contacted you?” Lily said, sipping her wine.

  “I had to think about it a bit more,” Jude said.

  “No time like the present,” Karen said.

  “Well, I received an email a few days ago from the candidate, and he’s still interested. His name’s Ryan—quite an impressive résumé, and his references checked out well. I did a phone interview to see what his story is. Karen, you will always be my top chef, but I think you will have your hands full soon with two little ones.”

  “That’s fantastic, Jude. When can he start?”

  “As soon as I call him and tell him he has the job. I wanted to run it by you first, Karen.” Jude turned to Lily. “And I hope you, Lily, will look over his résumé and see what you think.”

  Jude placed the manila folder with the résumé inside beside Lily’s plate. “He’s worked in some pretty high-class places in Seattle, but he wants out of the city and the limelight. Look where he’s worked: a very chi-chi restaurant in Los Angeles, some of the finest hotels in San Francisco, and then the award-winning Land and Sea in Seattle. I threw in free rent in the apartment above the café as an enticement.”

  Karen pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. “No time like the present! Give him a call. He can help with the Spring Fling.”

  Lily perused Ryan’s résumé. “Seems top notch. It does seem odd he’d want to leave all that glamour for a country restaurant. But it will certainly be our gain.”

  Jude dialed the number on the résumé. The phone rang and a resonant voice answered. “Hello. Ryan? It’s Jude over at the Island Thyme Café. After our phone interview and discussing everything with my current chef, I have decided that if you’re still available, I would like to offer you the job.”

  There were a few seconds of silence before Ryan answered. “Sounds good to me, just about right, actually. I can be there tomorrow if the apartment is ready.”

  “It’s ready…when you are…which appears to be now,” Jude told him.

  “We’re having a meeting to plan a Spring Fling tomorrow afternoon if you can make it. That will be a good event to introduce you to everyone and announce the new menu changes I expect you’ll be suggesting.”

  “I’ll just take down the driving directions and see you by noon tomorrow,” he answered.

  Jude hung up the phone. She took a few bites of her now cold breakfast. “He’ll be here tomorrow. He seemed anxious to start.”

  Lily smiled. “Not running from the law I hope.”

  “He’s running from something, is my guess.”

  “The sooner the better is fine with me,” Karen said. “Don’t worry, I’ll be here to show him the ropes and to check him out for you too. Now, let’s get down to business.”

  Karen took the pen and started writing down ideas. “How about we push all the tables back against the walls and windows and create a small dance floor? We could do a buffet over near the bar and get my brother and his band to get everyone up and dancing.”

  “Great ideas,” Lily said.

  “We could charge one admission price for food and music, and the bar drinks could be extra,” Jude added. “Might as well make a profit. Soon I’ll probably have a higher food overhead. I still can’t believe Ryan was happy with the apartment above the café, all he can eat, and island wages.”

  Karen jotted down some food ideas. “Hot appetizers, finger food, maybe some chili, what do you think?”

  “How about I bring some cornbread and apple pies?” Lily volunteered.

  “Pe
rfect,” Karen said.

  Jude looked at Karen. She was loyal and a hard worker, but not overly inventive when it came to the menu. Maybe Ryan would add some spice to the café. “How about we wait for our new gourmet chef tomorrow and see what he has in mind, too?”

  “Perfect. Shall we meet after the lunch rush, say three o’clock?” Lily asked.

  “Works for me, boss,” Karen said.

  “Me too, although it has not been much of a rush lately. Thanks for all your help, both of you.” Jude stood to clear off the breakfast dishes. Karen and Lily followed close behind with dishes in hand.

  “Prep’s done for lunch and dinner,” Karen said. “See ya tomorrow, Jude.”

  “Sure thing. Get off your feet now.” Jude turned to Lily. “You’ll be one of the first to meet my mysterious new chef.”

  “Hmmmm….wonder what he looks like?”

  Jude laughed. She had grown quickly to love Lily. She applauded her innocence and determination, and she could relate to her struggle for survival. “I Googled him. Just show up. You won’t be disappointed mañana.”

