April 1921
Blaine

"It's settled then," Uncle Hiram says, handing Blaine a check. "I'll fund the conversion of the top floor to boarding rooms, providing that this will be Finn's project from beginning to end, without yours and Kurt's involvement."

Blaine raises an eyebrow when he looks at the check. "This is more than we asked for."

Uncle Hiram chuckles. "It wouldn't be good form if Finn has to ask his father-in-law for additional money for the inevitable cost overrun."

"Uncle Hiram, why do you want this to be Finn's project by himself?"

"I love my Rachel, and she is more than happy to have Finn at her beck and call at all hours for rehearsing lines and whatnot for her Broadway career. But Finn needs to be his own man with a career. Initially, I was thinking of buying him a car dealership, because he's an excellent mechanic, but I quickly discounted that because Finn would be hopeless in sales. However, he's proved his worth in helping you restore not only your townhouse but the restaurant as well. I'm hoping that if he does the conversion of boarding rooms successfully that it will give him the confidence to continue the venture. I would be proud to say that my son-in-law is a property developer."

"I can see that working out for Finn. He's very handy and knows how things work. Most importantly, the work crew respects him. Finn works them hard, but he's fair. I think Finn could make a real go at this as a business."

"I'm glad that you agree." Uncle Hiram stands up and goes to the credenza. "This letter arrived for you yesterday. I believe it's from Lord Cooper."

"Thank you. I've been expecting to hear from him."

"Well, if that's it, I'll leave you to read it and show yourself out."

Blaine stands up and shakes Uncle Hiram's hand. "Thank you for the money. I'm sure that Finn will do a great job with the conversion. I must say that Kurt and I have our hands full with the restaurant. It's only a few weeks before we open."

"And is everything going to plan?"

"Everything is starting to pull together. The space is pretty much ready, and I've got the menu sorted out. Kurt and I will be focusing on hiring waiters and kitchen staff this week."

"Very good. Do let me know if I can do anything for you."

Once Uncle Hiram has left the parlor, Blaine carefully opens Cooper's letter and begins to read.

Dear Blaine,

I cannot tell you how moved I was by your recent letter. You are perhaps the most amazing human being I've had the privilege to know.

When you returned from the war, watching you interact with my children was truly a sight to behold. You seemed to know exactly what to do with them, and you gained their love and respect effortlessly. I hope one day you'll get your arse out of the kitchen and meet a woman whom you will fall in love with and marry. You have all the makings of an incredible father, and I, of course, will be the uncle that tells embarrassing stories of your childhood days.

In the meantime, the idea of you being a Big Brother to a young German lad is an excellent one. You have so much love in your heart, and it sounds like you could both learn from each other. The world needs to heal from the Great War, and that starts with one person at a time.

I completely agree that there were atrocities on all sides of the war. I heard of things that happened on the Eastern Front that are far too despicable to repeat. After the Armistice, there was an investigation into crimes against German POWs that culminated in a five-volume report. However, there are no plans to translate it, and so it has no real effect. This does not erase those crimes against our British POWs, and your testimony is important to let the world know that we won't stand for this.

Quinn and the children are very well. Michael started school last September. He might not be the brightest student in the class, but he certainly is a popular one. A natural born leader. Richard seems to have inherited my musical talent and has already started piano lessons at four and half years old. The others are doing well, spending their time playing in the fields and learning about nature. Quinn is quite possibly the best mother, after ours, of course.

Father has slowed down a bit and is now fully focused on his role at the House of Lords. Those Irish republicans are killing British soldiers in various riots and ambushes. Father is working on finding a solution to the independence dilemma. As a result, he has given me free reign to do as I see fit in running the estate. Thank the Lord for Cousin Rachel's trust fund, because the abbey and estate require a bottomless pit of money.

Grandmama - well, she hasn't changed a bit. She continues as the governess for the village school and hospital. She's still in everybody's business and knows everything that is going on in the village. She has plans to move into the abbey during your visit - something about how Dower House will be yours one day, and you need to decide what to keep when she dies. She insists on moving the staff as well because Kurt is more than capable of taking care of your needs. I thought it odd that Kurt wouldn't stay at Hummel Cottage, but there is no changing Grandmama's mind once it's set on something.

