Jack watched the group of men in suits walk in, and Eden seated them right near the window, too. He noticed people walking by, looking in, and several of them stopping as well.
“Hey, Jack.” Ruthie walked up, finishing writing an order on her notepad. “Maybe we should tell Tisha to hang around for a few more hours. After all, it looks like we might get busy. Since you cut everyone’s hours, I’m the only waitress scheduled at the moment.”
“Yeah, sure.” Jack was in a daze. He didn’t understand this at all, but he liked the way customers were wandering in after the normal lunch hour. “Tell Alfredo he can stay on, too, if he wants.”
“Okay, Boss. Will do.” Ruthie headed off toward the kitchen, while Jack made his way over to the hostess stand. Eden had just seated a small group of women and walked back to her post.
“Jack, I’m sorry about this. I know I was out of line,” Eden told him. “I’ll just go upstairs and –”
“No. Wait, Eden. I – I think I was the one who was a little out of line. I’m sorry.”
Her eyes sparkled and a smile spread across her face. “There’s no need to apologize,” she said and headed for the stairs. “You’re right that I have nothing to offer. I’ll just have to find another way to get that ticket.”
“Eden, that’s not what I meant.” Jack followed her and put his hand on her elbow just as she started to climb the stairs. She stopped and turned her head slightly, looking at him out of the corners of her eyes. “What I meant was – well, you can stay. For as long as you’d like. I want you to.”
Her eyes opened wide and she looked down at his hand on her arm. He felt the connection between them, remembering the kiss they’d shared. He hoped she didn’t think he wanted her to stay just because of that. Neither did he want her to think there was any kind of commitment in what he was offering either.
“You want me to stay?” She seemed surprised as well as pleased.
“Yes,” he told her. “To work, so you can earn your ticket home. You seem to be good for the restaurant, Eden. You have a way with people. I’m offering you the job of hostess. I don’t have one at the moment. I can’t pay you much, but I’ll give you room and board during your stay. And I’ll pay for anything you need in terms of clothes – like uniforms and such for work.”
When he said this, she looked down at her clothes and then at him and her expression soured. “You’re saying my clothes embarrass you, Jack? So, you don’t want me to be seen working in your restaurant looking like this? Are you saying I can’t wear my native clothes now that I’m in the United States? That I should forget about all my customs and traditions and throw them to the wind because you think they’re silly?”
“Well, I mean . . .” Jack didn’t know how to answer. If he agreed, she’d run off in a huff and wouldn’t work for him. But if he denied what she said, she’d keep wearing that ridiculous hat and strange clothes and make him the talk of the neighborhood. Damned if he did, damned if he didn’t. Just like everything else in his life.
“Well, what’s the answer?” she demanded to know. “Tell me where I stand before I accept what you’ve offered.”
“No, Eden. You’ve got it wrong. I mean . . . you’re welcome to do as you please while you’re here.” He heard the words coming from his mouth but didn’t know why he said them. “Just make yourself at home.”
“Home?” Her dark brows arched. “I don’t think so, Jack. Chicago is nothing like home to me. But since I’ve no other choice at the moment, I guess I’ll take you up on your offer. For now. That is, until I can find another way to get that ticket.”
Jack nodded, feeling glad she decided to stay. Even though she really didn’t have another choice, they’d come to some sort of agreement. However, he wasn’t exactly sure what that agreement was, and decided he needed a drink of something stronger than coffee to think about it.
Another couple of people wandered in. Jack looked over to Eden. “We’ve got more customers. Better get to work.”
She smiled. “Sure thing, Boss.” She greeted the couple and gathered up menus on the way to the table. Jack shook his head, not at all sure what had just happened.
“So, Jack,” came Nathan’s voice from behind him, almost causing him to jump. “Did you hire that circus girl or what?”
“Yes, Nathan, I hired Eden. And if I ever hear you refer to her as a circus girl again, I’ll take that Harley of yours and –”
“Point taken,” said Nathan, holding up his hands. “Have you got a minute to talk about that order I was going to place this afternoon?”
