“I don’t know, Jay. I can’t really get my head around that now.”
“Things still hard?”
“Yeah, getting better though. I only cry once a day instead of breaking down every five minutes. It’s been good being with my family. Also, I’m sorry for being so bitchy to you when I left. I know you were just trying to help.”
“No need. I’m glad you’re feeling a bit better. I … never mind.” Breaking herself off.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Jay.”
“I talked to Teddy yesterday. I called Elizabeth, and Teddy was there too.”
Molly took a deep breath and sat down. She pulled her jean-clad legs close to her and tucked them under her chin.
“He said Liam was out of the hospital and in a treatment center a few hours out of town. I think it’s a monthlong program and then follow-up with a group here.”
“How’s he doing?”
“I think okay, but Teddy didn’t have details. I guess in the first week of the stay there is no contact with the outside.”
“That makes sense.”
“This is good, right?”
“Sure.”
“So maybe …” Jay pushed.
“Jay, maybe what?” Setting her feet back down on the ground.
“Maybe this changes things.” Trying to be helpful.
“It hopefully will change him, but I don’t know if it changes us.” Taking another deep breath. “I don’t really want to talk about this anymore.”
“Okay. Listen, I just pulled up. Think about the shop, okay?”
“Jay.” Getting a little frustrated.
“I know, I know. I love you, Molly.” Starting to hang up.
“Wait.” Catching her friend.
“What?”
“I bought you a massage at Burke Williams for all your help this week. It’s all in the computer there, so you can just call whenever.”
“Molly, that’s very sweet, but totally unnecessary.”
“You’ve had to clean up a few messes lately. It’s the least I can do.”
“Well, thank you. I’m not one to refuse a free rubdown.”
“Enjoy. Talk to you soon.” Hanging up the phone.
Molly downed the last of her coffee and stood up. She set the mug by the sink and looked into the backyard. She felt a twinge. Jay bringing up Liam was hard. Molly should be there for him. She shouldn’t have left. How could she have left him like this? She pictured him in a room by himself, lying in a tiny dorm-sized bed, staring at the ceiling and counting cracks. She pictured him crying and alone and suffering. She saw the curve of his back and his eyes ringed in red. She imagined him aching. Molly felt a swirl in her stomach and her coffee returned all over the sink. Molly wretched again. Her face went hot. And she stood there hunched over for what seemed like an eternity. The nausea slowly ebbed and she splashed water on her face. She also rinsed her mouth out. After drinking a cup of water, Molly swallowed hard. She wiped off her face and steadied herself. Molly walked slowly over to her mother’s desk that sat in the corner of the kitchen. She took a deep breath, sat down, opened the first drawer, and pulled out the Yellow Pages. She flipped it open, found Susan’s number at the store, and dialed.
“Hi, is Susan there? It’s Molly Stern.”
“Hi Molly, it’s me. How are you? Your mom said you were in town.”
“Pretty good. It’s been nice being home.” Passing pleasantries. “How is everything going this summer?”
“Great, actually. I already sold all but two necklaces from the order.”
“You’re kidding?” Molly asked, surprised. “I just sent those to you, like, three weeks ago.”
“I know. I made a little display with old dollhouse furniture and music boxes for them. I think people really respond to their sense of nostalgia. Women will pay anything to grab a piece of their past.”
“I love that.” Smiling over the phone.
“Did you bring anymore with you?”
“I have a handful, and I just got my tools and supplies to make some more.”
“Why don’t you bring in what you have so I can see?”
“Sure, and if there are certain stones or colors you think people are gravitating to, I can make the new ones in that direction.”
“Sounds terrific.”
“I’ll be by in about fifteen minutes.”
“See you soon. I also just got in these amazing reworked antique lace blouses. I think you will love them.”
“Great, ’bye, Susan.”