I've never told you this before, but boarding school was tough, especially for someone from a rural estate in southwest England. At first, it seemed like everyone else was more important than I - future heirs of vast estates or sons of business tycoons with pots of money. However, when I returned to Westerville Abbey during school holidays, you treated me like I was the most important person in the world. You would seek my advice and opinion on all manner of things and hung on my every word. This gave me the confidence I so sorely needed to get on with life at boarding school and be the best I could be. It is I who is so grateful for having the best little brother I could ever hope for.

I know you and Kurt must be busy preparing for the opening of your restaurant. I hope that it goes well for you. We all look forward to seeing you in July. Please send my regards to Kurt, Finn, Cousin Rachel, and the rest of the family.

Your loving brother,

Cooper

Blaine wipes a tear from his eye. Not for the first time, he wishes that he could live in Westerville with his family. He misses them so much. He recalls the carefree days of riding Firebird in the fields, taking afternoon tea with his mother, and discussing important events with his father and brother after dinner. And of course, there is his grandmama, who always understood him and devised the most marvelous plans. Yes, living at Westerville Abbey would be idyllic, except for one important person.

Kurt.

Kurt and their relationship don't readily fit into life at Westerville Abbey or England, for that matter. Kurt is no longer a servant, but he's also not an upper class gentleman. Although he is a war hero, Kurt doesn't have the necessary breeding to be accepted in the Anderson's social circles. His relationship with Kurt is illegal, and Blaine would be under constant pressure to marry.

Living at Westerville Abbey wouldn't be idyllic at all.

They are much better off establishing themselves in America, where people are taken at face value. Yes, a new life with new careers is the answer for them.

The letter is a reminder that he needs to tell both Cooper and his father about the true nature of his relationship with Kurt. He's not looking forward to that at all. He wonders if Cooper will still think that Blaine is "the most amazing human being he's had the privilege to know". However, he owes it to both himself and Kurt to be honest with them.

Blaine looks at his wristwatch and is surprised it's already 10 a.m. He needs to collect Hans and take him to the restaurant. He's experimenting with how to create the perfect chip, and has discovered that the secret is double frying the potato wedges at different temperatures. Hans has agreed to be his official taste tester this afternoon, and then they'll go to the Fire Museum. Yes, he has a great day planned while Kurt is at the Flying Club.

One week later…

Blaine is at the top of a ladder, stretching to replace a lightbulb. Where is Finn when you need him? When Blaine hears the noise of drills and saws from the top floor, he remembers that Finn and the crew are working on the upstairs bathroom today.

"Yes, definitely a fine example of a bubble butt."

Blaine turns around to see Kurt and Elliott sitting at a table, gazing at his lower half. Heat flushes his face when he realizes what part of his body Elliott was referring to. After he's stepped down from the ladder, he puts his hands on his hips and smirks. "Is this how it's going to be at the restaurant? You two gawking at men?"

A cheeky grin appears on Kurt's face. "Not just any man. Only those with perfect bubble butts, and yours is the best in town."

"Enough about bubble butts! My granny will be here in ten minutes for lunch. Are you ready?"

Kurt nods. "Elliott will be your waiter for the luncheon. I'll be proofreading the menu and doing paperwork at a corner table, making sure everything goes well. I'll go upstairs in a minute to ask Finn if the work crew can stop with the noise for an hour. The real question is if you are ready with the food?"

"I think so. We'll be eating a few of the new dishes. Jakub has already completed the prep work. You know, he's learnt the basic cooking techniques very quickly. He'll be more than ready to be in charge of soups and sauces when the restaurant opens. I better go to the kitchen and check that everything is okay."

Blaine closes the ladder and walks with it toward the kitchen, making sure to wiggle his buttocks for good measure.

"You're a lucky dog, Hummel!"

"That I am. He's mine, and don't you ever forget it!"

A warm feeling pools in Blaine's belly at the possessive tone of Kurt's voice. Since Elliott started, Kurt has found subtle ways to let Elliott know that Blaine belongs to him and only him. A touch on the arm, sitting close together during meetings, giving Blaine a shoulder massage during lunch break, stuff like that. And if a possessive Kurt happens to spice up their sex life at night, it's nobody's business but their own. Blaine's toes curl just thinking about it.

When Blaine enters the kitchen, Jakub is dicing the roasted acorn squash into small cubes. "How is everything going?"

