A/N: Thank you so much for all of the alerts and favorites. I can't believe that I already have over 2,000 views. Please continue as it inspires and motivates me to keep writing. I still don't own Glee and I don't own Ann Ross Catering. I edit my own work, so sorry if I missed anything.
A/N2: Not much in terms of plot, but I am moving them along with plans for the wedding.
Chapter 6
The girls chatted and laughed as Quinn drove them to the caterer. Ann Ross Catering was the premiere caterer in Lima. She offered simple or extravagant gourmet food and didn't cause an aneurysm with her prices. Quinn already approved just after studying reviews online and asking around.
They pulled into the parking lot and entered the building. The shop was simple and efficient, with a comfortable waiting area. Her awards and licenses were clearly displayed along with her state health inspection grade. The blonde noticed with satisfaction that the rating was near perfect.
She glanced at Rachel, who was busy taking notes and muttering quietly to herself. Quinn smiled indulgently as she checked in with the receptionist, who was both pleasant and professional. So far so good. She quickly waved both girls into Ms. Ross's office.
They both sat and Quinn took note of the surroundings as Rachel retrieved her list of questions and requirements for the wedding. The office was neat and orderly, but warm. There were various pictures of family scattered with a few mementos as well as photos of her work, which were prominently displayed on one wall. Two diplomas graced the wall- the first belonged to the University of Ohio at Lima and the second was from the Culinary Institute of America, which was in New York. Impressed, the former cheerleader smiled as she turned to meet the vivid blue eyes of the owner.
"How can I help you young ladies today?" Ms. Ross was an impressive looking woman, Quinn noted, with sharp blue eyes and thick wavy black hair. She was rather tall, with some slight plumpness to her frame, and she commanded the room simply by entering it.
Before Quinn could answer, Rachel jumped in, "Hello, my name is Rachel Berry and this is Quinn Fabray. We are here to discuss a possible menu for Quinn's mother Judy Fabray and her soon to be husband Patrick McKenzie. The reception will be in the parish hall of the First Baptist Church of Lima." The little diva paused to take a breath before continuing, "We'll need to serve approximately one hundred and fifty people, so we need to see what options you might have available for us."
Ms. Ross nodded at the two girls and reached into her files. "Alright, girls, first let's start with what kind of menu you want to plan. I have several choices for you. You can select two entree items and have your guests choose from each one, you can do family style platters, or you can just do hors d'oeuvres." She smiled at them and handed them an order sheet with prices. "I also have packages that include two appetizers, an entree, and a salad for specific numbers of people. Most of my prices range from $15 to $45 per person, depending on what you choose. You'll find that I'm very competitive with my pricing. I also do wedding and groom's cakes for $3 per person."
Quinn observed Rachel scribbling furiously as Ms. Ross spoke and smirked. The two of them had made a list of caterers and their prices, so the brunette was already comparing Ms. Ross's prices to what she had researched online. She was inline with what they found was the industry norm.
The blonde eyed the caterer and nodded in approval. "Do you have any samples of your work available? If possible, the two of us would like to try something. I was impressed by the wonderful reviews of your menus and services."
Ms. Ross stood up and nodded as she motioned for the girls to follow her. "You can leave your stuff here. I'm just going to give you a quick tour of the kitchen and show you some samples."
The tall brunette led the way down the hall into an open area with a large walk-in refrigerator and walk-in freezer. She had several stainless steel prep areas, a massive grill, a line of gas burners, and three large ovens. The caterer pulled on a hairnet before disappearing into the cooler. A few minutes later she returned with two platters in her hands.
"This is a signature dish. I slice open mangoes and slightly hollow them out. The mangoes are then lightly grilled, while the remaining fruit is mixed with strawberries and some secret ingredients to make a salsa. The mangoes are filled with the salsa and drizzled with an agave syrup glaze."
As both girls grabbed a piece, Quinn anticipated Rachel's question and politely asked if the dish was vegan.
