Ana
"And for you, Ma'am?" the waiter politely asks.
I frantically look over the expensive menu and try to find what I want to eat. Grace and Carrick invited us for dinner after we told all of them the good news. Christian and I have never been to a real restaurant before. I don't know what to order, even though Grace told us we could get anything we want.
"Can I have another minute, please?" I look up from the menu and tell the waiter. He nods and goes around the table.
Christian rubs my back as I smile at him. He smiles and goes back to looking at his menu. I go back to mine, and browse through the entire selection.
STARTERS
Clams $14
Prosciutto, chiles, garlic, grilled bread $16
Ceviche: lime, red onion, cilantro, chilies $16
Chilled Lobster: crème fraîche, avocado, grapefruit mkt. $24
Oysters: half dozen with mignonette $14
Beef Tartare: avocado, soft poached egg $12 pp.
Charcuterie: a selection of house cured meats $12.
Beef Cheek Pierogies: horseradish & mushrooms $16.
Crispy Veal Sweetbreads: creamed leeks, mushrooms, blue cheese $10.
Roasted Marrow: sea salt, oregano, capers & chilies (please allow 12 minutes) $10
SALADS
Caesar: romaine, radicchio, parmigiano reggiano $10
Chickpea: arugula, kalamata olive, cucumber, tomato, red onion $12
Beet Salad: watercress, walnut, orange, goat cheese $14
Apple: bibb lettuce, gala apples, proscuitto, gorgonzola $12
ENTRESS
Roast Beast: cassoulet, pork sausage mkt.
Roasted Chicken: heirloom beans, cippolini, fingerling potato $28
Short Rib: carrot, mushroom, port braised cipollini, celeriac $38
Braised Lamb Shank: eggplant, orange, pine nuts, fennel $38
Halibut: haricot vert, fennel, brown butter, watercress $34
Pan Seared Scallops: celery root, chanterelles, celery leaves $32
Seafood Pasta: lobster, scallops, clams, garlic, tomato $34
Grilled Salmon: olive tapenade, chickpea, cucumber $34
Gnocchi: seasonal vegetables $28
STEAKS & CHOPS
Filet Mignon with sea salt & olive oil OR crab béarnaise $50-54
Smoked Pork Chop: creamy polenta, pickled chilies, bbq onions $32
Dry Aged NY Strip: smoked mushroom conserva $54
Dry Aged Ribeye: preserved lemon, granna padano, smoked garlic $55
Dry Aged Porterhouse for two: marbled potato, caramelized onion, zip sauce
(please allow 40+ minutes) $130
SIDES
Rosemary Fries $6
Whipped Potatoes $5
Spinach & Feta Au Gratin $12
Mac & Cheese $10
Brussels Sprouts & Walnuts $10
Wild Mushrooms $12
Creamy Polenta $6
Smashed Potatoes $10
Mixed Green Bean $10
Holy Moly! These prices are outrageous! They want us to order whatever we want? The prices are too over the top. Over fifty dollars for a steak? I am worried that I am going to order something that is too expensive. I lean over and whisper into Christian's ear. "Everything is too expensive."
He sighs and kisses me on the cheek. "Baby, get what you want. They want to celebrate. Please, don't worry about the prices," he says quietly.
I bit my lip and look at everyone who is busy telling the waiter what they want. Carrick orders some Oysters and the Ceviche for the starters and a two bottles of Reichsrat Von Buhl, Maria Schneider, Jazz, Riesling, Pfalz 2014 for the table. He orders the Dry Aged Porterhouse for him and Grace.
Grayson orders the Filet Mignon with crab béarnaise, Spinach & Feta Au Gratin, and the Creamy polenta.
Priscilla orders the Halibut with the Apple Salad. Her mother; Elena orders the Caesar Salad, Grilled Salmon, and the Wild Mushrooms.
Addison orders the Pan Seared Scallops, Apple Salad, and Rosemary Fries. Elliot orders himself a Dry Aged NY Strip Steak with Whipped Potatoes and Mac & Cheese.
