Page 21 of Cupcake of the Month
Images of the bills Josh had to pay and saving for Zach’s non-existent college fund and the price of gas and groceries flashed through his mind. He could grovel. Apologize for something that was clearly an accident.
Jordan was using her persuasive abilities and encouraging smile to explain what had happened, trying to give herself the blame. It was fruitless, but the mere fact that she’d try to help him, even now, after what he had done to her…
She fell silent when it was obvious George had more on his mind than being fair. He fixed his stare on Josh. “I’ll escort you inside to get your belongings,” he said.
“No need. I have everything with me.” Josh took off his apron and flung it at his now-former manager. “Have fun picking all this crap up, you schmuck. And don’t call me for help when you fuck up the orders.”
He turned away, leaving George sputtering about the mess and how Josh couldn’t leave it like that. He prepared to stride off, when he remembered Jordan was still there and had witnessed the entire episode. Well, screw that, if she couldn’t handle his display of temper. He had held it in for too long. He sauntered past her.
“Bravo,” she murmured.
Her approval startled him, but he found himself smiling. Could he torture himself for the next month, being so close to her?
Well, hell, it had been torture without her, too. “Tell Brandi I’ll take that job.”
***
Birds chirping in the pre-dawn darkness over the steady thrum of Josh’s alarm broke the silence of the peaceful morning,their pleasant song greeting anyone who was awake. And he wanted to muzzle, gag, overfeed, or trap every last one of them.
Five o’clock was way too freakin’ early. He jabbed at the phone’s Stop button, then caught a glimpse of a text message.
The dry cleaning bill was $1million.
A chuckle snuck out of his mouth. Waking up to a text from Jordan. Suddenly the birdsong didn’t seem too bad.
Lucy had volunteered to make sure Zach was awake and ready for school on time. The twenty-five or so hours a week Josh would work for Wendy and Brandi meant he had the afternoons free to find a new position somewhere else. But the early mornings meant hell when he catered an evening event with Barb.
That was okay. It was a job. More than that, it was a job he would have taken immediately if it hadn’t been temporary.
He stole around the apartment as he got ready, keeping quiet so he didn’t wake his brother. As he was leaving, he stepped on something small and unexpected by the front door. Two rectangular pieces of plastic lay under his foot. He picked them up and swallowed around the sudden lump in his throat.
Someone had shoved gas cards under his door.
Which he was going to use after waking everyone up when his old car rumbled to life in the parking lot. At least, those who weren’t already awake and annoyed at the damn birds.
The forty-minute drive to Claremont was easy that early in the morning. Once he turned onto the Fountenoy Hall land, he continued for three-quarters of a mile down the scenic drive bordered by magnolia trees and live oaks and ending at the circular drive. The rec room stood to the left of the main building, and Josh continued around to the right to park behind the Inn, per Ms. Eulalee’s instructions. He’d driven out there a few days ago to sign paperwork and get a tour. Wendy he had recognized from college and her many trips to Essie’s, and hemet Wendy’s boyfriend.
He hadn’t seen Jordan.
Would Jordan be awake and in the kitchen? It didn’t matter. At least, it shouldn’t. But the anticipation of seeing her again squeezed his gut.
Ms. Eulalee was already bustling in the kitchen when he knocked on and opened the back door. The sun was just peeking into the room, but her cheerful smile and checkered apron brightened the space. “Josh, I can’t tell you how happy I am to have you here.”
“I’m happy to be here.” And he meant it. He put his grey backpack out of the way at the base of the old servants staircase. The large kitchen was quaint but ideal for preparing dinners for happy couples on vacation and breakfasts for lazy mornings. Eggs sizzled on the six-burner flat top stove and gleaming silver pans for the food warmers were lined up on the counter. The scent of savory ham wafted up from the oven. It sure as hell beat cooking on the one burner that still worked in his apartment.
The only thing missing was Jordan.
Josh gestured to the eggs. “Aren’t I supposed to be the one cooking?”
“Thought I’d go easy on you your first day.” She waved him to the hand sink. “Wash up, and let’s get going. We have eight guests today. We cook whatever we want as long as there’s at least a protein, a carb, fruit, something dessert-like and a dish with peaches, whether a chutney or grilled or whatever you want. A set menu that one person can cook. The guests let us know when they check in if there are dietary restrictions.”
Josh pulled his old University of Georgia ballcap out of his bag as a head covering and grabbed a solid white apron from near the butler’s pantry. Funny how he cringed when he put on the green one from Essie’s. Here, it was part of the kitchen, not a costume he donned when he clocked in.
“Here’s the tough part.” Eulalee handed him an index card with directions for peach fritters scrawled on it. “We only have a week before I leave, so I’m throwin’ you into the deep end. Barb said you were good at adapting. Fountenoy Hall recipes were never put in writing, so I’ve been scribbling them down as I make the dishes. They were always passed down from Clayton to Clayton. Since Wendy can burn water and Brandi only makes one dish, you and Anthon are all I have to make sure the past stays in the present.”
Anthon must be the chef who helped for the dinner service. Josh found the cast-iron pan as he scanned the ingredients for the fritters. Flour, salt, baking powder, all the things he expected to see. Except… “Ms. Eulalee?”
“Yes, honey?”
