Month of Sundays (26 page)

“I know. I know. You don’t want to be late.”

“Believe me. Kathleen and Ava are not the kind of people I want to keep waiting. Not if I expect to remain gainfully employed.” She pressed her cell phone to her ear and strode toward the living room. “Logan, what’s going on?”

“Turn off the alarm bells. Nothing’s wrong.”

“Then what is it?”

“I spoke to the bank. Grandpa’s place is pretty much ours if we want it.”

“That’s great news. So why the early wake-up call?”

“The guys and I have been talking. If this venture is meant to be a family affair, why should we hire an outsider as head chef? Why can’t you do it?”

“The short answer is I’m under contract. My deal renews on an annual basis, but it won’t be up for renewal again until next March.”

“You’ve got time. Ryan’s great at what he does, but you know how long renovations take. If we want to restore the place to its original look, it will take even longer. Tracking down vintage furniture and fixtures will take forever. Whether we go vintage or modern, the doors won’t be open until next year. I don’t want to pressure you, sis. If Match is your dream job, tell me and I’ll shut up. But if it isn’t, I know one that might be.”

“I’ve always wanted to work in New York. You know that. I feel like I’m beginning to make my mark, but I’m not where I want to be. Not yet.”

“If you don’t want to leave, I understand. I’m sure you’ll find someone for our place who’s almost as good as you are. Just remember one thing: you can always come home if you want to. We’ll be here to welcome you with open arms.”

“Thanks, bro. You’ve certainly given me a lot to think about.”

“That was the plan. Love you, sis.”

She could hear the smile in his voice.

“Ditto.”

“Would it kill you to say, ‘I love you,’ every once in a while? Take my advice, Iron Chef. You’ve proven how tough you can be. Don’t be afraid to show you can be tender, too. Try it once. For me. Say, ‘I love you, Logan.’”

“If I could reach through the phone, I’d strangle you right now.”

“Say it.” His voice was gentle. He sounded like he was trying to coax a reluctant Diamond into eating her Brussels sprouts.

Great. Now I’m being treated like a four-year-old.

“Say it.”

She growled in frustration. “I love you, Logan.”

He chuckled. “I knew you had it in you. Have a good day, sis.”

Griffin stared out her living room window after she ended the call. She had moved to the East Coast hoping to conquer New York. Now the city literally lay at her feet. Why didn’t it feel like enough? Because she wasn’t done. She had more work to do. The question was, where?

Part of her wanted to take her brothers’ suggestion and become the linchpin of the family business. The other part wanted to continue pursuing her dream. She couldn’t follow two paths at once.

“I’m ready if you are,” Tucker said.

Griffin turned and headed for the door. “Did you tell Rachel I’d call her later?”

Tucker grabbed his messenger bag off the couch and slung the reinforced strap over his shoulder. “Yeah, but she didn’t sound too happy about it.”

In the hallway, Griffin jabbed the Down button on the elevator. The doors slid open. She and Tucker stepped into the waiting car.

“Rachel’s probably pissed at me for leaving with my shoes in my hand like a cheating husband sneaking into the house after spending the night with his mistress.” Griffin pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and index finger as the elevator began to descend. “When I called her last night, I almost blew it as soon as she asked me where I’ve been. I wanted to share everything I’d experienced while we were apart. I wanted to recount every challenge, tell her about each prize up for grabs, and list all the interesting people I met, but I couldn’t do it. Any of it. I’m shutting her out when all she wants is for me to let her in.”

“You don’t have a choice. I read the contract, remember? I’ve seen the restrictions you’re under. Otherwise, I’d be begging you to dish out behind-the-scenes gossip like you were Kathy Griffin on a Bravo special. I knew where you were because I had to handle your business affairs while you were away. Kathleen and Ava knew because the idea was partially theirs in the first place. But no one else knew. Not even your parents. Surely, Rachel understands why you had to keep this from her.”

Griffin sighed when the elevator finally reached the ground floor. “If she doesn’t, I’ll make it up to her when I have the time.”

“When’s that going to be? You’re juggling too many commitments as it is. In addition to Match, you’re committed to
Cream of the Crop
for the next two months and the LA property for at least the next year.”

“Don’t remind me. It’s ironic someone often accused of having a lack of commitment suddenly has an overabundance of them, don’t you think?”

The elevator doors opened. Griffin and Tucker walked across the lobby. Griffin nodded to the doorman, who tipped his cap and opened the back door of a taxi idling by the curb.

“Did Rachel say what she wanted?” Griffin asked after she climbed inside.

“Yes,” Tucker said, “but it seemed kind of odd. She wanted to know where you see yourself in five years.”

Griffin watched the sights of the city stream past the window. “I don’t know where I’m going to be in five months, let alone five years.”

“Yeah, that’s what I said.”

“And?”

“She didn’t sound too happy about that, either.”

*

Rachel stared at the telephone receiver after Tucker ended the call. Tucker’s answer to her question was unwanted but not unexpected. Griffin lived for the moment, which was okay if you were in your twenties. Rachel was closer to forty than she was to twenty. Griffin was only a year behind her, yet the gap between them seemed to grow wider every day.

In Newport Beach, there had been no space between them. Rachel had felt closer to Griffin than she ever had. She had seen her as the kid she once was and the woman she had become. She had seen her through the eyes of her family. What a beautiful sight that had been. But California was a world away, and Griffin now seemed just as distant.

She looked in her organizer. Sunday promised a trip to Louisiana via the Bourbon Street Bar and Grille. Griffin might be surprised to discover there would be more on the menu than red beans and rice, crawfish étouffée, beignets, and a couple of Sazeracs to wash everything down.