The waiter carefully picks up the menus, and that gives me the chance to decide what I am going to order for myself.
Awarded Detroit's Restaurant of the Year (2009)
I spot in gray calligraphy at the top of the menu. Wow, must be a really good place.
I take a deep breath. I pick the Caesar salad, Roasted Chicken for my entrée, Smashed Potatoes and the Mixed Green Beans for my sides. My mouth waters at the description of all the entrees. It's hard to choose and I don't even know half of what these things are. I have never eaten something so… extravagant in my life.
"Have you decided what you want, ma'am?" the waiter walks over to me.
I nod and tell him my order. He nods and asks Christian want he wants. He orders the Dry Aged Ribeye with Brussels Sprouts & Walnuts, and Mac & Cheese. We both order a glass of water. Since I am pregnant, I can't have alcohol and Christian doesn't want to drink the wine that everyone else is drinking.
I look around the table once more and they are all drinking the wine and talking and laughing with each other. They seem so comfortable around one another and I am sitting over here being uncomfortable. Not because the Grey's are making me uncomfortable, but because I am in a place where rich people come to dine. Men and women are sitting around the various tables with cocktail dresses and expensive jewelry. The men are all wearing suits or slacks with ties.
I look over at Christian, and he too looks uncomfortable. His hand is tightly resting on my leg while his eyes are scanning the restaurant with a sullen expression. I can tell he is uncomfortable because he glances at his work clothes a few times then at the men in expensive suits. Even Elliot is wearing slacks and a clean button up shirt. I am in a dress, but still. We don't fit in here, and it's discouraging. It makes me feel inadequate, and I can tell it's making Christian feel the same.
What are we doing here? This is not us. We are not allowed to be happy and dine with all of these wealthy people. My shoulders slump and I look at Christian. His head turns towards me, and he gives me a small smile. Yeah, he is thinking the same thing.
I think Grace picks up on our change in moods because she starts up a conversation. "So, a boy! How exciting," her smile is infectious.
"I know. We are excited," I rub my baby bump, and everyone is staring at us with matching smiles.
"So, Christian. How is the new job? Grayson treating you well?" Carrick asks with a hint of concern in his voice.
"Yes, I like the job so far. The crew is great, and so is Grayson," Christian nods.
"I'm glad," Carrick smiles tightly at him.
Christian nods and looks around the room again. The tension is suddenly thick. Grace smiles at me tightly and drinks from her wine glass. I pick up my glass of water a take a sip. The table is quiet, and everyone is trying to figure out what to say. To say this is awkward would be a massive understatement.
"So, Christian. Uh, I was wondering about your last name. You said it was Gray?" Carrick says with a frown.
Christian freezes and I nearly spit out my water that I had in my mouth causing me to choke. I start to cough, and this brings Christian back to earth. He hurriedly pats my back, and everyone stares at me with concern. I smile and say, "I'm fine. Just went down the wrong pipe."
Christian rubs my bump, and I smile. "I'm okay," I reassure him, and he nods.
I see Grace all of a sudden jab Carrick in the ribs from across the table. I frown and stare at them. What was that for?
"Christian?" Carrick probes again.
Christian looks up at him and frowns. "What?"
"Your last name? Gray was it?" Carrick asks looking uncomfortable. I bite my lip and look down. Where is he going with this?
Christian sighs and nods his head. "Yes, it is Gray," he clears his throat.
Grayson stares at him impassively before his eyes move away. He brings one of his hands up to his face and strokes his chin in deep thought. His other hand is playing with his empty wine glass.
"Interesting. Do you spell Gray with an E or an A?" Priscilla frowns while staring at Christian.
"I spell it with an E. I never knew my father. My mother's last name was Smith. I decided I didn't want that last name, so I changed my name to Grey due to my eyes being the color gray. Weird? Probably. I guess it is just a coincidence we have the same last name," he murmurs.
Carrick and Grace deflate a little on that information. Christian didn't want to be reminded of his mother so when he turned eighteen, the foster home that we lived in before we left the system, helped him legally changed his last name. He wanted a new identity, so we both came up with the name since his eyes were such a unique shade of gray.
