It's been two weeks since Alexis had her surgery…
He was nervously rubbing the palms of his hands on his jeans to stop his hands from sweating so much. He sat there in the small office looking at Pamela Martin. She could be the one to break him. He had started talking to Kate about being unemployed, well complaining was more like it, but he could do anything with food. And what he couldn't do he'd learn. That's when she suggested that he go to work for someone until he had enough money saved up to open his own place
"Kate, I thought that the city of Dallas would have more of a selection of work for a chef like myself. But what I'm finding is that they're mostly hiring secondary chefs if that. And there's an abundance of restaurants needing pastry chefs and believe it or not dishwashers."
"Rick I'm not sure what to tell you. Most of these cafes and restaurants have had these chefs working for them for years. You could theoretically open your own place but if it flops, you'll be out all that money. But if it does succeed the sky's the limit."
Thinking back to their conversation from two days ago he had to give her credit. She always looked at the positive in every problem that she faced. And since it involved him, she just extended her scope to cover him as well. He's drawn from his thoughts when he hears Pamela asking something about his last job.
"So Rick I'm not sure that you'd fit with what I have to offer. Jesus is our head chef and he's very good at what he does. Now, do you have any issues with me calling your previous employer?"
"No Pamela I don't. But when I left, we didn't exactly part on good terms. It's not to say that I just up and quit but I was going through a lot of personal issues during that timeframe. Don't be surprised if you hear an earful. I am a good chef though." Rick said the last part proudly.
"Rick as long as you show up for work, I can offer you a third line chef if you're interested. And basically, that's just preparing the appetizers for the clientele that we serve here. I'm not sure if it's what you're interested in but right now that's all I have to offer you."
"Pamela I'm going to have to think about it. Would it be okay if I call you tomorrow after I speak with someone who I trust about your offer?"
"That's fine Rick I have no issue with that. But let me know soon, like real soon."
"Thank you, Pamela, I'll be in touch."
Rick walked out of her office and quickly looked at his watch. Noticing the time, he had just enough of it to get to the store to put his idea in motion. He looked over Pamela's kitchen before he left, then turned and heads for the exit. The kitchen is ideal but he can't really see himself being a third line chef.
Xx
When he left Pamela's he went to an honest to God butcher. Shops like his don't exist that much anymore. Only a chef would know where to find one. People nowadays buy their food from chain supermarkets rather than specialized butchers. He selected four 12 oz cuts of filet mignon. Corn-fed and very, very tender. He watched as the butcher trimmed the cuts of beef there would be no fat on his meat.
He picked out fresh green beans, potatoes for baking, sour cream, chives, bacon, and real butter. He picked up the ingredients for a rub for the meat that his customers in San Francisco raved about. With his timing, he could probably marinate the meat for an hour before cooking it.
He got into his car and started it up but before putting it into drive he noticed a flower shop on the corner. He thought a dozen roses would brighten her day so he shut the car off, got out and locks the door. Then he made his way to the corner flower shop to pick her up some flowers. As he roamed the small shop he wondered. If he thought about it and he thinks about everything would this constitute a date? Giving a woman flowers and doing what he had planned to do for her could be just that. Was that what he was looking for? He didn't know. He went ahead and bought one single yellow rose. Because her friendship, above else, was the best thing that happened to him in a long time.
Xx
He places the rose in a vase filled with water at her place setting on the table. And then he got to work. First, he sets the table for four. Then he started his meal preparations. He infused the meat with his special rub he had created with the ingredients he picked up. It would bring out the best flavor in the meat. Knowing that making noise would probably wake her up he set to his tasks quietly. He decided to grill the meat and prep everything else at the center island. The kitchen remodel went well last week and her mother was right, they do have a lot more room with the expanded center island. This is the best thing they could have done.
He knew he lost track of time when Alexis and Eli walk into the house from school.
"Dad? What are you doing?" Alexis asks.
"Alexis, Eli how was school?" Rick asks as he wipes his hands off on the towel that's draped over his shoulder.
"School was fine dad. But you're avoiding the question."
"No, I'm not avoiding the question. What I'm doing is preparing something special for Kate and you guys as well. This is repayment for what she did when your appendix ruptured two weeks ago."
"So this isn't a date?" She asks questioningly.