Ms. Ross nodded and continued showcasing her talent in the kitchen. "The next item is not vegan, my dear," she smiled, "but it is delicious and simple. I mix almonds and flour with my special blend of spices as a coating for chicken breasts. The meat is baked, but the coating is still very crispy. I serve it over herbed rice pilaf with a side of roasted asparagus."
Quinn closed her eyes as the flavors blended onto her tongue. The chicken was juicy and (despite being cold) very crisp. There was a hint of heat with the hint of spice, but nothing overpowering. She moaned a little before she swallowed and looked up at the taller brunette. "This is one of the most delicious things I've ever tasted."
"Thank you, miss. I enjoy cooking and try to combine both the unique and the simple. People at a wedding want to recognize what they're eating, but still find something different and that's what I strive to provide."
"What do you think, Rach?" Quinn questioned the little diva. The brunette had a slightly dazed expression.
The girl look confused for a moment before replying, "I think that Ms. Ross is very talented and we should definitely look at which package she has that might fit our needs." She clapped her hands and Quinn decided that the little brunette was excited to be making such good progress so soon. The diva gleefully took a copy of Ms. Ross's menu items and package prices to look at later.
"I'm sorry, Finn, I can't right now; I'm helping Quinn with her mom's wedding." Rachel lay on her bed that evening looking over menu options and calculating costs as she typed up a chart in her computer. Although a power point would have been more informative. A chart would have to do as it was quicker to type. She huffed into her cellphone, "Finn, don't start this right now. Quinn and I are friends and helping her is important to me."
"I just don't understand, Rach. How can you help her after the way she's treated you? Are you just doing this to gain some popularity?"
Rachel rolled her eyes. "I've never been popular, Finn and I don't plan to start now. I don't date you for your popularity do I? Quinn's friendship is important to me, that's all."
"Okay, Rachel. I just miss you is all. We have been together in awhile, not since that weekend your dads made me spend the night." Finn's voice lowered in an attempt to be sexy and Rachel shuddered.
"Is that all you want from me, Finn? Now that we've slept together, that's all I'm good for. Surely you think of me as more than a sex object!" Rachel's rant gathered steam.
Finn spoke angrily into the phone, "Whatever, Rachel. I want to marry you. That should tell you that I want more than just sex!" Rachel heard something crash right before Finn hung up.
Rachel tossed her phone on her bed, frustrated with the situation. She wanted to crave Finn's touch and his feeble attempts to get into her pants. She didn't expect much more as he was a teenage boy. His sweet gestures were often rather lame, but he at least tried. The brunette sighed as she glanced at the photos of the two of them by her bed. He was her shot at normality and she needed to suck it up.
She fell back onto her pillows as she reviewed the day. When Quinn had interrupted her singing, she had almost given away her feelings. Thankfully, she covered them up with a believable excuse. She didn't want to lose the closeness that was finally developing between herself and Quinn.
She had another moment of weakness when they were trying the food. Quinn had moaned and it sent a shot of heat through Rachel. She had watched dazedly as the blonde's tongue swept across perfect pink lips in an attempt to savor the flavors of the dish. She was imagining what she would do with that tongue when she heard the tail-end of the other girl's question. Once again Rachel had covered with her 'chipmunk on speed' speak, avoiding the danger of spilling her feelings.
They visited two more caterers before deciding to call it a day. They headed back to the Fabray house to unload. Quinn invited her for dinner, but Rachel felt she had pushed her luck enough and left for home. She promised to organize everything into an easy to ready chart, so that Judy could make an informed decision on the caterer.
It was getting more difficult to hide her feelings the longer she spent with the blonde. Quinn was beautiful, intelligent, and surprisingly funny with a slight dorky side, but it wasn't her beauty that Rachel craved. Instead, Rachel longed to be let past the blonde's defenses to the girl underneath the HBIC, but she was afraid. She was scared of Quinn discovering her feelings and reverting back to the cruel girl who tormented her. The diva turned off her light and attempted to sleep. Hopefully, she could continue this relationship without losing everything that mattered.
A/N3: Things will move along in the next installment. Stay tuned! Reviews are appreciated.
