Page 51 of Stronger Than Blood
“I do, but I just love hearing you call me that.” The women smiled at each other.
“If you can give me time to think, I’d appreciate it, but Brenda is right—I can’t cook to save my life, much to the disappointment of my dear granny. I can bake as well as the next guy, though, and I’m dependable. If you decide to take this on, I promise to be there for you, if that helps.”
Brenda stood up and hugged me before I left to deliver the pies. Rebecca gave me a look that said we’d get together later and discuss the craziness of all this, which, honestly, thank God, ’cause I was going to need help thinking it through. Unfortunately, Granny would be absolutely no help as she would be pushing me to say yes.
I also needed to consider what Rory and Kalinda wanted. They’d asked me to go into business with them as well. I… Hell, how had it come to this? One moment, I was fired from a hellish job, thinking I would never achieve my goal of owning my own bakery, and now I had two offers to start my own business.
No, neither was a bakery, but I loved the idea of carrying on my crazy uncle’s legacy, especially after yesterday’s turnout. I also loved, and I mean absolutely loved, baking in the restaurant and knowing that all I had to do was stick my cakes and pies in the coolers, then I could disappear out the back door while others divvied everything up to the appreciative public.
So much to think about. I glanced over at Uncle Eddie’s store as I drove the van to the hotel to stuff the cooler with my pies. I didn’t really want to run a distillery.
I didn’t really want to run a restaurant, either, and knew barely enough about that. No, I wanted to do what I was doing now, baking and going to sleep. I chuckled at my thoughts. I was not a lazy person, but I didn’t necessarily like the business side of working for myself either.
I didn’t know Essie, but if Rebecca and Brenda loved her, as they clearly did, I knew I would too. Brenda would never giveup her cherished restaurant unless she was convinced that Essie was the right person for the job.
It took a while to fall asleep, and when I did, I had vivid dreams about what it would be like to have the life I’d been presented with. I saw myself baking through the week, helping up front after I put the pies out, then going to sleep and coming back to help out at the distillery.
I saw myself in Rory's arms and us laughing at something Kalinda said. I woke up with something sticking me in the side and reached down to find the little crystal poking me. “Um, I’m sure I put you on the windowsill,” I said and had to push past the feeling of discomfort that came with the unexplained. Of course, then I just laughed. When had my life become one where crystals moved on their own?
I deliberately ignored the thought that it had begun when I started seeing ghosts. No, I would give that thought no energy. Keeping that sucker far from me and my thoughts was the first and most important goal I had in life. Luckily, I didn’t mind thinking about my sweet friend who’d put me on the path to the lighter side of this supernatural life.
I crawled out of bed, rubbed the little crystal against my cheek before putting it back on the windowsill, then showered and brushed my teeth. I smiled when I saw Rory had texted
Him: Wanna meet me at the hotel? We can discuss yesterday’s progress.
Me: Sure, what time?
Him: Soon, but change of plan, meet me at the restaurant. I’m starving.
Me Nothing new there then.
Him: Not like you can talk. C U in a few?
I chuckled, then texted him back. I didn’t say it was also because I wanted to spend time there thinking about what it might mean if I was part owner of the place.
I got the “thumbs-up” and headed out, pleased when he waved at me from the back.
I sat down, knowing Rory and Kalinda would likely join me soon. When Essie came over and asked if she could join me, I smiled and gestured to the seat across from me.
“How do you feel, um, about this morning?” she asked.
I shrugged. “Surprised, a little overwhelmed, but after sleeping on it, I-I think I’d like to try. You?”
She sighed and looked in the direction of the buffet, which was bustling with customers. “To be honest, it’s sort of my dream come true, but also, I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. I-I have years of experience, first in this kitchen, and when I moved to St. Louis to be with a girlfriend I thought would be my forever wife. That didn’t work out, but I did work in a wonderful soul food restaurant there. The owner recently passed away, and her children sold the property. I-I tried to buy it, but they wanted too much, and then some big corporation bought it anyway. I—” She paused, chewing on her lower lip and then looking at me. “I’m married now to someone much better than the woman I went to St. Louis to meet. I’m sorry, I’m rambling… telling you my whole life story, and you didn’t even ask, but I’ve spent the day here, and my mind is spinning. I shouldn’t be dumping all this on you, though.”
I chuckled. “I totally understand, but Essie, do you want to do this?” I asked.
Her eyes grew large, but she nodded. “Maybe more than anything I’ve ever wanted before, but not if my wife won’t come with me. I-I will have to tell her.”
“Invite her to come. What does she do?”
Essie smiled at me. “She works in the restaurant industry as well.”
“Cool, would she come work with you here?” I asked.
Essie laughed. “Um, no, she’s trying to become a master distiller. She’s not the flipping burgers kind of gal.”
“Wait, what? Like she makes whiskey and stuff?”