  “I’ll be here at three,” Lily said, leaving and shutting the door behind her.

  Jude started setting the tables for lunch; it was not too hard handling everything almost alone during the quiet winter months, but it sure would be nice to have Ryan coming on board. Maybe in more ways than one.

  ✦✦✦✦

  Ryan arrived promptly at noon the next day. He drove up in his dark blue Saab and unloaded a couple of boxes and a suitcase. Jude noticed that he was traveling very light, and again wondered what he was leaving behind. Why was he was coming here and so eager to start? Don’t think about it, she told herself, just be happy he’s yours. In the kitchen, anyway!

  Jude took him around the side of the building to the narrow front stairs that led to the loft apartment above the front of the café. “Watch the steps, they get slippery in the rain, and we sure get plenty of that.” Jude kept talking to fill the silence and to dispel her slight discomfort. “You’ll have a great Westward view. When the clouds clear, you can see the sunset over the Olympic Mountains. Lots of eagles out there too. The binoculars are on the windowsill.”

  “Thanks,” he murmured as he unloaded his things and started putting away some obviously pricey cookware. “This will do just fine.” A slim smile crossed his face. An attempt to be polite, Jude thought. He was definitely the quiet type.

  “Just let me know if you need anything. I’ll see you at three for the meeting.”

  Jude went downstairs to start greeting the lunch crowd and was amazed to see Ryan enter the kitchen just a few minutes later. He put on a chef’s coat and started cooking with Karen. Jude set things up for lunch and waited for customers to arrive.

  Around noon, some local city workers entered, their parkas slick with rain. “Here, let me help you guys out of those wet coats,” Jude said as she took the dripping garments and hung them on the oak coat rack. “How about a warm table by the fire for you two?” The men nodded gratefully. Jude placed their menus down and pointed to the board with the specials. “We have some great chili today, and”—she strained her eyes to see the addition put there by unfamiliar writing—“it looks like we have some cream of broccoli soup as well. Just give a wave when you’re ready.”

  Lunch hour was slow, but several regulars came in for a hot lunch and a warm place to get out of the rain. The bell rang over the front door, announcing a customer. “Menus, boys?”

  “Not today, Jude, just the usual.”

  She seated the men and walked to the kitchen door. “Ryan, two gourmet double-cheeseburgers. Hold the fat.”

  Ryan gave her a perplexed look.

  “It’s a joke, Ryan.” Note to self, lighten that man up a bit.

  Around 2:30, Jude cleaned off the last of the tables and brought paper and pen over to a large booth, where they all could meet and go over the Spring Fling ideas. She thought about Lily and Kyla; we all could use a little fun about now. It had been a long winter. And what better time to surprise everyone with her new chef and to taste the exquisite cuisine he had promised to deliver?

  Ryan strolled out from the kitchen. He looked pretty good in his black chef’s coat. Jude’s heart leapt at the sight of him. Not too tall, buff around the arms and chest, mid-forties probably. A strand of sandy blond hair toppled over his brow, and the rest was pulled back into a short ponytail at the back of his neck. A day-old beard covered his well-carved jaw. His deep-set black eyes wore a guarded expression. Fire danced in those eyes, but so did beware.

  Jude had seen Ryan’s photo with his résumé, but in person he was a very different story. What was she thinking? He wasn’t here a day yet and her mind was wandering where it definitely should not go. He was an employee, here only to help her expand the business.

  “Are we ready to meet?” Karen yelled, popping her head out the kitchen door.

  “Ready soon as Lily gets here,” Jude called back. Just as she uttered those words, Lily strolled through the door looking like she was dressed for the Arctic Circle.

  Jude waved Lily over. “Lily, meet Ryan, our new chef.”

  Lily shook the chef’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  Everyone slid into the booth and put their notes on the table. Ryan began passing out copies of a sample menu for the event. “I put these ideas together quickly on my break.”

  Jude glanced over the menu. Happy hour appetizers: Crab canapés, shitake mushrooms stuffed with baked brie, tuna tartar.

