Here's this week's chapter. We'll be away the end of this week, but I hope to be back early enough on Saturday to post the next one.
Thanks for reading my story. Leave a comment if you enjoyed it.
Chapter 152.
I was happy to see Jess walk through the door that evening. Lots to tell her. But she got the first words in.
"My brother came by Nina's this afternoon and told us what you asked him to do." Jess' arms crossed and she stared at me.
"Our plan with your father fell apart." I stared right back. "I had to improvise."
"Well, lucky for you I agree in principle. He's the perfect one to insinuate himself into the fruit company." She walked slowly to the couch in our living room.
"I also talked to Rudy this afternoon." I sat down next to her.
"So he visited Marisa today?"
"Yes. Oh, and he may be calling you, too. He wants to plan a party for her for when she gets out."
"At the piano bar?" She smiled. "What a great idea."
"I told him it should be a surprise party, but that means that everyone else will have to be involved in the planning."
"Do you know when she'll be released? That's one party we'd love to do, but I hope it won't conflict with anything else we have scheduled." She took out her phone and brought up her calendar. "A weekday evening might work best."
I shrugged. "You'd have to ask Wilson how much longer she'll be at PPTH."
"I will, or maybe I'll have Nina do it. She can coordinate dates with him. I'll focus on ideas for the party. Do you know what kind of food she likes?"
"No idea. But I can find out. Maybe Bev has some ideas."
Jess studied me. "Do you still think she's on the level?"
"I do wonder what her game is that would involve working for your father."
She nodded. "You know, maybe I will ask for her help with Marisa's party. It'll allow me to get to know her better." Her mouth quirked.
"Jess. What are you thinking?"
"Oh, nothing really. Yet. But something will come to me." Her eyes laughed.
I slapped my forehead. "What have I done? When I suggested you talk to Bev, I meant you could ask her what her sister liked."
"Oh, don't you think she'd love to help plan this shindig?"
"Well, yeah." She had a point. Working together on something like that, she'd have lots of opportunities to observe Bev, even ask her leading questions. "Okay. Go for it."
She smiled. "So, a party at The Black Keys." She shivered and grinned. "All the possibilities. Oh, we could do a black and white party! Those are so much fun!"
"A black and white party. Why does that make me think I'll have to wear a penguin suit?"
She laughed. "Nothing of the sort. Although that's an idea! Have people dress as their favorite animal."
"Jess!" I rolled my eyes.
She laughed harder and put a hand on my arm. "Relax. It only means all of the food and decorations will be black and white, like the keys on a piano."
I thought about the concept. It made sense, very appropriate. "Black and white it is. I can think of lots of white foods. Potatoes and rice, chicken, pork and fish, and lots of cheeses. But what would you use for black?"
She ticked them off on her fingers. "Olives and beans, of course. Blackened chicken, salmon and steak. There are lots when you think about it. This is going to be fun." The more she talked, the more her eyes flashed and the wider her grin. "I'll call Rudy tomorrow and set up an appointment to talk to him about it. I bet he'll love the idea. We have a couple of restaurants that would supply what we need."
"But not Bernini Fruit."
"I don't think so." She giggled. I've always hated girls who giggled, but when Jess did it, the sound was pleasant. "Flowers. I think we'll stick to white with those. Otherwise it would be too funereal." Her mind was working the way mine did when I was caught up in a particularly intricate puzzle.
"Do you suppose you can take time out of your planning to have some dinner? I'm starved."
She patted my shoulder and attempted to frown. "Oh, were you slaving away all day at the hospital?"
"Absolutely." I gave her my best put-upon look, bottom lip curled and sad eyes.
"Well, I think we can fix that. You and I are going for the final tasting of foods for Saturday." She stood and reached for my hand.
"We are?" I hadn't heard about that before.
"Yup. The restaurant is insisting. They don't want us to be dissatisfied with anything they send."
"It's that French place, right? Hope they have fries." I smiled as I headed for the door.
"They might have pommes frits if you're lucky," she teased.
"Close enough. Are those on your menu?" We walked out to the car.
"Honestly, it's been a while since our clients picked out the food. But it's for a sweet sixteen party, so I expect so."
"Sixteen year olds like French food?" I got into the car.
"I gather Maison Philippe is the favorite restaurant of the clients' daughter."