“Because Sunday is the day we decide if we’re finally going to come together or keep drifting apart.”

*

Griffin had skipped breakfast, so her stomach began to growl halfway through her meeting. The conference took much longer than it normally did as Kathleen and Ava tried to drag details out of her about
Cream of the Crop
. Details she couldn’t give.

“At least tell us if you made it to the final round,” Ava said. “I want to know if we should buy commercial time on the final episode.”

Griffin tried to concoct a carefully-worded response.

“I have to appear on the finale whether I’m cooking on the set or sitting in the audience. I’ll have face time no matter what, but if you want to make sure the restaurant’s name gets mentioned, you’d better contact the publicity department.”

“Well played,” Ava said with a laugh.

“The restaurant’s about to open, so let’s wrap things up.” Kathleen picked an invisible piece of lint off her Armani suit. “Just between us, how’s Erica doing?”

“She has always been a kick-ass chef, but her one drawback was her lack of self-belief. Over the past few months, though, she has grown by leaps and bounds. Her confidence in the kitchen has soared.”

“And that’s due to?”

“Increased responsibility. Filling in for me these past few weeks has done wonders for her. I would say I should go away more often, but if I did, I might find myself out of a job.”

Ava toyed with the strand of pearls around her neck. “As long as our names are on the lease, you’ll always have a job here.”

“That’s good to hear. Thank you.”

“Do you think Erica is head chef material?”

“Without a doubt.”

“When do you think she’ll be ready to take the next step in her career?”

“She’s almost there. Six months, maybe nine and she’ll be ready.”

Kathleen gazed at Ava. “I told you Erica was a hot commodity,” she said with an air of triumph.

Ava rested a jeweled hand on Kathleen’s forearm. “You were right. Now we need to pay her or risk losing her to someone else.”

“Do you trust my instincts?”

“Always. We’ve found the Next Big Thing. What we need to do now is come up with some numbers we can live with and get her under contract.”

Ava tucked a lock of Kathleen’s hair behind her ear. Griffin felt like she was intruding on a private moment.

“How have you managed to live and work together for so long without driving each other crazy?”

Ava smiled as if she had fielded the question many times before. “After years of trial and error, we’ve found the perfect balance. We leave our work lives at work and our home lives at home.”

“Of course, it helps to have the right partner in both places.” Kathleen’s eyes glowed with obvious affection for the woman who had been her partner for longer than Griffin had been alive. “And you should never, ever go into business with family.”

“I was afraid you’d say that. But it does bring me to the other matter I’d like to discuss with you today. I’ve told you about the supper club my grandfather used to own in Los Angeles.”

Kathleen nodded. “La La Land. The building has a storied history and is located on a prime stretch of real estate. I’m surprised the new owners haven’t been able to turn a profit.”

“Well, now it’s my turn to try. My family and I have the chance to buy the building and we’re going to take it.”

“You’re going to run your own restaurant?” Kathleen asked.

“I’d be one of the owners, not the principal buyer.”

“Like I said, you’re going to run your own restaurant.”

“You’re not planning on leaving us, are you?” Ava fingered her pearl necklace as if it were a string of rosary beads.

“The doors won’t open until next year at the earliest. I plan to invest in the restaurant, find a suitable head chef, and offer input as needed but not be a part of the day-to-day operations. If those plans change, I want to know if I’d have your support during the transition.”

Kathleen leaned back in her chair. She was silent for several long moments. “We’d hate to lose you, obviously, but you had such a good eye with talent where Erica is concerned that we can afford to grant your wish without worrying about a substantial drop-off in quality. Thanks to you, we have an embarrassment of riches.”

“We realize the importance of family,” Ava said, putting a more personal spin on the situation. “If you decide you’d rather be closer to yours, Kathleen and I wouldn’t stand in your way.”

“I appreciate that. Thank you.”

“I do have one piece of advice,” Kathleen said. “If you do leave, make sure you win that goddamned show before you do.” She clapped Griffin on the back. “Now let’s eat before you try to convince me you didn’t make the final.”

Griffin loved the pre-opening meal, when everyone from the busboys to the owners sat at the same table to sample the day’s specials. The gatherings helped build team spirit and kept morale high.

She took in the familiar faces surrounding the table. If she left this group behind, she’d be returning to one family but walking away from another.

“See you tonight, chef?” Erica asked after the dessert plates were cleared.

Griffin typically skipped the lunch service in order to focus on dinner, when the crowds were larger and more demanding and restaurant critics were more apt to stop by. Erica was in charge of the lighter afternoon crowds when tourists and office workers filled the tables.

“Actually, I think I’m going to work the afternoon shift today.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and I’d also like to switch things up tonight.” Whether she returned to California or remained in New York, she needed to insure Erica had the necessary training and experience when the time came for her to take the reins at Match or the restaurant of her choice. “Tonight, you take the lead. I’ll be your second.”

Erica’s eyes widened in panic. Griffin tried to provide reassurance for her young second-in-command.

“I’ve heard nothing but raves about your performance while I was away. You’ve impressed everyone else. I want to see what all the fuss is about. The kitchen’s yours, chef.”

Erica stared at her as if she were waiting for her to say she was playing a belated April Fool’s joke. “Um, okay,” she said when she realized Griffin was being perfectly serious. “You’ll be in charge of the line cooks, prep cooks, and dishwashers. It’ll be your job to make sure the food gets out on time and there are enough clean plates to put it on. You’ll also be the expediter. Take the orders from the floor and relay them to the kitchen.”

She continued with the rest of her instructions, making sure everyone in the kitchen knew his or her assigned roles.