“Sure,” said Jack, keeping his eyes glued to Eden. When she smiled, her whole face lit up and she glowed. She seemed so alive and vibrant, just like that colorful manta she wore on her back. His life had become complicated but also more exciting since she walked into it. And ever since he kissed her, all he could think about was holding her in his arms again. He wanted to feel her warm skin against his and taste her sweet lips that made him burn with desire. “We can talk,” said Jack. “But first go to the bar and find me a bottle of bourbon.”
Chapter 9
Eden stood at the hostess podium and watched Jack talking to Nathan in the open room that served both as his office and the pick-up area for people who wanted food on the go. Jack didn’t seem to notice her, but his eyes kept darting over to the table by the front windows that seated Martin Noble and his lady friend.
She then glanced over to Martin Noble and discovered that he was doing the same thing. Martin kept sneaking peeks at Jack. This was serious competition, and she suspected that Noble had come into the restaurant for two reasons only. One was to irritate Jack, and the other was to find out exactly what his competition was doing.
Eden now felt bad that she had seated them instead of letting Jack throw them out. But it had looked like an all-out brawl was about to start between them, and she couldn’t let that happen. No, if Martin Noble were here to spy, then they’d just have to give him something to talk about.
The small rush of customers coming into the restaurant stopped, so she made her way over to the office area, hoping to hear what Jack was talking about with Nathan. She saw him take a bottle of bourbon, pour himself a drink and guzzle it. He did that twice before he put the bottle down.
Eden casually pretended to be pruning dead leaves off the plants in the atrium that lay just opposite the office. She could hear Jack grumbling about the food order to Nathan, saying they’d have to cut back somehow to save money. Then Ruthie whizzed past her in a hurry, and Jack called her over.
“What did he order?” Jack asked Ruthie in a low voice.
“Steak,” answered Ruthie. “Why?”
“Tell him we’re out,” commanded Jack.
“Out? Out of Steak?” asked Ruthie. “I can’t do that. Martin Noble is a big shot around these parts. I saw his picture in the entertainment section of the Tribune just last week. He writes his own column, you know.”
“No, I didn’t know.”
“He’s like a movie reviewer, but of the restaurant world. He critiques and evaluates the service, food, and things like that.”
“I get the picture, Ruthie, but I’d rather have him complain that we don’t have any steak rather than to let Alfredo burn it – and you know he will. I had three complaints alone last week about the steak being overcooked. The customers like the way my father served it. They like their meat really rare. It’s the sign of a good chef.”
“I’ll tell Alfredo not to burn it.”
“I’ve tried that,” said Jack. “It doesn’t work.”
“Well, then let Rafael cook it,” said Ruthie. “He’s usually pretty good.”
“He’s not here yet. I had him stop and pick up a few supplies before his shift.”
“Well, what do you want me to do, Jack? I can’t give the table next to him steak and then tell him there isn’t any.” Ruthie snapped her gum.
“Get rid of the gum, Ruthie. This is supposed to be a classy restaurant,” growled
Jack.
Eden noticed the look of horror on Ruthie’s face at the suggestion.
“Get rid of the gum?” she asked. “Jack, you know I need it to keep me from my little problem. I haven’t eaten yet today and that food is smelling really good about now. One taste of the lasagna and I’ll be over the edge. Last time I got rid of the gum I gained thirty-five pounds in one week. You remember. And I was a bear to be around. Even you couldn’t stand me.”
“Okay, Ruthie, okay. Keep the gum, just don’t snap it around Noble.”
“Gotcha,” said Ruthie and snapped her gum as she walked toward the kitchen.
Eden saw Jack pick up the bottle again and pour himself another drink. He then lit up a cigarette, all the while glancing back and forth to Noble.
