Catering to Love (3 page)

“Geez, Gab, you sound like a docent in a museum,” Cassie teased while Jamie giggled.

Gabi’s face turned crimson. “Well, I thought I should study up a little bit. Besides, I thought you guys might be interested in knowing.” She brushed off their teasing and continued while the girls grinned at each other. “You know, there’s also a place called Lambertville across the river that’s very close to here with lots of things to do. Maybe we’ll take a ride there tomorrow.” Gabi tucked in her blouse and added a swipe of gloss to her lips. She pressed in on her stomach. “Are you guys ready to go downstairs? I’m suddenly starving.”

“It’s a yes for me,” Cassie piped up. “And if I don’t get a hot chocolate soon, I’m afraid my toes and fingers are going to fall off.”

“Okay, then let’s hustle,” Jamie said, unpacking her clothes and shoving things in a drawer.

Mrs. Carter turned when she heard their heavy footsteps coming down the creaky stairs behind her, just twenty minutes after they’d gone up to their room. “That was fast,” she said. “Brian, please walk our guests to table twelve by the fireplace.”

“Oh, thank you, ma’am,” Jamie said.

Only two other people, a couple, sat at a table in one of the dining rooms. It gave Gabi a better perspective of the inn’s size and attributes. Through candlelit windows, she spied another fieldstone wall in the distance. “A perfect setting for a romantic evening with someone special
,”
she thought. The tables were covered with white tablecloths and set to perfection with glasses, silverware, and yellow bread plates. A large candle glittered inside a glass table sconce. Gabi smiled as she watched the facial expressions of Jamie and Cassie when they walked the length of the dining room.

“Oh, Gabi,” Cassie said when she returned to the table. “This place is magnificent.”

She nodded with excitement. “I think I should go over to talk to Mrs. Carter while she’s not busy. Maybe she can squeeze in an appointment to talk to me,” she said, trying to curb her enthusiasm. “Order me another hot chocolate, and I’ll be back shortly.”

“Will do,” Jamie said, giving her a thumbs-up. “Good luck.”

“Is there something wrong?” Mrs. Carter asked when Gabi approached.

“No, not at all. Do you have a minute to talk about your inn?”

“Absolutely. What would you like to know?”

“I was here about two weeks ago and learned from one of your servers that you’re interested in selling.”

The woman’s face cracked into a smile. “I don’t have a lot of time to talk right now, but since you’re rooming here, we can schedule an appointment for tomorrow between breakfast and lunch, say around ten thirty. Will that work for you?”

“That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear.” A few customers approached behind Gabi, and she turned to leave, feeling as though she was floating back across the dining room.

“Ooh, that grin tells me your conversation went well,” Cassie said, handing her the menu.

“I have an appointment for ten thirty tomorrow morning.” Gabi grinned like the Cheshire Cat and opened the menu.

Cassie checked the time. “Gabi’s been talking to the Carters for over two hours already. I wonder how she’s making out.”

“I know,” Jamie said rolling her eyes. “I was just thinking the same thing. She’s going to be so disappointed if they don’t go for the idea.”

“For sure,” Cassie said in a low voice. “We’ll just have to—” She stopped talking when she heard Gabi’s laughter. “Ooh, at least she sounds happy.”

“I hope it’s not a front for how she really feels.”

Gabi glanced their way with surprise when she passed by the dining room and saw them. “Are you two still down here?”

“Yeah, we were waiting for you.” Jamie gave her a quizzical look, and Gabi read it.

“Great, guys,” she said, beaming. “Just great! I’ll tell you about it in the car.”

Pushing their chairs under the table, they put on their coats and headed out to the parking lot to the car. By now, Gabi was doing a jig, she was so excited. When she got that out of her system, she began to talk. “Here’s the deal. They’ve been trying to sell the place for two years now. Her husband really wants to retire, because he’s been in this business most of his life and he’s tired. Plus, he’s had some health issues, so the push to sell is even greater.” Gabi rubbed her jaws. “My cheeks hurt from smiling so much.” Gabi squeezed Cassie’s hand. “The Carters have agreed to hold the loan so long as it doesn’t put a hitch in their retirement cash flow, if I have collateral and agree to the terms of the contract.” Gabi picked up her pace to get out of the cold. “I want this so bad. I hope Dad and our family attorney can figure something out.”