I have to admit, that it is a huge coincidence, but I can't shake the earlier feeling of Carrick and Christian's similar features. I think they have the same ideas the way they are both staring at me. Grayson lets his emotions slip from time to time, and when they do, you can tell he knows something. The other times, he is so hard to read due to his poker face that he probably mastered throughout the years of running your own successful business. Addison is oblivious to any of it. She is busy quietly chatting with Elliot to know what is going on around her. Sometimes she doesn't have a care in the world, and I'd like to know what that feels like. Especially now.
"Pardon me if this comes off as rude, but did your biological mother know who your father was?" Elena jumps in and asks suddenly causing me to quietly gasp in surprise. My eyes widen as does Christian's.
"Mom!" Priscilla exclaims while closing her eyes in humiliation.
"I'm sorry dear. That did come off as harsh and inappropriate. I'm sorry, don't mind me," Elena looks embarrassed. I am too. That was a little rude, but I can see that she is embarrassed and is regretful because of her facial expression.
I am surprised when Christian answers her question anyway. "My mother had a one-time thing with a passing soldier. He left to go on deployment the day after they had sex. That is all I know," he says tightly.
Elena turns beet red and shakily take a sip of her wine while the others stare at him dumbfounded. My mouth is hanging open, and I stare at him in shock. He never outright tells anybody about his past, especially about our mothers. Christian chugs his water down and says he is going to the bathroom. He kisses my forehead and walks away hastily.
I look back at everyone at the table, and they are staring at me and squirming uncomfortably. I try to give them a smile, but it comes out more of a grimace. I too shakily pick up my glass and take small sips. How the heck did we get here?
Two waiters come up to the table and break the deafening silence. Elliot speaks up. "Looks great. Let's chow down," he rubs his hands together, tucks his napkin inside of his shirt and picks up his silverware, ready to dig into his food. I giggle and the rest of the table chuckles, causes the tension to break that only Elliot could pull off at such an awkward moment.
The waiter places my dish in front of me, and the smell is to die for. The presentation of the sides and chicken is immaculate. It looks too beautiful to eat. I take my heavy red napkin and place it on my lap and dig into the delicious green beans first. I moan and savor the taste as it hits my taste buds.
Everyone digs into their meal, and after about five minutes, I have eaten half of my food on the plate. I am a pig right now, but I can't help it. The food is delicious. Christian suddenly returns to the table and gives me a kiss on the cheek. I smile at him and stare into this eyes to try and convey to him that I am here for him. He nods and smiles. He digs into his food while Carrick sneaks glances at him while he eats.
The conversation flows easily for the rest of the meal. No more awkward questions from anyone, much to my relief. After everyone is finished eating, the waiters take our empty plates away and ask if anyone wants dessert. Addison is the only one that says she wants something. Grace and Carrick order some coffee while everyone else finishes the rest of the expensive bottle of wine.
"Sweetheart, are you sure you don't want any dessert? It's your special day. You just get anything you want," Grace nods at the dessert menu. I bit my lip and glance over the selections once more. The food was delicious, and I am still a little hungry. Maybe…
I look over at Christian and nods in encouragement. His copper-colored hair flopping down on his forehead and his gray eyes study me with warmth and love. I smile and nod my head at him.
I look over the menu. A quote on top of the menu grabs my attention before I see the selections.
Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first
— Ernestine Ulmer
Well, that is true. Life is unpredictable. Our life has certainly been. I shake my head. I don't want to go there right now. Things are looking up, and I shouldn't dwell on the negative or what could happen in the future.
DESSERT
Bread Pudding: candied bacon, whiskey caramel, walnut, maple bourbon ice cream $11.
French Toast Crème Brulee: brown butter rum pain perdu $11.
Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake: pepita granola, caramelized white chocolate ganache $11.
The Nutty Professor: peanut butter, milk chocolate bavarian, banana caramel $11
The Bar: chocolate, malt marshmallow, pretzel, smoked salt, whiskey sauce $12.