Jakub sets down his knife. "We're all set to go. I just hope your granny is here on time so that everything is served at its absolute best."

Blaine opens the oven slightly to look at the main course. "She's a stickler for punctuality. There should be no reason to worry."

The front doorbell rings and Blaine takes off his apron. "See, right on time. I best go out and greet her."

Blaine gently touches his hair to make sure that all his curls are slicked down before entering the dining room. Kurt is helping his granny out of her coat.

June Dolloway looks around. "It's starting to look like a real restaurant. I like the booths along the wall. The wrought iron chandeliers give it a medieval feel."

"We are going for Old World charm," Kurt replies stiffly.

Blaine gives her a peck on the cheek. "Hello, Granny. How wonderful that you could come today. The restaurant is finally coming together. We'll definitely be ready to open in two weeks' time."

"You've done a remarkable job with the space. Although, don't you think that the walls are rather plain?"

"Kurt has that all under control. He's been collecting things to place on the walls. They're loaded in boxes in the office. We're just waiting for the rest to be delivered before we decorate."

At least, that is what Blaine is hoping is the plan. He hasn't actually seen anything from the boxes. Kurt has been quite secretive about the decor but assures him that he has it all under control.

"I hope you've brought your appetite with you, because we have a three-course luncheon. I want your opinion on some new things for the menu."

June smiles. "I'm quite curious to taste your cooking."

"Then, please follow me," Elliott says.

Elliott leads them to a table with a crisp white linen tablecloth, set with all the cutlery and all the glasses that they'll need. There is a lit candlestick and a small pewter jug filled with fresh daisies and bluebells as the centerpieces.

Elliott pulls out a chair for Mrs Dolloway, and when she sits down, he places the linen napkin across her lap.

"Daisies, how quaint and common," June remarks.

"Daisies mean something to both Kurt and myself. We plan to have fun flowers for the luncheon service and more romantic ones for dinner."

Elliott sets down two glasses of their house speciality iced tea. They are filled with ice cubes and topped with fresh mint and lemon.

June takes a sip. "Very refreshing. It doesn't taste like the usual iced tea."

Blaine explains, "It's because I used loose tea and not those new fangled Lipton tea bags. My idea is that the menu will change with the seasons. In the autumn, we'll serve a special apple cider drink."

Elliott returns from the kitchen with a tray and sets down two soup bowls. He places a bread roll on each side dish.

When June takes the first sip of soup, she exclaims, "My soup is cold!"

"It's meant to be, Granny. It's basically cold leek and potato soup with some added cream."

June takes a few more spoonfuls. "Well, it is very tasty. Can I suggest that you offer this soup either hot or cold? There might be people who aren't willing to try cold soup."

"Excellent suggestion. We'll include the hot version on the menu. This is the sort of advice that I need."

Once they have finished, Elliott clears the soup bowls and sets out the main course, which consists of a quiche with a side salad.

June takes a bite of the quiche. "Oh, this is marvelous. Who would have thought to eat eggs for lunch?"

"I first tasted this dish on the continent during the war. It's easy to make. I don't know why it's not popular everywhere."

June inspects the salad. "What is in this, young man?"

Elliott steps forward. "Lettuce, roasted butternut squash, toasted almond flakes, and Parmesan cheese, tossed in a light lemon vinaigrette."

June takes a bite. "Absolutely delicious. I would never have thought that squash could be used in a salad. This is so much more interesting than the usual fare of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and whatnot. This food is all so novel. What do you plan to serve for those that are less adventurous with their food?"

"The standard British staples - shepherd's pie, fish and chips, sausages and mashed potatoes… that sort of thing."

"I think you might be onto a winner. Now, let me get my list." June reaches down for her handbag and takes out a sheaf of papers. "I've given some thought about your opening and I've made a list of those people I'll ask to join me for a meal."

Blaine's eyebrows shoot up. There must be hundreds of names listed on the papers.

"Of course, I've included the food critics from all the local newspapers. Tell me, how many people can you serve in a night?"

"I better get Kurt to join us. He's in charge of the dining room."

Blaine whispers in Elliott's ear, and soon Kurt is at the table with a chair.

"Granny has a list of people she wishes to invite to the restaurant. She wants to know how many people we can serve in a night."