"This is going to be interesting." Before I started the engine, I asked, "So, is this tasting at the restaurant? I don't think I've ever been there."
"Yes, they have a tasting room but didn't have a private space large enough for the party, so that will be at a country club that allows members to bring in their own caterers." She pointed straight ahead. "It's on Oak, just past the movie theater."
"And after we're full of French food, we'll visit the Melting Pot." It sounded like I'd be getting lots to eat.
"Maybe we can have dessert there."
"Goodies dipped in melted chocolate. Sounds yummy." I drove to the restaurant. The parking lot was almost full, but someone was pulling out of a handicapped spot. I waited, then took it.
We entered the elegant main room of the place. A hostess in a long black skirt and white sequined top approached us. "May I help you? The wait is forty-five minutes."
"We're here for the tasting."
"Of course. The Goldman party. This way." She led us to a small room in the back. Four people were already there, a middle-aged couple and two teenage girls. The girls were examining the food on a long trestle table and giggling. I appreciated the way Jess giggled more than ever.
"Miss Giordano, the food looks amazing," the woman gushed. She had short blond hair, styled like a young boys, and framing a round face.
"I'm happy you like it. This is my friend, Dr. Gregory House. Greg, Mr. and Mrs. Goldman."
Nina entered with Wilson in tow, and joined us. Introductions were repeated. I hoped no one else was coming because I didn't want to hear them again.
I drifted over to the two teens. "So, which of you is this party for?" I snatched a couple of hors d'oeuvres and popped them in my mouth.
They looked at each other and giggled again. Then then taller one said, "I am. Brianna Goldman. Most people call me Bri."
She was pretty in that way that all teen girls seemed to be, not as thin as many, but not overweight either. Her brown hair was long and loose.
"I won't be sixteen for another two months," her friend said. Not only shorter, but plumper, too, with a sweet face and blond hair. "Who are you?"
"I came with them, specifically, the dark-haired woman."
"Is she your wife?"Bri asked.
I never knew how to refer to Jess. Girlfriend? Significant other? Lover? "She's a friend."
The shorter girl smiled. "If this party is as amazing as I think it'll be, I'm going to tell my parents to use the same catering company."
"Did you taste the food?" I asked. Maybe they could recommend the best things to try.
"The pastry puffs are okay." Bri screwed up her nose. "Spinach, but edible."
Her friend pointed to a few things. "Try the camembert and mushrooms, or the sweet potato canapes."
"And these are just the hors d'oeuvres. I can't wait to see the main courses!" Bri said. These kids really liked French food.
Jess gravitated to me. "I see you've already made friends with the birthday girl and her friend."
"The friend may be a future client." I leaned close. "Watch what you say to her."
Waiters brought out more food as we sampled what was already there. "Why haven't we come here before?" I smacked my lips.
"I didn't know you liked this kind of food or I would have suggested it." She bit into a puff pastry containing some mystery cheese and veggie combo. "Yum. Try one of these."
I'd never been an aficionado of French cuisine, but this restaurant might change my mind.
Wilson came over with a plate full of an assortment of appetizers. "This place was a good choice for your company."
"We needed something different from the Italian, Mexican and Oriental choices on our menus, and someone recommended the place." Jess was beaming. "The restaurant sent the Goldmans to us."
Nina joined us. "It certainly is a good way to start off our business. Whatever else happens at the party, at least the catering is sure to be a success." Her grin was as wide as her sisters.
Mr. and Mrs. Goldman had been talking to the girls, but came over to where we stood. "You don't know how hard it is to please those two." Mrs. Goldman pointed to Bri and her friend. "But they love the food. I wouldn't be surprised if their friends do too."
"Guess we're good to go with the food," Jess said.
"Now lets hope the rest of the arrangements go as smoothly." Mr. Goldman looked like he thought there'd be a hitch with something. But it wasn't the job of the caterers to arrange anything else.
We tasted the beef Bourguignon, poulet chausseur, pommes frites, and other items. There was so much to choose from it was difficult, but I was up to the task.
At eight thirty, we left the Goldmans to finish their tasting. Wilson and Nina decided to remain while we went to The Melting Pot.
Bertoli grinned when we walked in. "Glad you're here. Do I have news for you!"