The Trouble with Christmas (9 page)

“Great breakfast,” Lily said and pulled away. “Let’s do the dishes and talk about your Christmas catering mess.”

Lily stacked their empty plates and carried them to the sink, Cole followed with their glasses and coffee mugs. He was glad that she no longer seemed sad. Instead, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled. As Lily loaded the dishwasher, she said, “I take it those white boards in the dining room are your plans for the Christmas meal?”

“Yup. I thought I’d use the same system as Thanksgiving, since that was such as success,” Cole said and heard her laugh.

She finished putting the dishes into the dishwasher, washed her hands, and walked across the kitchen into the dining room. Cole followed closely behind, enjoying every moment in her presence, but Lily had switched to business mode, he noted, wishing he could get his brain out of the bedroom and back into the kitchen.

“This is your problem right here,” she stared at his white boards. “This menu is way too ambitious. The ingredients are too sophisticated, and well, all wrong for your restaurant and Indigo Island, not to mention too high in calories,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about the menu all night, and you definitely want to offer something completely different from what the inn is offering.”

Cole had been thinking about something all last night, too, only his obsession was standing in his dining room, proposing a solution to his troubles, and he had to get his head in the game.

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you guys even delivering soup? The She Crab Soup is cream based, hard to reheat let alone keep at the right temperature. It’s more highbrowed Charleston, than casual Indigo Island,” she added, wiping it off the board.

“Turkey, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes. Isn’t that exactly what you delivered at Thanksgiving?” she asked and Cole nodded, embarrassed and feeling helpless. “Did Sally Ann plan this menu or did you, based on your New England memories?”

“Sally Ann’s planned nothing and I don’t blame her. She’s mad at me because I got us into this mess. She’s teaching me a lesson and just saying it’s all up to me. I’m at my wit’s end,” Cole said, his jaw clenched.

“I’m sure the feeling is mutual.”

Cole watched as Lily erased the rest of his planned Christmas menu. She grabbed the black marker and wrote:

Marshside Mama’s Christmas Feast

Authentic Lowcountry comfort and cheer delivered right to your door

Indigo Crab Patties

Ol’ fashioned pot pie available in three choices:

Vegetable, Chicken, and Pot Roast.

Smokin’ Joe’s Butter Beans

Indigo Island Cucumber and Tomato salad

Homemade Christmas Cookies with Sprinkles and Glazes

“What do you think?” Lily said, a grin on her face.

“Sounds good,” Cole said slowly. “But how does this save time and kitchen space? Still looks like a lot of work. And what are butter beans?”

“They’re an Indigo Island staple. They’re similar to lima beans,” Lily answered, concentrating on the board. “I think this is very doable. Sally Ann and I can make the side dishes and the Christmas cookies a week ahead. Same with the pot pie dough. I have a great recipe. Each pie serves six people. You’ll call and confirm the holiday orders beginning today. Ask for their pie preference, and we’re set.”

“We? You really want to help?”

“I really do,” she said.

“Well, I love the idea and the menu,” he said and had to fight the urge to pull her in for another kiss. The way the sun streamed through the window made her hair shimmer. “Will you help me explain it to Sally Ann?”

“Absolutely! This is what I love,” Lily said and clasped her hands together in excitement. Cole couldn’t help himself. He leaned forward, placed his hands on either side of her face and drew her closer. Their lips came together, soft at first but then sexy as he deepened the kiss. Soon Cole was dizzy with desire, turned on to his core. Lily moaned softly, but then she stiffened and pulled away.

“Stop. We need to slow down,” Lily said and pulled away. She turned her back to him and faced the windows. “This is too fast. I can’t feel this, be like this. I was just engaged, I was going to marry Bob. I was so sad that he broke it off, and now, you appear.”

“I’m sorry,” Cole said, and he was. He couldn’t believe he was so out of control, so turned on and prone to act on his impulses. He’d always been much more deliberate. They had only met yesterday.