Caramel Apple Churros: salted caramel roasted apples, toffee chunk ice cream (please allow 10+ minutes) $12.
House Made Sorbet: $10
The dessert menu looks incredible. The Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake sounds to die for! I've never had cheesecake before. The only dessert I have ever had was some plain vanilla ice cream and a day old chocolate cake. I think I am going to go with the cheesecake.
"I will have the Bread Pudding, please," Mia orders her dessert first.
The waiter nods and takes her menu. He walks over to me and asks what I would like. "I would like the Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake, Please. Oh! And a glass of milk," I say shyly.
"Yes, ma'am, excellent choice," He smiles as he takes my menu from my hands. I lick my lips and thank him. Christian tries not to laugh. I giggle slightly and take a sip of my water.
Grace stares at us lovingly and takes a sip of her coffee. "Ana. Christian. We are having a benefit next weekend, and Carrick and I wanted to see if you would like to join us?" She waves to everyone as they nod and smile in our direction. A benefit?
"Oh, um, that was sweet of you. What is the benefit for?" I look over at Christian, uncertain if he even wants to go. He is staring at Grace with a frown.
"It is to help raise money for families in crisis. We have the benefit at our house every year. Carrick and I started hosting it for the last three years. We would love it if you two would join us," she explains with a pleading smile.
I turn my eyes to Christian once more, and he sighs. He turns to me and asks if I want to go. I bite my lip and think about it. It sounds like a good cause. Helping families in need. Would it be like the party that they had a while back? Will there be important people there? What about clothes? Is there a dress code? That is when it hits me that I don't have anything fancy to wear.
"What is the dress code?" I ask with a bout of uncertainty.
She looks at me as her eyes soften. "Dresses and tuxes are what everyone usually wears, but don't worry. We will find you something. I would love to take you shopping," she says in glee.
Shopping? Oh, no. They have done so much for us already. I don't want them to bother with more clothes. I am about to protest when Priscilla see's my expression and jumps in. "Every girl needs that little black dress. I will go with you. I am in need of a new gown, and I know just the place," she smiles and winks at me.
I smile hesitantly and nod at them without even asking if Christian is okay with that. I look over at him, and he is smiling at me with one eyebrow raised.
"Wonderful! Carrick and I will pick you up on Saturday," Grace beams at us. I smile back and notice everyone doing the same.
Our dessert comes, and Addison, and I dig in while everyone else discusses the benefit. The cheesecake melts in my mouth, and I moan in ecstasy at the taste. Everyone laughs, and I blush when I realize that I have moaned too loud.
Christian chuckles and kisses my hair as I scarf down the rest of my dessert.
"It was wonderful to see you again, dear. I will call you next week to go shopping," she says while giving me a hug goodbye.
We are standing outside the restaurant Michal Symon's Roast, which is located inside of The Westin Book Cadillac hotel. The restaurant was excellent, and I am glad we had the chance to experience eating at such an expensive place. Even though it is not that big of a deal, eating out at a restaurant, but it is a big deal to Christian and me since we have never had the chance to experience this type of restaurant and food.
"Thank you," I say softly.
Everyone else says goodbye as Addison throws herself at me and gives me a bear hug. I laugh and hug her back. "Careful babe. She is pregnant you know," Elliot chuckles as he places his hand on her arm to mover her back a little.
"Oh, sorry," she says guiltily.
"It's fine. I am okay," I reassure her.
She smiles and kisses both my cheeks. "I'll see you next week for our shopping extravaganza!" she claps her hands and jumps up and down. I laugh and nod at her enthusiasm.
Elliot will be driving us home in Addison's car. She will be driving home with her parents since they are both staying at Grace and Carrick's house for the weekend.
"It was nice to meet you dear. Again, I'm sorry about my earlier questions," again; she looks embarrassed as her cheeks turn a light shade of pink.
Christian puts an arm around my waist and gives her a tight smile. "Nice to meet you as well, Mrs. Lincoln," he says tightly.