“He’s gonna ruin us, Nathan,” said Jack, sounding really nervous. “I never should have let him in here. One little mistake and he’ll be writing it up in his damned column. That’s all I need with the way things are going around here to begin with.”
Jack’s eyes darted over to Noble again, and then he noticed Eden standing by the plants. Their eyes interlocked for a mere second. Eden felt his pain, his sorrow, and the weight of the world upon his shoulders. Jack needed help or he was going to crack. And she knew that she was smack dab in the center of the whole thing.
Eden put her head down and walked past Jack, through the bar area and into the kitchen. She’d just have to do something to help him. She’d have to make sure everything went well for Martin Noble so he wouldn’t have anything bad to write about The Golden Talon.
“Alfredo,” she called, getting the cook’s attention. He looked up and smiled at her as he flipped the steaks on the grill.
“Buenos días,” he called. “Is there something I can get for you?”
“Buenos días,” she answered back politely. “Are you cooking those steaks for table number five by any chance?”
“Sí.”
“How do they want them done?”
“Both medium rare.”
Eden looked at the steaks that Alfredo was making no attempt to remove from the grill. They were a combination of still mooing to bloody with just a hint of brown. She remembered Jack’s own words of how his father used to serve them. This seemed just about perfect according to that.
“Take them off, will you?”
Alfredo looked at her and then back to the steaks. “I don’t think they’re ready yet.”
“Will you do it for me? Please?” Eden batted her eyelashes the way she saw Noble’s girl doing to Jack. It worked. Alfredo scooped them up and slipped them onto plates, placing them under the warmer.
“Anything for you, Señorita.”
“Gracias, Alfredo.”
She spotted Tisha making up a few salads at the salad bar. The woman was rubbing her large belly. Eden knew the baby was getting heavy for her. Tisha needed to rest and get off her feet.
“Are those for Noble’s table?” Eden asked her.
“They are.” Tisha rubbed her stomach again. “I’m helping Ruthie before I go. We weren’t expecting this small rush.”
Just then, the back screen door burst open and Tisha’s three kids ran in. Randal was holding a scraggly, skinny, black-and-white cat in his arms and little Patsy was jumping up and down trying to see it. Nicola toddled in right behind them.
“Kitty,” Nicola cried to her mother and pointed at her big brother.
“Where did you get that dirty thing?” snapped Tisha.
“It’s homeless,” explained Randal. “We found it living under the shed. Can we keep it, Mom, can we, can we?”
Three pairs of sad but eager eyes looked up at Tisha waiting for her answer. Eden’s heart went out to the children. They reminded her of her own half-brother and half-sisters back in Peru. Her mother had married a Peruvian, many years after Eden was born. Eden was happy to have a stepfather, but always longed to be with her birth father.
She missed the way her baby half-sister, little Pia, would ride on her back wrapped up in her manta. The baby would always pull on her braid, and Eden would scold her, making the little girl laugh. She envisioned her half-brother, Cirilo, and her half-sister, Isidora, chasing each other in a game of tag as they ran in between the alpacas and interrupted the women weaving.
This brought about a feeling of loneliness inside. Eden realized Tisha’s children needed their mother to be with them, since they didn’t have a father to care for them right now.
“Go to your children where you belong,” said Eden. “I’ll make the salads and help Ruthie with the tables.”
Tisha looked relieved, and her smile told Eden that the offer was truly appreciated.
“Are you sure?” asked Tisha.
“I’m sure. Go on home and put your feet up.”
“I’m not putting my feet up until I give that danged cat a flea bath.”
“Then we can keep him, Mama?” asked Randal in anticipation.
Tisha sighed and nodded her head. “Well, I don’t know how we’re going to feed another mouth – but I guess we can keep it.”
“Yea!” shouted Patsy and her little sister imitated her.
“You just bring that cat back here every day,” said Eden. “We can feed it scraps from the kitchen.”
Tisha smiled. “Thank you, Eden.”
“What are you going to name it?” Eden asked the kids, bending over to get a better look at it.
