[Second Chances 02]California Dreams

by Morris Fenris

  “Why? What was special about the last visitor he had today?” Jane asked, not having heard this part of his story.

  “The man who visited Julian today doesn’t have any direct ties to the Colombian drug cartels. But he is connected to someone involved in this case. Trevor Ward.”

  “What?!” Grace exclaimed, pushing herself up from the table in a panic. ”I thought Trevor was locked up for good.”

  “Sit back down, Grace. He is locked up. His arraignment hearing is next week. His lawyer, Mr. Sewell, just happens to also be the Quintana’s lawyer. The man who visited Julian today is a known accomplice of Trevor; another man that we’ve never had enough evidence on to arrest.”

  “You think they’re planning something, don’t you?” Grace asked, fear edging her voice.

  “Yeah, I do. Until this is over, be extra careful when I’m not with you. Both of you,” he told first Grace and then Jane. “I don’t trust these men at all.”

  Chapter 27

  Sunday dawned bright and clear and Samuel arrived to drive the three ladies to church. The previous week, he and Jane had visited the small community church Grace and Daniella attended. They had felt so welcomed and at home, they had decided to make it their home church for the foreseeable future.

  After church, Samuel insisted on taking them out for a quick bite to eat, justifying it by reminding them that Jane was due to arrive at the restaurant’s kitchens by 4 o’clock to begin cooking her interview meal.

  Daniella seemed to be her usual cheerful self until that afternoon, when she crashed and became very cranky in a matter of minutes. “I think someone needs a nap. Jane, I know you’re going to do an excellent job. I can’t wait to hear all about it when you get home.” Grace gave her a brief hug and then picked up a very uncooperative Daniella and took her to the master bedroom.

  Grace settled Daniella on her bed and popped one of her favorite DVD’s into the machine before settling back with her. She busied herself with plans for the choir’s first rehearsal the next day, and when she looked down at Daniella some ten minutes later, she smiled at the peaceful look on her face.

  She turned the DVD off and quietly left the bedroom. She would get a few loads of laundry done and clean up the house while her daughter slept.

  *****

  Samuel pulled up in front of the restaurant, aptly named The Inferno – referring to a place where only the purest and best material survived. “You’re going to do great. Call me when you’re finished and I’ll be here in a matter of minutes.”

  He got out and came around to the passenger side, opening the door and helping her out. Between the two of them, they managed to carry in the groceries and flowers she had purchased the day before. As they entered the kitchen, she was surprised to see both Chefs in aprons standing around like they were waiting for her.

  “Good afternoon, Chefs,” she said, not sure if she had misunderstood them earlier in the week.

  “Ah, Ms. Trowler. We are looking forward to whatever culinary delight you have chosen to cook for us this evening.”

  Jane smiled nervously and then thanked Samuel for the ride. As he turned to leave, Chef Perez stopped him, “You are the boyfriend?”

  Samuel turned around and walked back to stand beside Jane, “I guess you might say that.” Holding out his hand, he introduced himself to both chefs, “Samuel Drackett, FBI.”

  They looked suitably impressed as they shook his hand. “Might I inquire where you were headed, agent?” Chef Marco asked.

  “Nowhere in particular. Just passing time while she wows you with her cooking skills.”

  “Please, won’t you join us while you wait? I’ve always been fascinated by the FBI. Ms. Trowler, is that okay with you?”

  Jane felt so relieved to know that Samuel was going to be nearby, she couldn’t stop the grin that filled her face or the relief in her voice when she answered, “Splendid.”

  Chef Marco clapped his hands, “Well then. We shall leave you to it. Please do not hesitate to ask if there is something you require and cannot find. I assure you, if it was made for the kitchen, it is here – someplace.” With a wave of his arms to encompass the kitchen, he smiled at her and led the way from the kitchen to the dining room.

  Two hours later, Jane straightened her apron and headed into the dining room to set the table for the dinner service. Knowing that she was not only cooking for a spot in their teaching kitchen, but also for Samuel, had been a game changer. She knew her dinner was going to be a culinary experience like no other.

  “Ms. Trowler, I take it by your presence that dinner is ready?”

  “Yes, Chef. If you would allow me a few minutes to set the table, I’ll be ready to serve.”

  “No. We would like it if you would serve family style this evening and join us at the table. Will that be a problem?”

  Jane was pleasantly surprised and shook her head, “No, Chef. No problem at all.”

  “Excellent. I will take the others for a small walkabout and we will return in say, fifteen minutes?”

  “Fabulous. Thank you.” Jane watched him take Samuel and Chef Perez out of the dining room and hurriedly set up the table decorations she had prepared. She had located various table settings in the kitchen and had chosen a variety of shapes and colors with which to set the table. She topped off the setting with a vase of fresh flowers she had purchased at the farmer’s market the day before and then quickly folded brightly colored napkins into fan shapes and placed them in the center of each place setting.

  She brought out the dinner items, setting them on a side table to be served when needed and filled crystal goblets with ice cold water.

  She had just brought out the dessert, hidden in a pastry box, when everyone returned.