"No Alexis this isn't a date. See how many place settings do you see at the table? We're going to sit down and eat a meal together. Talk about our day and see what we might want to do for the weekend." Rick says.
"Rick, does my mom know that you're doing this?" Eli asks.
"No Eli I didn't tell her anything she's been asleep this whole time. It's a surprise!" He said happily.
"Rick, I'm not too sure how this will go over with her. Mom does not like surprises."
It looks like the wind was taken right out of his sails. He looked like he lost his best friend.
"What do you mean she doesn't like surprises? Everyone loves surprises."
"I'm not too sure why she doesn't. But when I was seven, I asked my grandfather and grandmother to take me to a specialty store to buy her a snow globe for her birthday. When we got home my grandparents left and I wrapped her birthday gift and placed it on the table so when we had dinner it would be the first thing she sees. She was upset with the fact that I have left on my own to go to the store to buy her a gift. When I explained to her that my grandparents had taken me, she kind of relaxed. But she was still upset that I didn't tell her what I had done. So, no I don't think she likes surprises either store-bought or thought up as a gesture of thanks."
"Well, I already have the meat prepped and all the vegetables cooking so dinner will be in about a half hour. Why don't you guys start your homework and I guess we'll wake up your mother around five so she can eat dinner with us."
Xx
She wakes up to the smell of something delicious. It's so delicious that her stomach is grumbling and she can't stop it. She gets up out of bed walks to the bathroom and looks at herself in the mirror. It's too early to be up. She takes her robe from behind the door puts it on. Needing to investigate that heavenly smell she starts for the door. Just as she gets to the door, she hears footsteps coming up the stairs and she can guess that is either Alexis or Eli coming to wake her up. She stands at the door waiting for whoever it is to knock.
When she hears a knock on the door, she opens it quickly. Eli who is standing in front of the door it startled at first but sees his mom with bed head hair and sleepy eyes.
"Good morning Mom! You need to get ready and get downstairs. There's a surprise for you."
"Eli there better not be a surprise downstairs for me you know how I hate surprises."
Mom this has nothing to do with me, I know better. I know you hate surprises and I'm not a part of this. Rick on the other hand…"
"Oh no. What did he do now?"
"Actually mom I think its kind of cute. But I'll let him explain to you when you come downstairs. Come on let's go." Eli said tugging her hand.
She can tell that it's not quite five p.m. yet by the position of the sun as she passes the window on the stairway. But the smell drifting up from the kitchen has her intrigued, to say the least. She turns the corner at the bottom of the stairs and sees that the dining room table is set for four. She peers into the kitchens and sees steam rising from the stove. There are three pots on the stovetop each with something simmering in it. On each plate is a garden salad with an assortment of salad dressings on the table. She consciously walks forward standing directly behind her chair and that's when she notices it.
A single long-stem yellow rose.
It unconsciously gets her thinking about why he is doing this. She can't think of anything recently that she could be treated to such an extravagant setting. Staring at the rose just a little bit too long she hears the back door open and he walks through with a plate filled with cooked meat. He's oblivious to her at first, more concerned with dropping the plate on the kitchen floor then to see her standing there. When he laid the plate on the counter he looks up and sees her looking at him.
"Rick, what's going on?"
"Hey, Kate I'm glad you're up. I decided to make you dinner tonight. This is a surprise for you staying with Alexis while she was in the hospital and I got some much-needed sleep. What I have here is a five-course meal. Soup and salad, an appetizer, the main course, and dessert. I know you like your meat medium well and it's cooked that way now. So why don't we get the kids in here and we can sit down to a decent meal."
"Rick before the kids get here, I would like to tell you a little something. What I did for Alexis was something I wanted to do. I don't need repayment in the form of a five-course meal. I really don't like surprises but this one time I'll make an exception for because the food looks delicious. But in the future please talk to me about any surprises you might dream up."
"Okay, Kate. No surprises. Check."
Rick called Alexis and Eli to the table and they all sat down for a filling meal.
Xx
He knew he went about it the wrong way. He sits in his apartment thinking of ways to win her over. She was his to start with. She didn't belong to this new guy. Why couldn't she see that they would be great together? He chugs the last swallow of the tenth beer in the 12 pack he just bought earlier today. He would win her over he just had to figure out how to make her see that she belongs to him…