“How about Eden?” asked Patsy.
“Eden,” repeated Nicola.
Eden laughed. “Oh, no. I think one Eden is all Jack can handle around here. Maybe you should name it something else.”
“Like what?” asked Randal.
“How about Gaspar?” suggested Eden. “That’s the Spanish name that means treasure. And it seems to me you’ve got a little treasure here.”
“I like it,” said Randal. “We’ll call him Gaspar.”
“Gaspar,” repeated the little one.
“Come on, kids. Let’s get that kitty home,” said Tisha, removing her apron.
Eden watched the small family exit the back door and wave goodbye. She was happy for them and glad to help out. Scooping up the plates with the small salads, she set them on a serving tray. As she headed for the door, she changed her mind and turned back to the salad counter. With eyes narrowed in concentration, she added more mixed greens to Tisha’s servings. “That’s better,” she muttered. “And now for a little something extra.”
Quickly, she shaped a radish into a rose. Next, she made a carrot into a bird with a feathery tail fashioned from the scrapings. Sprigs of curly parsley were added to the colorful garnish on the salads. “Much better!”
On her way to the dining room, she passed the bar which was void of a bartender. She looked around and saw that Jack was still busy talking with Nathan, so she slipped behind the counter and eyed the bottles of wine.
“Ah ha!” She grabbed a bottle off the rack, and two long stemmed glasses, adding them to the tray. “Just what we need.”
With a smile on her face, she headed for Noble’s table.
“What is she doing?” Jack cut off Nathan in mid-speech when he caught sight of Eden with a tray of food in her hand, heading straight for Noble’s table. “I told her she was a hostess, not a waitress.”
Nathan joined Jack to see what he was talking about. “Aw, let her try, Jack. The poor girl’s got nothing to do.”
“Nothing, but cause trouble. And that’s just what’s going to happen if she’s serving Noble.”
Jack quickly made his way out of the office area. There was no way he could stop Eden unless he ran like crazy across the room. That was not likely to happen without Noble seeing him.
“Damn!” he spat, his hands balling into fists at his sides. This girl was nothing but trouble from day one. She couldn’t follow simple orders. He told her to seat customers and that was it. What gave her the right to think she had the skills to wait on tables, and especially Noble’s?
Jack stopped at the top
of the few steps that led down to the section where Noble was seated. He saw Eden taking salads – huge salads with fancy garnishes – off the tray and giving them to Noble and his guest.
“Who the hell made those?” he mumbled under his breath.
Then he realized she was setting down two wine goblets and handing Noble a bottle of wine. Jack didn’t need to be any closer to know she was giving Noble his last bottle of Dominique Laurent. It was the same wine he’d served Eden that cost one hundred and twenty-five dollars a bottle. He cursed himself for telling her about it in the first place. He’d have to be careful what he told her from now on.
Jack rushed forward and grabbed Eden’s wrist as she handed over the bottle.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked her under his breath.
“Serving wine,” she answered simply.
“Mr. Talon.” The woman with Noble beamed. “Thank you so much for sending over your best bottle of wine. Eden told us you would have it no other way. What a way to welcome us to the neighborhood.”
“Yeah, Talon,” added Noble. “I was a bit surprised by your generous action. Especially since you were ready to throw me out on my ass a few minutes ago. Maybe you’ve got a bit of class after all.”
Suddenly, Jack felt very foolish trying to stop Eden from serving the wine. He’d gotten approval from Noble. To take the wine back now would only give him ammunition for his column in the paper.
He gently took the bottle from Eden’s hand and placed it on the table. He pulled out his pocketknife and watched the expressions of all three as he slowly flipped it open.
“You forgot the corkscrew,” he said nonchalantly to Eden. Jack popped up a corkscrew from his knife and proceeded to open the bottle. He then put the knife away and poured a little into a glass, handing it to Noble to taste.
Bistro Bachelor: Working Man Series - Book 2 Page 7