  Chef Perez was the first to comment, “Beautiful. Jane, may I call you Jane?” When Jane nodded, she smiled and continued, “Your ability to skip convention and make bold choices is wonderful. The table looks very inviting, and if the food tastes as good as it smells, we are all going to be very happy diners this evening.”

  “Everyone, please take a seat and I’ll serve.”

  She watched as both Chefs and Samuel seated themselves, unfolding their napkins and placing them in their laps. “Chefs, would you like me to describe each dish or…”

  Chef Marco spoke first, “Grace, why don’t you simply pass the dishes around and then join us. I prefer the element of surprise and will find it challenging trying to decipher what you have used in each dish.”

  “I agree, this will be like a culinary pop quiz.”

  Jane smiled at the fun-nature the two Chefs were displaying. I could definitely get used to working for and with these two individuals.

  *****

  Jane was so excited as they drove away from the restaurant she could barely contain herself. “They loved it!” she yelled out the window.

  Samuel laughed, “You were fantastic! How could they not recognize that?”

  “I’m so glad you were there. Knowing I was cooking for you made all the difference,” Jane told him, her voice going soft as she ended her statement.

  Samuel headed towards the beach, wanting a chance to hold her in his arms for a few moments before he drove her home.

  Jane watched as he drove them towards the ocean, “Where are we going?”

  “The beach.” Samuel maneuvered his vehicle into a parking spot and then jogged around to open her door. “Come on,” he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her laughingly towards the wet sand.

  Stopping, he pulled off his shoes and socks and rolled his pant legs up. Jane was wearing a long skirt, but she pulled her sandals off and then grabbed the sides of her skirt and tied it up so it fell just below her knees.

  “What are we doing here?” she asked Samuel with a laugh.

  “Burning off some energy.”

  Jane laughed, “Got it. I’m so hyped up from dinner I don’t think I could sit still if I needed to.”

  “See, I had a good idea.”

&nb
sp; Jane leaned up and kissed him on the lips, “Yes, you did.” Breaking contact, she took off jogging down the beach with Samuel in hot pursuit. They ignored the curious looks they received from other beachgoers, intent on enjoying life and celebrating her success.

  Chapter 28

  Monday morning rolled around and Daniella was full of energy and ready for another day of preschool. Jane hadn’t come till after 2 a.m., so Grace left her sleeping as she and Daniella made their way out the front door.

  “Why’s Aunt Jane so tired?” Daniella asked.

  “She had a big day yesterday. I’m sure when we get home she’ll tell us all about it.”

  “Goody!”

  Grace pulled up to the school and Daniella hurried to unbuckle herself, a skill she had only recently acquired and one that Grace still wasn’t sure she liked. “Have a good day, honey,” she said, giving Daniella a hug and kiss before sending her up to where Mr. Simpson was waiting for his students.

  With a little wave, she headed over to the arts center and the final preparations for the first class this afternoon.

  The Children’s Choir was a big commitment and met three times a week for the first month of each semester. They practiced from 4:00 until 5:30 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and then they dropped the Wednesday practice unless it was a performance week.

  Tonight was the most important class of the semester and Grace wanted everything to go perfectly. She and Katelin made sure the choir uniforms were all arranged according to size, and laid folders out, neatly spaced, along the risers. Derek had been successful in obtaining the extra risers needed to increase the size of the choir, and they would now be a group of three hundred and twenty nine, instead of three hundred.

  Jane and Samuel had offered to pick Daniella up from preschool today and feed her dinner. Grace was grateful for the extra help, and the ability to focus solely on what was to take place shortly.

  Right after lunch, she called Jane to make sure everything was a go and received the news that the two Chefs from The Inferno had loved her cooking skills and wanted to meet with her again at 9 o’clock in the morning as they had a special proposition for her to consider.

  Jane was brimming with enthusiasm and couldn’t wait to see Samuel and tell him the good news. Samuel had taken the day shift at the hospital, watching over Hector, so that he could help Jane take care of Daniella later in the day.

  Grace hung up the phone amazed at how everything was working out for Jane and Samuel. Glancing at the clock, she saw that is was already 3:30 and parents would be arriving with their children anytime.

  “Katelin?” she called into the other office.

  “Yes?” came back the reply.

  “It’s about that time. Are you ready?”

  “Not quite. Give me a few minutes. I just have to finish my hair.”

  Grace took another look at her own reflection and smiled. She and Katelin had decided several years ago that kids who looked good, performed and behaved better. For their part, they would dress in their performance outfits each and every practice – black tuxedo trousers with suspenders over a crisp white button down shirt, colorful bow tie and cummerbund, and black short-waisted tuxedo jacket.

  Girls and boys alike dressed in the same outfit, enabling a variety of movement for the girls without worrying about skirts riding up, or tights being ripped.

  Grabbing her top hat and walking stick, she exited the room to see Katelin dressed identical to her. “Ready?”

  “Yes. I love this part,” Katelin said enthusiastically.