  Jude tilted her head. “Ryan, I like the idea of a Happy Hour to get them in the door early and drinking, but the menu may need a little adjusting for now. We want to begin to introduce high concept menu items, but blend them with familiar items as well. This party will be mostly locals. Think country, not city. Size matters, and quantity, and of course, quality. A few tree huggers, a few tree cutters, your basic city escapees, artists, writers…you got it?” Why did everything she said sound so damn sexual to her today? This man was really throwing her off. She usually could keep her cool around her personnel.

  Ryan looked over and grinned. “I got it. How about blue corn nachos smothered in cheese and lime mango salsa, some chicken wings drenched in cayenne and barbeque sauce, stuffed potatoes with bacon and gruyere…”

  Karen patted him on the shoulder. “You learn fast! My mouth is watering. Loads of fat, wonderful smells, hot, spicy and plenty of it. The whole town will come running when they hear about this menu.”

  “I’m still happy to bring cornbread and apple pie,” Lily said.

  “Lily does all our baking for the café right now. Scones, cinnamon rolls, a few pies.”

  “Do you bake?” Lily asked Ryan.

  “Savory is more my thing,” he replied. “I usually leave desserts to the pastry chef.”

  Lily smiled. “Well, in this case, that’s me.”

  Jude inconspicuously scooted over a few inches so that her leg would stop brushing Ryan’s. That, and she was sure he could hear her heart as it pounded loudly in her chest. Ryan looked over and Jude offered her warmest smile. Cool as a cucumber, no response, just the professional demeanor talking on about the rest of the menu. Maybe this Spring Fling would light a little fire under him. In fact, Ryan was not the only man she hoped to cheer up a bit… Ian needed a little confidence-building with Lily.

  Shifting her attention back to the meeting she said, “So, as a professional chef, have you ever planned a Spring Fling before?”

  “You got me there, Jude. I can’t say that I have, but I’m sure my experience and skills won’t disappoint you.”

  I bet not, thought Jude, I bet not. “Ryan, we want to get the word of mouth started at this party. We want people talking about the new menu and the new imported big city chef. We want them to have fun and start coming out from their winter hibernation.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Lily said.

  Jude stood up and surveyed the room. “So, after the Happy Hour in the bar, we want them to
stay, have a buffet dinner in the dining room, drink from the cash bar, dance and party with a capital P.”

  Ryan stood too. “We can make that happen.”

  “Good,” Karen said, struggling to get to her feet. “’Cause I’m ready to go home and take a nap.”

  “Go home and get off your feet for a while, if that husband of yours will let you. See you tomorrow,” Jude said, waving after her.

  Lily rose to follow. “Let me know what else you need from me.”

  “I want you both to dress up for this party. No aprons. I’m going to wear my silky red dress and put a flower in my hair. And Ryan, you’d look good in a cowboy hat.” Jude could see Ryan tightening up and his expression freezing. “Totally optional,” she said with a chuckle.

  “Country life is a bit different, Ryan, I’ve been finding that out myself,” Lily said. “I came here from Los Angeles.”

  Jude held Ryan’s gaze. “It’s certainly a long way from your last kitchen at the elegant Land and Sea in the heart of Seattle.” Jude watched his expression, hoping he would relax and feel comfortable staying on the island.

  Moments of silence ticked by.

  “Are you sure this is what you want to do?” she asked Ryan.

  She watched Ryan scan the café, glance out at the water and back again. “Yes,” he said in a warmer tone. “I left the city behind. I want to cook great food in a more relaxed atmosphere, draw more clientele for you. Not sure about the cowboy hat, though, hope that’s not a deal breaker,” he said with a wry smile, the first one of the day.

  Jude laughed out loud. “Okay, no cowboy hat.”

  “For me either,” Lily said.

  Jude watched Ryan snap back into professional mode. “I’ll work up the rest of the menu for your approval. Will tomorrow be soon enough?”

  “Of course,” Jude answered. “Lily and I will work on the decorations, flyers, and invitations. Remember, think spring.” She watched Ryan retreat back into the kitchen and couldn’t help thinking he reminded her of a feral cat retreating into a cave.