"Well, Mrs Dolloway, the restaurant can seat 75 people, and we are hoping to have at least two sittings per night. However, we'll need to build up to that as the restaurant gains a reputation."

"Blaine has told me about your reservation system."

"Yes, half the seats can be reserved in advance. The rest are available on a first come, first served basis."

"Well, I'll take all the reservations for the first two weeks."

"But we already have a few bookings, Mrs Dolloway. Family and friends plan to be here on opening day."

Blaine places a hand on Kurt's arm. "I think we can make an exception to our 50% rule during the first few weeks, don't you think?"

"I suppose so," Kurt reluctantly agrees.

"Very well. Now would you look at the time? I must get going. Keep up the good work, Blaine. And as for you, Kurt, you better do something about those plain drab walls."

"Yes, Ma'am," Kurt replies through gritted teeth.

"Would you like to stay for dessert?" Blaine offers.

"No, I'm sure it's as tasty as everything else. I'll leave that for a surprise on your opening day."

They say their goodbyes to June Dolloway and return to the table, which Elliott is clearing.

"You did an excellent job, Elliott, " Blaine remarks.

Kurt nods. "I agree. Mrs Dolloway isn't the easiest person to satisfy. I'll make sure you are assigned to her table for the first two weeks. Hopefully, she's a good tipper."

Blaine rubs his hands in glee. "Can you believe it? We'll have at least 35 guaranteed customers each night for two sittings. Not only that, but the food critics are coming. If they like our food, they'll give us a good review, and the customers will come flocking."

"Let's just hope they like the food. I think we should hire an extra waiter. We don't want the service to be slow at the beginning."

"Sounds like a good idea. I've got enough staff in the kitchen."

"Let's just go through the schedule one more time. The staff start next Monday, and we'll spend three days training them. You and the kitchen staff will make meals for everyone to sample so that the waiters know the menu inside and out. Then on Thursday, we'll open for dinner and add the luncheon service the following week."

Blaine takes Kurt's hand. "After months of hard work, it's really happening. I do have a question though. When will you start to decorate the dining room? Granny is right that it looks a little plain."

"You know that I want to surprise you. While you are with Hans on Saturday, Elliott, Finn, and some of the lads will be helping me put up the decor. All will be revealed to you on Monday."

Blaine looks down and purses his lips. It's nerve-racking to not know what the dining room will look like, especially when they are so close to the opening.

"Hey, you trust me, right?"

Blaine looks up and nods. "I trust you with my heart, body, and soul, but the suspense is killing me."

Jakub appears from the kitchen. "Kurt, there are men with delivery for you."

"A delivery. Never forget to use an article before the noun."

"It's hard to remember, Kurt," Jakub apologizes.

"Practice makes perfect."

Blaine smiles at Kurt fondly. You can take the teacher out of the classroom, but you can't take the classroom out of the teacher. Jakub has made great strides with his English.

The men go to the kitchen to accept the delivery, and Blaine is shocked that there are four large crates. "What did you order?"

"The last of the decor. The walls won't be drab for very much longer. Can I store them in the kitchen corner until the weekend?"

"Sure, they won't get in our way," Blaine replies.

Blaine watches the men set down the crates and wonders what on earth could be in them. Kurt did such a great job decorating the townhouse. Nothing could go wrong with the restaurant's decor, right?

Author's notes

Trivia: Vichyssoise (cold leek and potato soup) was invented in New York City in 1917 by a chef at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. I'm giving Blaine credit for it. Although quiche has been eaten in Europe for centuries, it didn't become popular in the USA until the 1950s. Blaine is indeed a trendsetter!

Many thanks to my fantastic betas - Fearlessly, Lilyvandersteen, Dblmalfunction. I made the last-minute edits and performed the final proofreading by myself, so all mistakes are mine.

Yesterday, NotARelationship (Just Practicing) posted the first chapter of their new fic, "In A Minute", on . Pretend boyfriend AUs are my crack, and this one is off to a great start. They plan to post a new chapter once a week. Please check it out. Going forward, I'm going to share Klaine fics that I'm reading and enjoying on Saturdays only.

The story is now 50% posted. There are still 25 chapters left to go.

I'm HKVoyage on Tumblr.

Next up: Blaine and Kurt prepare for Westerville's opening night.