Page 35 of Sing with Me

“I don’t think I can give you a bad rating at all. In fact you’ve been top notch. Flexible. Accommodating. And an excellent cook—I mean, chef.”

Skye smiled as she heated up a stainless steel pan on the stove. “Please put all that in my evaluation.”

“You own the company, don’t you?” Diehl asked.

“Yes, STL has a single owner.” Skye poured a thin layer of olive oil in the pan. She swirled it until it coated the entire pan.

“Why do you need an evaluation?”

“Well, I’m a chef too.”

“How many chefs do you have working for you?”

“Six and going on a few more if I need more.” Skye placed the turkey bacon strips in the heated pan. She handed Diehl a pair of steel tongs. “I’m assuming you know what to do.”

“Yes, ma’am. Shall I sprinkle some black pepper on top?”

“Whatever you want.” Skye washed the potatoes in the sink, and started peeling the skin.

“This is a pretty good-sized kitchen,” Diehl said.

Skye nodded. “I like this kitchen. If I build a house, I want this kitchen in my house.”

“You could buy this house.”

“Say again?” Skye stopped peeling for a second.

“Brin told me she’s selling the house.”

Skye went quiet for a minute, trying to process the news. “I love this house, but…”

“But what’s not to like? Look at the view alone. Oceanfront with a side yard for kids to play in.”

Kids? “I wasn’t thinking about kids. I was only thinking about this kitchen.” Skye continued peeling the potatoes. “I helped Brinley and her team design this kitchen.”

“Really? No wonder it’s functional. Next time I need a new kitchen, I’ll call upon Chef Langston to give me some advice.”

“Sure. Any day.” Skye rinsed the potatoes under cold running water. “This kitchen do-over was easy because the whole place was gutted. They basically kept the frame and redid the entire interior.”

“I remember Brin mentioning it. She loves renovation work.”

“And you? What do you do in Atlanta?” Should she have asked the question? Wasn’t this man on a sabbatical from work?

“I run Brooks Investments.” It was all he said initially, but then he added more layers to it. “My dad semi-retired to the golf course, so Brin and I were running the company. She traveled most of the time while I stayed put in Atlanta. Then she got tired of traveling. She sold me her share of the company so she could focus on renovation projects here.”

“That’s a load on you.”

Diehl nodded. “If my brother, Parker, were still alive today, I’d be happy just to shadow him. He was the genius that expanded the company.”

Skye had heard about the drowning. “I am so sorry.”

“My family is full of tragedy.” His voice was low, as if he regretted something.

“God is sovereign.” Skye cut up the potato into julienne strips. There would be enough for four eggs. Diehl would get two, with two to spare. She’d give him the best ones and he could eat the rest later. Or she could take them home. However the client wanted the leftovers disposed.

Diehl looked at her intently. “You always bring God into our conversation.”

“God is all I have, Diehl. Without Christ, I can do nothing. Remember that verse?”

---