Molly bounded upstairs with a grin on her face. She forgot all about her puking attack and conversation with Jaycee. Her mind was trained on the elation of selling. Most of the time, when stores bought Molly’s wares, she felt this enormous sense of guilt. In the pit of her stomach, she had this gnawing doubt. People were investing in her to make their own business profitable. That made Molly nervous. When she would see certain pieces languish like droopy, stale dime-store candy in glass display cases, she would feel terrible that people had paid her and had yet to be paid themselves for their risk. Molly hated risks, hated being the blue-chip stock others wagered on. She knew she needed more confidence in her worth, she knew she had to try to believe. She would try harder.
Molly pulled alongside of Sorella and hopped out. In one of the windows, her necklace was on display. It was a piece with turquoise, a tiny set of silverware, and pale pink ribbons. She had found the charm at the Rose Bowl with Liam a few months ago. They had been looking for a new small couch for the living room. The red couch that now had Noah’s Ark burns on the cushion.
“Hi, Susan.” Molly pushed open the door.
“Molly.” Susan answered as she pulled Molly into a hug. “You look a little tired.”
“I know, it’s been a long week.”
“Everything okay?”
“Fine, thanks.” Giving her best smile.
Susan was a small woman around forty with a slight frame and a short auburn pixie haircut. She had on a black off-the-shoulder tunic with a slanted hemline, a pair of worn-in jeans cuffed past the ankles, little white lace socks, red high heels, and a big leather belt slung over her hips. Her fantastic sense of style permeated the store, which was filled with every designer you already knew and others you knew would be in upcoming issues of Vogue. If Sorella was in LA, it would be making Fred Segal–type bucks, serving every fashionable lady. But, here in Idaho, only the lucky ones got to check out her stash. Susan loved Idaho, and had the store simply because she loved fashion. Molly admired her and tried to do most of her shopping at the store.
“So, where are those tops you mentioned?”
“I pulled them for you. They are in the dressing room. There are no sizes because they are one-of-a-kind and recycled. I just put them all in there so you can pick.”
“Great. Here is what I have now. You can look while I try.” Handing her the velvet case.
Molly headed into the curtained closet and looked at the shirts. They were right on: Victorian, lace, asymmetrical. Molly’s staple look lately had been jeans on bottom, cool blouse on top—and these were perfect. Like with her jewelry, Molly mixed the old with the new. Most of the time, she knew she looked like a cartoon: lots of color, texture, and eras, but somehow it all worked together and Molly had no intention of changing. She plowed through the shirts and found three. One was black with a deep V-neck and lace inserts along the sides, one was patterned with pink flowers and off-the-shoulder with a ruffle, and the other was white with a lace turtleneck and cap sleeves.
“Molly, these are great,” Susan stated as Molly went to the counter.
“So are these.” Handing her the shirts. “I’ll take them.”
“And I will take all of these necklaces. I can’t do the earrings.” Handing back the velvet pouch. “I have no way of displaying them properly.”
“No problem.” Putting it in her hobo brown suede bag.
“Should we trade?” Susan asked.
/> “Let’s do it separately. Different money.”
Molly paid, then wrote Susan up a receipt. She handed her a copy and placed the check in her purse.
“Can you make me something in coral and maybe let’s do a really delicate one in ruby?”
“Sure.”
“Everyone is gravitating to the reds this summer.”
“I’ll bring them by next week.” Taking her package. “Thanks again, Susan.”
“No problem.” Coming around and giving Molly another hug. “I’ll see you later.”
Molly threw her package in the car and decided to leave it parked. The restaurant was only a few blocks away. The walk would do Molly good. She still felt a slight tingle in her skin and her stomach felt a little queasy. Maybe she was catching a bug. She took the blocks double-time hoping some exercise would flush it out and burst into the restaurant with a slight sweat on her brow. Her mom was hunched over a table with her laptop in front of her.
“Hi, Mom.” Giving her a kiss on the cheek. “What are you doing?”
