Eggs Benedict Arnold (55 page)

“
Nadine?
”
said Suzanne.
“
Come over here and let me take a look.
”

Nadine waved a hand.
“
It
’
s nothing, really.
”

“
Suzanne,
”
said Petra,
“
try soda water first. Need a rag?
”

“
Got one,
”
said Suzanne. She was already scrubbing at Nadine
’
s blouse and making a difference.

“
What
’
s the next course?
”
asked Joey.

“
Fillet of beef with potato gratin,
”
said Suzanne, as she continued to work on Nadine.
“
That
’
s the main entree. As
soon as Petra and I start plating, I want the rest of you guys
to start serving. Don
’
t wait for us to finish. Just keep mov
ing the entrees out.
”

“
We
’
re going to be short on servers,
”
said Toni.
“
Kit has
to leave in a couple of minutes.
”

“
What?
”
said Suzanne, surprised, straightening up, Nadine
’
s blouse forgotten for the moment. She
’
d assumed Kit
was going to stay all evening.

“
I promised Frankie I
’
d do a set tonight,
”
Kit explained
sheepishly as she slid behind Joey.

Suzanne sighed.
“
I thought you weren
’
t going to dance out there anymore. I
hoped
you weren
’
t.
”

“
I know,
”
said Kit,
“
but I haven
’
t exactly given my two
weeks
’
notice yet. You want me to be a conscientious employee, don
’
t you?
”

“
Why don
’
t you consider yourself an independent contractor?
”
suggested Suzanne.
“
And declare your independence?
”

“
I see why everyone says you
’
re such a smart business
woman,
”
said Kit.
“
You have a real knack for this stuff.
”

“
Suzanne
’
s got great knackers,
”
said Toni with a laugh.

“
Toni!
”
said Petra.

“
I
could help serve,
”
offered Nadine.

“
Oh no,
”
said Suzanne.
“
That wouldn
’
t be right.
”

“
It
’
s the least I can do,
”
said Nadine.
“
After all, you guys
awarded me a big purple ribbon today.
”

Petra, juggling at the stove, glanced at Suzanne.
“
Suzanne? If it
’
s okay with you ... ?
”
she said.

Suzanne took a final swipe at Nadine
’
s blouse.
“
In that case, Nadine, you
’
re hired!
”

The
main course was the biggest hit yet and garnered not just praise but a round of applause.

“
You hear that?
”
said Petra, gazing at Suzanne. They
’
d just sent the last fillet out the door and were taking a well-deserved breather.
“
They like it.
”
She put her hands on her
hips, looking both pleased and relieved.

“
It
’
s a rousing success, honey,
”
said Suzanne.
“
You did it.
”

“
We
did it,
”
said Petra.
“
Now we just have to finish with
a great big bang.
”

“
You
’
ve already got your pears poaching,
”
said Suzanne.
“
So we
’
re on the home stretch.
”

“
Your doctor seems awfully nice,
”
said Petra, fussing at the stove.

Suzanne nodded as she set out dessert plates.

“
You really like him, huh?
”
asked Petra.

“
I
think so,
”
said Suzanne.

“
There
’
s a
but
there,
”
said Petra.

“
It
’
s still awfully soon,
”
said Suzanne. Her unspoken
words were,
It
’
s awfully soon after Walter
’
s death.

“
I know that, dear,
”
said Petra.
“
But you
’
ll know when it
’
s right. And you
’
ll know
what
’
s
right.
”

“
You think so?
”
asked Suzanne.

“
The Lord knows the ways of the heart,
”
said Petra.
“
And helps guide us.
”

“
Hey,
”
said Toni, as she and Nadine ducked back into
the kitchen.
“
Our guests are absolutely gaga over their fil
lets and potato gratin.
”

“
We heard the applause,
”
said Suzanne.

“
You two should go out there and feel the love,
”
urged
Toni.
“
Everyone
’
s dying to talk to you.
”

“
Once we get dessert served,
”
said Petra,
“
I
’
ll be able to
relax. Then I
’
ll go out and do a little chitchat.
”

“
Just remember,
”
chuckled Toni,
“
stressed spelled back
ward is desserts!
”

While
Petra ladled pears from their steaming bath of
Riesling wine, cinnamon, and cloves, Toni sliced the gin
gerbread and placed small pieces on each dessert plate
that was laid out.
“
Are we gonna get to enjoy some of this,
too?
”
she asked.

“
I think it
’
s high time we enjoyed a sugary nosh,
”
said Petra.
“
After all our hard work.
”

“
Uh-oh,
”
said Toni, counting plates.
“
We
’
re a couple pieces short. Of gingerbread.
”

“
What?
”
exclaimed Petra, whirling around.
“
We can
’
t be. I had two whole pans of it.
”

“
I only saw one,
”
said Toni.

“
Other one
’
s not in the cooler?
”
asked Suzanne.

“
Nope,
”
said Toni, as she continued slicing.

“
Crap,
”
said Petra.
“
It probably got carted out and served
during the cake social.
”

“
Yeah . . . maybe,
”
said Toni, in a vague sort of way.
“
Sorry about that. So ... what do you want to do?
”

Petra frowned.
“
Maybe ...
”

Nadine, who
’
d been a little mouse in the kitchen corner,
raised a hand tentatively.
“
Excuse me, but if you need a couple more servings for dessert, I have an almond cake in my car. Unfrosted. I was going to drop it by my sister
’
s
house, but I can always bake another one tomorrow.
”
She smiled sadly.
“
With Julian gone, I
’
ve got nothing but time
on my hands.
”

Petra took two giant steps toward Nadine and swept her
into her arms, pressing Nadine against her ample chest.
“
You
’
re such a dear!
”
she said, hugging her.
“
It
’
s no surprise you
’
re a wonder at baking cakes
—you
’
re so sweet!
”

“
I
’
ll just slip out the back door and get it,
”
said Nadine.

“
You know what?
”
declared Toni.
“
This has been a charmed
day. Pretty much everything has gone right for us.
”

“
It has, hasn
’
t it,
”
agreed Suzanne.

When
the poached pears were finally being served, and Petra and Toni had stepped into the cafe to pour glasses of Moscato dessert wine and answer the myriad of ques
tions posed about the various food courses and ingre
di
e
nts,
Suzanne hastily put together a plate of food and carried it out to Dil.

As she crossed the thirty feet of grass and mud, heading for the little shed, big, fat droplets began to plop down. Within seconds, the heavens had burst open once again.

“
Dil!
”
she cried, banging on me door.
“
I brought you...
”

The door was suddenly flung open and Dil
’
s crazed,
red-rimmed eyes stared into hers.
“
I got to leave!
”
were his
startling words.

“
What?
”
Suzanne put a hand on his chest and pushed him back, trying to step inside the shed and escape the downpour.

He bent down to grab his tattered backpack and cowered
nervously.

“
What
’
s wrong?
”

“
Like I said, I gotta get out of here!
”