  As part of the welcome to Children’s Choir, Grace and Katelin performed a number together. This not only proved to the kids that they could actually sing and dance, but gained respect from the parents and broke the ice. Tonight’s number was from Broadway musical Gypsy and included a short soft tap routine.

  Dance wasn’t Grace’s forte, but it was Katelin’s. Smiling, they entered the back of the theatre to see hundreds of kids and parents milling around, wondering what they were supposed to do. Without acknowledging anyone, they walked up and onto the stage, nodding at Jerry the sound man when they were in position.

  As the music of Let Me Entertain You filled the theatre, parents and kids alike found a seat and watched entranced as Grace and Katelin filled the theatre with song and dance. The applause at the end of their performance was deafening.

  Grace waited for it to die down before she introduced herself and her assistant. Several other staff members were present to help collect parental consent forms and other paperwork. The kids were separated into five groups, based upon age. They were then taken back stage where they were assigned an outfit, and then asked to join the directors on stage.

  The younger students were led to their correct spots, the older and returning students smiled and calmly took their places. All of this took place within the first forty-five minutes of the practice, and at 4:45, every child was in their place on the risers and had been assigned an outfit.

  Grace left Katelin in charge of teaching their beginning warmups while she descended the stage to speak with the parents and visitors.

  She walked about halfway up the theatre, before turning and asking the parents to direct their attention to her instead of their children.

  “Good afternoon, and thank you so much for being willing to invest your time and resources into your children. I know I speak for Katelin as well when I tell you it is a privilege for us to work with your amazing kids.”

  She scanned the crowd, stopping when she spotted David and Deirdre Simpson smiling back at her. As she moved her gaze to the right, she gasped as she saw a blonde Adonis sitting next to Deirdre and smiling at her as well. Who is he?

  Grace swallowed, catching her breath and forcing her gaze to move on. She completed her parental information speech about caring for the outfit, making sure their children were dressed appropriately when they came to practice, being on time and other important facts that she would have to repeat many times before the semester was over.

  The entire time, the blonde man kept staring at her. His piercing blue gaze was locked on her, following her every movement and disconcerting her. When Deirdre leaned over and said something to him, he laughed, but still never took his eyes off her.

  When she had finished her speech, Katelin signaled that they were ready to begin and Grace joined her back on the stage, feeling the blue gaze pierce her back. He’s still staring at me! Why that thought made her shiver in reaction, she didn’t know. She didn’t ever react to men this way, but something about him touched a place deeply buried inside her.

  Chapter 29

  Shaking it off, she got to work, focusing on the kids in front of her. She and Katelin went through the motions of teaching them to make sound with their hands and mouths and several other staff members joined them on stage when they were ready to demonstrate what they had just learned.

  They had divided the kids into four groups. The first group was given the task of lightly rubbing the palms of their hands together.

  The next group was to pat their fingertips, and just their fingertips, on their thigh.

  The third group was given the task of making the sound of wind with their lips slightly pursed. No whistles, just air moving in and out.

  The fourth group was told that they were going to pat their whole hands on their thighs, making as much noise as possible when it was their turn.

  Grace signaled for all noise to stop and then they began. The third group began lightly moving air and it sounded like a wind was blowing through the theater. Next came group two, and the sound of little raindrops was heard.

  Next groups one and four began as the mighty storm sounded in the theatre, amazing the spectators and the kids alike. After several minutes, Grace signaled first group four, and then group one to cease making noise.

  The storm started to abate. She signaled group three to stop making the wind blow and then slowly directed the speed of groups two until only a few raindrops could be he
ard.

  When she gave the signal for silence, everyone held their breath for almost an entire minute before the theatre erupted with the joyous sounds of clapping and cheering for their kids. Grace thanked them one and all for coming and told them she looked forward to seeing them again Wednesday.

  “Another job well-done,” Derek told her, having snuck into the back of the theatre during the rainstorm demonstration. “That demo never ceases to amaze me.”

  “I have to say,” David Simpson said as he approached with his wife and the blonde man in tow, “that was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Bravo!”

  Grace blushed but accepted the praise, “Thank you. I am so glad you and your wife could make it this afternoon.”

  “We wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I can see we will be returning often. You’re wonderful with the kids.”

  “Thanks, but I don’t do it alone. This is Katelin Rogers, my assistant and right-hand girl everything.”

  Katelin nodded her head and then excused herself to go answer questions.

  “Grace, I’d like to introduce you to our middle son, Michael. Michael, this is Grace Powers.”

  “Ms. Powers, what you just had those kids do up there was nothing short of amazing.”

  Grace let his deep voice sink over her senses, feeling slightly lightheaded as he took her hand in his and placed a kiss upon the back of it. Feeling completely out of her league, she murmured her thanks and tried to turn her attention back to his parents, but they were already engaged speaking with Derek.

  Grace tried to pull her hand away, but when he didn’t let go, she was forced to look up and meet his gaze. She had to tip her head back quite a ways. He was easily 6’5”, and given that she barely reached 5’4”, it bordered on being uncomfortable to look him in the face.

  “Could I have my hand back please?” She tugged once more, resigned to play this out when he didn’t let go.