“Doing the menu for the private party we’re throwing at the end of next week. Dad made a few new dishes he wanted to add, and he found this poem you wrote a few years ago that he wanted to put on the cover.”
“What poem?” Leaning over her mother.
“I’ll recite it for you.” Clearing her throat. “Here goes.”
THE SADISTIC CHEF
Spitting in the soup gets me excited
I always sneak small trails of drool into my pot
Avoiding, of course, big, phlegmy, mucousy, loogeys
Those can’t be whisked away so easily and hidden in the broth.
When I’m bored I’ll quietly pick and gnaw on my cuticles
Flick the torn pieces of skin into the salad
Toss it with tomatoes, lettuce, croutons
And a tangy balsamic vinaigrette.
The other day I scratched my head over some mushroom risotto
Just before it sailed out the doors balanced atop a humble hand
My dandruff danced with Lady Parmesan
Graceful snowflakes waltzing upon their last stage as they melt
into their curtain call.
You never know where I am,
Cleverly disguised in your made to order meal,
I am never caught in the act of desecrating your dinner.
I mark the perimeter like a dog.
“You’re joking, right?”
“Nope. Dad thinks it’s funny and different. The hosts are really expecting a unique evening and I think this is a perfect intro.” Not looking up from her work.
“Whatever you say, but in my humble opinion, a restaurant promoting a sadistic chef is a little off.”
“And your point is?” Helen turned her head and winked at her daughter.
“Nothing, nothing at all.” Heading back into the kitchen.
Molly smiled as she walked. She liked that her father found that old poem she had written for him when he opened the restaurant. She liked that he had saved it, read it, and used it. It was a sign that he had noticed and maybe had all along, but now it seemed more tangible and Molly enjoyed the touch.
Early seventies rock played softly on the old radio, and everyone seemed settled in the retro, hippie melody. Her dad was by the stove with Alex, pondering a big black pot.
“What’s it missing?” Henry asked, turning to his son.
“I’m not sure.” Taking a sip. “It needs a kick of some sort. The sweet potatoes are a little too sugary. People won’t get through the whole bowl.”
“I know.” Taking another sip.
“Let me try.” Molly walked between them and dunked a spoon into the soup. “Did you do the base with pancetta?”
“Nope, I want it to be vegetarian.”
“Well, what if you threw in some roasted garlic and sprinkled the top with some salty spicy nuts—like a pecan.” Taking another taste. “That might balance it out.”
“Leave it to the prodigal daughter to fix things.” Kissing his daughter on the forehead. “Does Liam appreciate the talented chef he has?”
Molly’s face fell and Alex threw Henry a “What the fuck are you talking about, Dad?” look. She carefully set the spoon down and backed away from the stove.
“Oh, Molly.” Henry, realizing what he had said. “I’m so sorry. It just slipped out. I wasn’t thinking.” Going over to her.
“I know, Dad. It’s okay. I’m fine. Better. Never mind. Is Renee around? I thought I might help her a bit.”
“Yeah, she’s back there and I know she would love the extra hand. Ashley has the flu,” Alex answered.
“Well, then I do have perfect timing.” Walking toward the back. “And Dad, Liam actually did most of the cooking. I guess I just feel comfortable with men who like to feed me.”
In the back kitchen Renee was hoisted up on a stool, lining little tart pans with dough. Her back was to Molly and her once slight frame returned for a moment. Her blond ponytail curled down her narrow shoulders. She almost didn’t look six months pregnant.
“So, I have two fairly nimble hands, which I am offering up to you. How may I be of service?”
Renee swiveled around and smiled. All her roundness returned, and she set her hand on her belly out of habit. She brushed back a lock of hair and pointed to the walk-in fridge.
“Inside, you will find a flat of cherries that need pitting, as well as one of peaches. The cherries then need to be made into a compote, and the peaches need to be mixed with some flour and spices and topped with cobbler dough.”
“Yes, taskmaster. You waste no time!” Opening the fridge.
