Page 62 of Cookout Carnage
‘Tristan’s chilli jam. Perfect for a cold Chicago winter.’
She swallowed the lump in her throat and unscrewed the lid, dipping her finger into the jar to taste it. It was perfect, sweet and spicy dancing on her tongue. She bit her lip to stop the tears coming. He’d made this and brought it halfway around the world for her.
‘Hey, you still sick?’
Sherilyn looked up to see Mona hovering a safe difference away.
‘Oh, I’m fine now, totally non-contagious, I promise.’
‘Thank god,’ said Mona, sitting on the side of her desk. ‘Bryan and I are trying out caterers for the wedding this afternoon and for once I actually want to eat.’ She plucked the jar of Tristan’s jam out of Sherilyn’s hand. ‘Oh, you got one too?’
‘Er?’
‘This British dude was here. He gave them to his team.’
Sherilyn stiffened. So, she hadn’t been any different from anyone else he worked with.
‘Fuck knows how he got it past border control.’
‘What was he like?’ Sherilyn asked.
Mona shrugged. ‘I didn’t speak to him. He was only here a day. His suit was on point though.’
Sherilyn’s throat stuck.
Mona frowned. ‘You sure you’re, okay? Don’t eat that stuff. It looks gross and won’t be pasteurised.’
She flounced off, her hair bouncing as if in slow motion.
Sherilyn let out a breath and closed her eyes.Do not be sick. Do not cry. Hold it together.
‘Sherilyn, are you alright?’
They snapped open again to see her line manager, Kasey, with a look of concern on her face.
‘Oh, hey, Kasey. Yes, sorry, I’m fine and glad to be back.’
‘We’re glad you’re back too. You okay for the regular conference call with London in fifteen?’
Sherilyn nodded and her heart sped up. ‘Yes, of course.’
Kasey smiled and squeezed her shoulder, then her eyebrows shot up. ‘I forgot we all missed your birthday! Hang on.’ She strode to her office, returning with a large gift bag, which had what looked like a plant peeking out of the top. She placed it on the table and handed Sherilyn a card. ‘Go on, open it!’
Inside was a birthday card, signed by the team, and a voucher for a spa day for two.
‘Thank you, Kasey, that is so lovely,’ she whispered.
‘You work so hard, Sherilyn, no wonder you got sick. You need to take some time for yourself. Okay?’ Sherilyn nodded. ‘You’re only young once and you’ve got time to build your career. You need to pace yourself.’
Sherilyn nodded again as Kasey turned to go.
‘What’s this?’ Sherilyn asked, indicating the bag.
‘Oh, that’s from Tristan. I think it’s a plant. He’s such a sweet guy, I’m sorry you missed him. But hopefully he’ll be back soon enough. I’ll see you at nine in the conference room.’
Sherilyn looked inside the bag and bit the inside of her cheek. It was a chilli plant. She put it on her desk and poured some water from her bottle onto the soil. She checked the bag again and took out a card and a small, wrapped box. She held them in her hands, knowing he had touched them. He’d thought about her and bought her a birthday present. She opened the card first. On the outside it had a picture of a habanero chilli with the words ‘Haba Happy Birthday’. Inside, he’d written: ‘Dear Hot Sauce, have a very happy birthday. I’m afraid I don’t know enough about you yet for true originality, so your presents follow a certain theme… Yours, Tristan.’
She put the card in her drawer, not wanting anyone to see it, then opened the present. In a small box was a pendant on a fine silver chain. It was a solid silver pizza, about the size of a silver dollar. The topping side was covered in pepperoni, jostling for space and sparkling in the light. She’d never seen anything like it before. She turned it over to see it had been inscribed with the words ‘Happy 26th, Hot Sauce. Love, Tris.’