“Lily, I’m sorry. I’m not usually so pushy. I just—” He broke off not really knowing how he could explain his deep attraction to her when he couldn’t even explain it to himself. “I promise, no more messing around, not until you’re ready. If you ever are.”

Lily turned around to face him. His stomach tensed as he watched her swallow. He remembered the taste of her mouth, the softness of her lips, the smell of her hair. She looked at him and he knew she felt the electricity, but it was too soon, she had been too hurt to trust again. He needed to be patient.

“I would love your help, though.”

She burst into her signature smile.

“I’d love to help at the restaurant. Let’s go, so I can discuss menu ideas with Sally Ann.”

The awkwardness evaporated and they walked out the door.

*

LILY

Cole parked the
golf cart in the back of what Lily could only describe as a charming white cottage with turquoise trim tucked inside a canopy of moss-strewn oaks. The view of the saltwater marsh beyond was breathtaking, the wood-planked dock was empty of boats, the entire scene was eerily still like a painting. Although she had been here before, the second time really was the charm.

Cole led Lily in through the back door and they arrived in Sally Ann’s kitchen. Cole made a quick excuse that he had to set up the dining room, which left the two women to size each other up again.

Once Cole exited, Sally Ann smiled and she welcomed Lily with open arms. Literally. Once Lily explained her ideas for an authentic down home Christmas meal, Sally Ann wrapped her in a bear hug, she oohed and ahhed over Lily’s Christmas menu suggestions. She seemed excited Lily incorporated some of Sally Ann’s signature dishes. Sally Ann instantly understood they could prepare every dish ahead of time.

“You’re my savior, you are, honey,” she said still grinning. “He’s about to kill me with these holiday notions. I have five kids, a husband, and a mother-in-law who all expect me to be cookin’ for them on Christmas, not messing around here with what all the fancy people need.”

“I’m so glad to be helping. But don’t thank me yet, we still have to get all of this prepped, ingredients sourced. If we start today confirming all the orders, we should be able to get started tomorrow,” Lily said.

It was eleven in the morning, and Sally Ann quickly hurried to the corner of the kitchen and pulled a white board from behind the sink.

“Here’s what we’re serving today,” she said and pulled out a black marker, much like Lily had done at Cole’s house. Lily stood beside her watching Sally Ann fill the board with today’s offerings: Fresh Local Shrimp, Warm Artichoke Dip, Lowcountry Gumbo, Shrimp and Andouille Creole, Indigo Island Devil Crab Dinner, and Carolina Seafood Boil; Salad and Bread, family style.

Even though Lily and Cole just finished breakfast, her stomach growled. The air was filled with the scent of pine, the sweet, salty air of the marsh, and the spices being used in Sally Ann’s cooking. The windows were screenless and open to the chilly air outside. Three large iron pots simmered on the stove and voices could be heard from the restaurant’s seating area just through the swinging door. Lily felt an essence of comfort and ease here in this kitchen, a feeling so different than any restaurant she’d ever stepped inside.

While Sally Ann finished putting prices next to the menu list, Lily peeked through the door and watched Cole. He was on host duty, seating customers with a warm smile and a personal greeting to those he’d come to know. She loved the way he filled a room, the presence he commanded. But he wasn’t threatening or stuck up, the way Bob acted all the time. Cole was kind, and his blue eyes sparkled with genuine interest as he chatted with each guest, whether the person was a wealthy vacationer or a simple island worker. He looked up, caught her watching him, and smiled. She ducked back inside the kitchen.

“You’re sweet on him,” Sally Ann said, coming up behind her. “I suppose he’s a good boy, just has no feel for this business. I’m gonna go on and start taking orders. Want to stick around and help back here today?”

“I’d love it,” Lily said as Sally Ann pushed out the door, humming a tune Lily didn’t recognize. She looked around the simple kitchen and took stock of everything in front of her. She knew she could make her menu ideas work. In the corner, she spotted two large freezers and opened one to see how full it was. Both of them were about half full. Yes, it would all work just fine.