“Sorry, but I’m so behind today. I feel like I am moving underwater.”
“We will be on top of things in no time.”
Molly and Renee returned to work. They moved about each other in a tacit ballet, a fluid dance of rolling pins, pans, and fruit. Molly always felt at ease handling food. There was something very comforting about slicing and dicing. The repeated, methodical motions were almost trancelike. As her hands kept busy, Molly’s mind was still. With so many tasks at hand, there was no time to fritter away worrying about anything. Hours past, desserts were made, and Renee’s “to do” list shrank. At around four, Vanessa came back. Vanessa was a tall, gangly teenager, with freckles and red hair who plated appetizers and desserts every night.
“Hey, Renee.” Opening the fridge and pulling out whip cream and bunches of mint. “Anything new?”
“Nope, same menu as yesterday. I think you need to make more chocolate sauce for the banana cream pies, and if you have time, I would love you to make more ganache for the chocolate cakes.” Taking off her apron.
“No problem.” Beginning her tasks. “I’m Vanessa by the way.” Smiling at Molly.
“Molly.” Untying her own apron.
“The daughter?”
“That’s me.” Hanging it on a hook.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. Have a good night.”
Renee and Molly walked through the kitchen and into the front. Helen was setting the last of the tables and the wait staff was milling around, getting everything ready.
“I thought you had left,” Helen stated as she caught sight of Molly.
“Nope, the little tyrant over there put me to work.” Gesturing to Renee.
“You volunteered.” Renee, grinning at Molly. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Helen.”
“I’ll see you later, Mom. Renee and I are going for coffee and then I think I am going to head home and do some work.”
“Work?”
“That box was filled with all my tools from home. Susan bought everything I had made and wants more.”
“That’s great. I’ll see you later.”
“Anyway, I love you.” Grabbing her purse from behind the counter.
“ ’Bye, girls.”
Molly and Renee walked to Renee’s navy Volvo station wagon.
“I used to be cool.” Renee, lo
oking at her car. “Now I’m driving a station wagon.”
“Uh, oh.” Getting in the front seat. “Pretty soon you will be donning a yellow sweat suit with a very large fluffy cat on the front and be used to getting puked on.”
“I will never wear a cat sweat suit.” Starting the car.
“Sure, Mommy, whatever you say. I seem to remember when you were fifteen you were the only girl to match her shoelaces to her outfit.” Tapping her lightly on the shoulder. “I’m sorry to say, but you were never cool.”
“Fuck you, sister.” Renee laughed, knowing just how true the statement was.
While Molly had always believed that she scored that day in middle school when Renee sat down and joined her for lunch, and never really had questioned why Renee could so easily embrace the new girl at school, Renee knew that it was truly the other way around. For Renee that fateful day meant she had met one of those special girls who knew how to make her, someone with braces, glasses, and twenty extra pounds of baby fat, glow. So while it may have looked from the outside like two oddballs finding a home with each other, Renee had found her first real friend. When they became friends, Renee felt smart and funny and beautiful for the first time. Slowly she blossomed and eventually what she saw in Molly’s eyes felt real.
Molly especially helped Renee escape from under the judging eye of her diet-obsessed mother. Every ounce of Renee’s frame was catalogued and weighed, measured and pinched. Whether it was pushing Atkins or Weight Watchers or fat camp in the summers, her mother constantly critiqued her daughter and undermined Renee’s self-esteem. And all the negative energy only made Renee obsess over food even more. Early on, Molly somehow got a sense of Renee and her mother’s battles, and always tried to deflect and compensate for the ego blows she knew Renee suffered at home. She wouldn’t let Renee degrade herself and encouraged, with the help of the rest of the Stern family, a different attitude about food. With regular sleep-overs and hanging out after school, Renee finally had a safe, nonthreatening space to explore cooking, and her love for baking was freed.
Tangled Up in Daydreams Page 13