She gives him a small smile and walks over to Grace. Elena explained during dinner that she and Grace are really good friends. They met through her husband, Richard since he is one of the top surgeons at the hospital where Grace works at as a Pediatrician. Elena owns her own chain of upscale beauty salons, Serenity, in downtown Detroit. She invited me to have a hair trim and beauty treatments for the benefit next weekend, and at first, I politely declined her offer. With Addison and Priscilla pleading with me to go with them, I relented and accepted her offer. Her question was inappropriate, but she seems like a nice person nonetheless, so I am going to give her a chance.
Elena also told me that she and her husband are good friends and partners with our doctor at the clinic. Richard, her husband donates money to Planned Parenthood throughout the year. Elena was visiting him to invite him and his wife to the benefit next weekend and was seeing how the clinic was doing since they are a big benefactor for the clinics here in Detroit. Her husband, was out of town this weekend for a medical conference. Anyway, she ran into the Grey's, and that is why Elena was there when Christian and I showed up today. Talk about a small world.
"Alright, you two. Ready to go?" Elliot jumps up and down on the spot to warm up. I laugh at his expression of being frozen.
We nod and follow him to Addison's white BMW. We get inside and put on our seatbelts. I am in the front seat while Christian is in the back. He wanted me to sit up front where the vents were. Always thinking of me first.
"Dude, you need to start thinking about getting your driver's license," Elliot says while driving.
"What for?" Christian frowns. I too frown at that.
"You're working now. So, you need a car to get to and from work. Also, banana has a bun in the oven. What happens when she goes into labor? Need a car and a license to get her to the hospital, bro," he nods at me and glances at Christian from the rearview mirror.
I bite my lip and turn around in my seat and look at him. He sighs and leans his head back on the headrest for a second before looking back at Elliot.
"How much would that be, though?" Christian asks him.
"You need to study for the driver's test. Get your permit, then when you have that, take the actual driving test, and then if you pass, they will give you the license. Don't worry about how much it will cost. I can help," he explains.
"No. I will pay for it myself. I am tired of other people paying for me," Christian hisses.
Elliot sighs and shakes his head. "Man, you need to stop with that pride bullshit. There is no harm in letting people help you out. You just started to get on your feet, and you won't have enough money for a license since you need to get everything else first. I want to do this for you, so let me!" he says exasperated.
Christian sighs frustrated as he runs his hand through his hair. I give him a small smile from upfront. Elliot has a point and sometimes you need to ask for help if you need it.
"Why are they helping us so much, Elliot? They don't even know us, and now they got me a job, an apartment, clothes, furniture, and fancy ass food at an upscale restaurant!" he says getting more frustrated the more he rants.
Elliot sighs equally frustrated. "Man, they are just nice people. They want to help you out, so what? Just because they are doing all of this for two people who obviously need help, doesn't mean they have some hidden agenda," He shakes his head while huffing.
Christian sighs and mumbles under his breath. I didn't hear what he said, but I can see that he is thinking about his suspicions about Carrick.
"Just let me pay for it. Look into it and let me know of the cost. I have nothing else to pay for. I have a good job, and I make decent money, and I don't have to pay for rent, so let me put my money to good use," Elliot pleads with him. My eyes soften at his sweet gesture as I place my hand on his arm to let him know that I appreciate his help. He looks over at me and gives me a wink.
"Fine. Thanks, Elliot. And stop winking at my women," he growls.
Elliot laughs out loud and shakes his head. His blonde curls bouncing over his head, and his dimples pop out while he continues to laugh. I giggle and look over at Christian while he tries to glare at him, but fails miserably.
"Bro, I knew the jealous, possessive, Christian would make an appearance. He is never too far away," he sings causing me to giggle harder. Aint' that the truth?
Christian chuckles and shakes his head as we continue to drive to our new apartment while laughing and talking about everything and nothing.
AN: Next chapter will be the benefit.
Thanks for all the reviews and followers. I appreciate all of the feedback, I really do.
The menu in this chapter is the actual menu for Roast, the restaurant in Detroit.
Till next time.