“Hey,” Cole said appearing behind her. Just his voice rushed heat to her core. “So what do you think?”

“It’s going to work out great,” Lily said, and she heard the happiness in her voice. She was in a kitchen, she was needed, and she was standing close to the most handsome man she’d ever met. For the first time, Lily realized she would be able to move beyond the pain caused by Bob someday, and Cole just might be the man to help her on the path to healing.

But I need to take charge of my own life
. Not just rely on Avery or others. She thought helping Cole and Sally Ann would be a great start towards self-healing.

“Sally Ann asked me to stay and help with lunch, get a feel for the kitchen. Is that okay? I thought you could start making those phone calls?”

“Yes, great idea,” he said. “I’ll make the calls out from the front once I get the lunch crowd seated. And, tell me what you charge an hour, I’m paying you for this.”

“I might blow your budget,” Lily teased. Cole tensed. “Seriously, consider this a donation to the cause. I want you to open that Boys and Girls Club. The island needs a food bank, and a program of picking up prepared, but unserved, restaurant meals from the inn and all the restaurants on the island each night and serving the food to those in need. I want to be a part of it.”

“Thank you. That’s amazing,” Cole said, resting his hand on her shoulder, their eyes locked. She could stare into them for days.

“Hello? A little help out here?” Sally Ann said, shooting eye daggers at Cole, who rushed out to seat customers and help take their orders. Lily laughed and tied on an apron.

The next two hours passed in a haze of frying fish, boiling shrimp, tearing lettuce, and basically, doing whatever Sally Ann instructed. At the end of the lunch rush, once all the pots and pans and dishes are washed and put away, Sally Ann walked up to Lily and wrapped her arm around her waist.

“You know how to cook,” Sally Ann said. “You could be a beenyah, you could.”

“Thank you, this was wonderful,” Lily said, wiping her hands on her borrowed apron. “What’s a beenyah?”

“Ah, dat’s Gullah for folks born here on the island. We’s a dying breed,” she said, releasing her hold on Lily and stripping off her bright yellow apron. “Best get on home, before the dinner service. You come back whenever you want. With or without that one.”

Sally Ann smiled and left. Lily stripped off her apron. She looked a wreck. Her face had been steamed in boiling water, her tank top, which she fortunately had worn under her turtleneck, was splattered in frying oil, her Converse tennis shoes sported a new cocktail sauce stain at the toe. But she was happy.

Cole stood at the front of the restaurant, the phone pressed to his ear. He didn’t see Lily but she could hear his frustration on his side of the conversation.

“Yes, we promise on-time delivery, ma’am, but if you have concerns, then of course you can cancel. Fine, I know you didn’t bring your chef, that’s why we’re here. Yes, I understand this is my last chance, thank you,” Cole hung up, “Ahhhh. I hate this groveling shit.”

“Welcome to the restaurant business,” Lily said and caught him by surprise.

“Whatever. People could be polite at least,” he grumbled, his eyes dark and angry.

“I can’t imagine people were polite in the investment banking world,” Lily said.

Cole laughed, a sharp sound. “No, they weren’t. They were ruthless assholes. I was on Wall Street. Everybody’s a jerk. Just out for money. I was one of them.”

“Well, in the restaurant business, my experience is that once customers are full, they’re happy. So we’ll turn these folks into raving fans. Don’t worry,” she said. “Uh, hey, would you mind giving me a ride back to the other side? I’m a mess.”

Cole seemed to focus on her then. A smile crossed his face. “You are a mess. You smell like fish,” he said. “Come on. I can make the rest of the calls from home.”

As they drove back to the other side of the island, they were both quiet, lost in thought. Lily planned the shopping list for the Christmas meal in her head. Every once in a while, she turned and looked at Cole, but he too was deep in his own thoughts. She couldn’t believe she’d met him only yesterday. She checked out his handsome profile, his strong arms, his prominent chin. She felt as comfortable as she did with Bob, maybe even more so. Because it was business, they were focusing on the same goal.