Page 103 of The Nanny and the Hothead
“Not so fast,” Louise said, picking up the sandwich he’d made for her. “I need to test the goods first.” The woman took a hearty bite, then chewed slowly, taking in the flavors.
There were very few people whose opinions mattered to him when it came to his food. Louise Dagby would always be one of them.
“Well?” he asked, unable to stop himself.
“That thing you lost,” she began.
“Yeah?” he rasped.
Louise nodded to herself as she took another bite. “It’s coming back.”
“And so are the customers,” Ralph remarked.
The customers?
He stared out the window as a mass of people descended on the truck.
Erick came to his side. “I probably should have mentioned this earlier, but you’re trending on social media.”
“How did that happen?” he asked as cars jockeyed for street parking. He turned to Charlotte.
“I haven’t posted a thing. Maybe it was Ines or the publisher?” she offered.
“It looks pretty organic. Like it just got posted, then went viral,” Erick answered, holding out his phone. “People posted that they saw the food truck at some ritzy school in Denver. Then other people commented, posting the locations they saw it. The hashtag #SayCheeseLouiseIsBack is one of the top twenty tags!”
He recalled the man in the sedan on the way over. He’d barely given the guy a second thought.
“Mitch, it’s true!” Charlotte exclaimed, staring at her cell phone. “It’s everywhere. Are you ready?”
Was he ready?
His pulse thrummed, but it wasn’t out of fear or anger or some crazy desire to prove his demons wrong. His heart beat for her. He was ready because she was there. After all, she was the catalyst for this. He concentrated on the Polaroid of his son as a serene peacefulness set in. The click of the shutter brought him back. Charlotte brought him back. And that spark, that pull, that inexplicable force between them was there, showing him the way.
He schooled his features, then picked up the old spatula. “All right, everyone. Let’s make some sandwiches.”
Eighteen
Charlotte
Click!Click! Click!
Charlotte framed the shot. The satisfying sound of the shutter opening and closing permeated the air, fragrant with the heady scent of toasted sourdough bread and melted cheese. She took notice of her position, staying far enough away not to be intrusive but close enough to capture the moment as a reporter from one of the local TV stations interviewed Mitch. At the same time, Sergio and Erick were finishing up with the last of the lunch crowd.
To say that word had gotten out about the return of Say Cheese, Louise was an understatement.
People from all walks of life had shown up, eager for one of Chef Mitch Elliott’s mouthwatering creations. It had been a sight to see. But it wasn’t the jubilant crowds that had her awestruck. It was Mitch! She’d never seen him like this before. The man was in the zone. Going back and forth between showing the teens the food truck ropes, to speaking with local reporters as they ponied up to the window, to sharing a quick conversation with a patron while simultaneously cooking, Mitch didn’t miss a beat.
The line for Say Cheese, Louise wrapped around the corner for hours. And true to his word, no matter who he was cooking for, Mitch treated every person with respect as he crafted their artisan grilled cheese.
And not only that! She’d never seen someone make so many sandwiches.
She’d observed him in the kitchen at the Crystal Cricket, but only in flashes. No one dawdled anywhere near the cantankerous man. Orders in. Orders out. And keep your distance from the hothead chef! But that miserable man was nowhere to be found today.
And she’d been there, documenting the transformation. Having Erick and Sergio volunteer to help had been a real godsend. She didn’t know how she’d manage both working the window and photographing the event.
Despite only offering the Signature Louise sandwich, there were still those who asked for modifications to their meals. No apple butter. Extra Dijon. Thirty sandwiches for a gallery up the street, hold the cheese.
Yes, they ordered thirty sandwiches with apple butter and Dijon only!