“Wow!” the girls said simultaneously, but Cassie was the next to speak. “I’m sure things will all work out just fine. So how soon does all this happen?”

“The attorney will start the paperwork right away. As for moving here, the lease on my apartment is up in February. That gives you a month to find someone to replace me at the Kitchen Widget and my parents time to do whatever they’re going to do. I called them while I was talking with the Carters, and they’ve agreed to help me any way they can. They’ll be coming up to see the place next week with their attorney. Obviously, this isn’t going to happen overnight, but I’m hoping to be up here by the end of March and working at the restaurant. Does that work for you?” she said, unlocking the car and rushing to let them inside.

“Holy cow! So you’re really going to do this, huh?”

“I am. Oh my God, I’m ecstatic.” Gabi rubbed her hands together to warm them. “We have a lot of paperwork to send to them. Nell said once the paperwork is in the closing process and the inspections are being done, she’ll introduce me as the potential new owner.”

“But what if it falls through?” Jamie asked.

“Well, I’ll leave then. But if she doesn’t introduce me that way, how much respect do you think the staff will give me when they find out the person they thought was a worker like them is now their boss? This gives me the respect right off the bat.”

“You’re right.” Jamie nodded. “That absolutely makes sense.”

“The one thing she did tell me was that the sous-chef has been wanting to buy the place, but they’d decided they didn’t want to sell it to him.”

“Uh-oh, that sets the stage for some interesting conflict. Does he have collateral?”

“She said he did not. He was basically in the same boat as me. It was too risky for some reason.” Gabi held up her hand. “I know. I didn’t ask, and she didn’t offer.”

“These Carters certainly sound like nice people.”

“They seemed very nice. They told me this was how they got their start at the inn, and it would be their way of returning the favor.” She blew out a steamy breath in the cold. “Okay, enough of that. It’s party time.”

Gabi sealed the box and watched Josh carry out the last of her things to the small U-Haul truck she’d rented. Nervous about the change and uncertain about the outcome, she tried to convince herself that everything happens for a reason and finding Carters was the beginning of something special. Nevertheless, she couldn’t shake the fear of possibly failing, especially now that her parents had agreed to put their home up as collateral after the Carters agreed to hold the loan. One step at a time, she told herself. Leaving her best friends behind was going to be the hardest part. When she saw Cassie standing by the window looking outside, presumably watching Josh stack boxes in the truck, she snuck up behind her. Gabi turned her around and noticed she was crying.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Cassie blubbered. “It won’t be the same without you.”

“I know. I’m going to miss you guys too.” She wiped away Cassie’s tears. “Don’t cry. I’m not that far away. You guys can come with your men and stay at the inn free of charge.”

“You can’t be giving those rooms to your friends, Gab. Wait until you know what kind of money you’re going to have first. Maybe a discount, but certainly not for free.”

“I guess I need to take a step back from my generosity.”

“Yes, you do. But it was a nice thought, sweetie, and so like you.”

Jamie rushed into the apartment, out of breath from running up the stairs. “Cripes, I was afraid I was going to miss you. I couldn’t get away from Mama Carlucci. The woman was stuck on a high note and singing the daughter-in-law blues.” Jamie gave a long look at Gabi and blew out a breath of air. Jamie wrapped her arms around Gabi. “Aww, I don’t want you to go. We’ve been like the Three Musketeers ever since I joined the group. You and Cassie welcomed me with open arms, and seeing you leave… it just doesn’t feel right.”

Gabi’s mouth pulled into a pout. “I know,” Gabi said, and kissed Jamie’s cheek. “This is hard for me too.” She returned the tight hug. “So where’s Bailey? Isn’t she with you?”

“She saw Josh and Matt loading the truck and that was all it took. Bailey said she’s with her favorite ‘unkes.’” That brought a smile to Cassie’s face. “She thought she could help him.” Jamie turned to Cassie. “Your husband is going to make a wonderful dad.”

“He certainly is,” Gabi chimed in, “but I won’t harp on you, Cass. You’ve got your mother to do that.”

“Right, ad nauseam, I might add.”

“Yeah, ain’t that the truth.”

“But seeing her hang out with the guys is so cute. Is she missing Chase?”

“Well, she doesn’t really know we didn’t work out. She thinks he moved back to his temporary home. I don’t really talk about him anymore, because I don’t want to add more to what she’s been through.” Jamie stopped and looked around at the empty apartment. “Wow, you’re actually going to do this, huh?”

“I am… but you guys will all come and visit me, won’t you?”

“Of course we will,” Cassie said. Her cell phone rang. She placed the phone to her ear and listened. “Okay, Josh, we’re coming right down.” She made a face. “The cops are threatening to tow the U-Haul truck if you don’t move it now,” she announced.

“Okay,” Gabi huffed, “I guess I’ve prolonged this for as long as I can.” She curled her arms around her two friends, took one last look at the apartment, and locked the door, handing the keys to Jamie. “Would you give these to my landlord in apartment 1A?”

“Sure.”

The three friends made their way down the stairs single file until they walked outside and saw the flashing red light. “Hey, lady, get this truck outta of here… now!” the cop demanded.

“Okay, okay, I’m leaving right now. Sorry, officer.” Gabi gave everyone a last hug, kissed Bailey and positioned herself in the driver’s seat with the aid of two bed pillows, one behind her and one under. Being only five feet two inches had its disadvantages. She adjusted herself until she was comfortable and had her foot firmly on the pedal. Shoving
the gear selector into drive, she pulled away from the curb, waving and throwing kisses as she eased into the traffic. Leaving so abruptly seemed unfair, but it did make her exit easier. She blew out an anxious breath, then shouted out the window when she saw their sad expressions, “Call me!”

Once she was out of the city and on Interstate 78, she breathed a sigh of relief. The rest of the trip should be fairly smooth and give her plenty of time to go over things she needed to do for the transition. Excited about her future, she turned the radio up full blast and sang along with Adele.

Two hours of steady driving was exhausting and made her even more anxious to get to the motel. She’d be staying there until the closing on the inn. She chewed on her bottom lip when she pulled into the parking lot, then cut the engine and stepped down onto the ground. She smiled as she looked around. She was about to embark on a major life change.

Reaching back into the cab of the truck, Gabi grabbed the few things she needed to bring inside and made her way into the lobby, remembering the motel owner’s reaction when she’d told him she was going to buy Carters’. He gave her a great discount on the room. Although she would have preferred finding a short-term apartment, nothing was available. Besides, when the deal went through, she’d be living in the suite the Carters now occupied.

The excitement of knowing this was her new home gave her a buoyant feeling. She inhaled deeply, taking in the crisp, fresh, clean air, and then exhaled. The long list of items needing attention before Monday filled her mind.
First thing in the morning, she’d empty the contents of the truck into the storage unit she planned to use until she was ready to move into her new home. She repeated the words “new home” and released a schoolgirl giggle at the prospect of walking into the kitchen for the first time as the owner. Would she like the kitchen staff? She hadn’t met any of them yet and was a little nervous about it. As she strolled up to the reservation desk, she saw a couple with three children was ahead of her. The kids were becoming impatient and rambunctious while the father conversed with the clerk, a young woman with long red hair that fell on her shoulders in a soft curl. Gabi stopped listening and turned to check out the rustic lobby. There was a bar off in the corner and a beige sofa, where a handful of young men sat in front of a large flat-screen television watching a football game and urging their team to score a touchdown. She felt an internal smile, wondering if they were locals, until she remembered she wouldn’t have time for boyfriends or dating. Working in a restaurant kitchen was quite demanding and didn’t leave much room for socialization. She’d been spoiled working for Cassie at the Widget. It gave her all kinds of time to date and do the things every young woman enjoys—like shopping. She’d prided herself on having a black belt in shopping. No doubt she was really going to miss that, but if her goal was buying the business, then she’d be spending money on other things, not clothing. Seriously, where was she going to go anyway? She sighed, but quickly reminded herself this was what she wanted and every choice had a trade-off. She looked forward to the hustle-bustle, the juggling act of making sure everything was cooked at the same time, and the things she could always count on learning from her peers.
That’s what gave her a thrill. So if it meant giving up dating and shopping for a while, she’d survive in order to go back to doing what she loved. When Gabi saw the couple head down the hallway, she returned to the reception desk. “Hi,” she said cheerfully, “I have a reservation under the name of Johnson.”