Page 27 of Timeless: Encore

We don’t hang around after the show, Fee wants to get home to Mia. When the car pulls up, we walk past a dozen fans or so who mill outside. I sign a couple autographs while Fee patiently waits beside me.

“Who’s the fat chick, Zane?” A girl screams so loud it reverberates.

Fee stiffens. I grab her hand, squeeze and move us toward the car. No one gets to talk to my wife that way, but I know if I lose my cool our photos will end up all over social media making Fee a target. Unfortunately, me leaving doesn’t go over well. A couple women join in the taunts at my wife. Ridicule Fee about her “fat ass.” Call her chubby. Call me a “chubby-chaser.”

I’m so furious. She’s unbearably gorgeous in her green bustier and black jeans. I walk faster, dragging Fee with me. “Don’t listen to them. Don’t acknowledge them. They’re just fucking idiots,” I whisper to Fiona.

We make it to the car. Fee practically dives in. Lianne and Carter follow. Now that Fiona’s safely inside, I flip the fans the bird before turning my attention back to my girl.

She’s sobbing. Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Babe, don’t let them get to you. They’re jealous, mean, asshole people.” I snuggle her to me. “You’re so beautiful. Hotter than all of them combined.”

She sniffles. “I’ve never felt so humiliated.”

“Sweetheart, please don’t take what they say to heart.” Lianne’s voice soothes. “Women will say anything to get under your skin when you’re with a famous person. You’ve been with Zaney for a long time, you know better.”

Tears stream down her face. I furiously dab them away with my thumb. Kiss her sweet face. I’m at a loss.

Carter, being Carter, somehow manages to bumble his way into the solution. “Fiona fucking Reynolds. You’re a goddamn Michelin Star chef. Your job is to cook and eat food. My son has never had eyes for anyone but you. Be yourself. Live your life. Don’t you ever let anyone bring you down. Don’t you ever cry over a group of skanks who’d suck thirty dicks just to get backstage. Hold your head high, girl. You are stunning. Talented. Smarter than all of those hoe-bags combined. You are and always have been a fucking queen.”

“Ohmygod, Carter.” Fee’s sobs turn into laughter. “Hoe-bags? Who are you?”

He shrugs. “Carter fucking Pope. I just call it like I see it.”

My mom can’t contain her smile. She reaches over and takes his hand, which makes Carter visibly happy. Maybe their reunion isn’t such a bad idea.

I lean down and kiss Fee. She mutters, “Stupid fucking bitch. I’m the one sucking Zane’s cock tonight. Or any night.”

“I heard that, Fee.” Lianne shakes her head.

Jesus. My family.

Unconventional. Complicated.

One thing’s indisputable, we have each other’s backs.

I’m one lucky sonofabitch.

Chapter nine

FIONA

One Month Later

ToachievemyMichelinStar dream, the entire staff at Gusmustbe exceptional.

Front of the house is the wait staff, hosts, and sommelier. Back of the house is my entire team of chefs. The business manager will oversee the books, hiring and vendors. Finally, a public relations firm to get the word out about my restaurant. If I’m successful at bringing in top-notch candidates in all of these areas, Gus will have an excellent chance of making a mark straight out of the gate.

Once Zane, Mia, and I came home, my days were filled with endless amounts of paperwork. Zane got Mia settled into first grade while I was neck-deep in building the foundation of the business. It’s intense. Employment agreements, training manuals and policy and procedure documents, liquor licenses, and LLC agreements.

My business manager, Emilie Fontaine, is an absolute rockstar. I met her when she was a bookkeeper at the restaurant I managed when I returned to Seattle. In the years since, she’s leveled up considerably, earning a reputation for being a hard-ass, but fair, finance officer. I trust her implicitly, as does Zane.

Chef du Cuisine is a crucial role. It’s important to hire someone as soon as possible. While I was away, Emilie prescreened to narrow down the field. We conducted Zoom interviews with the final candidates and have two contenders for the position. Petra Novak, who’s held key roles at Atelier Crenn and Maude. Justice Abarca staged all over Paris, then Barcelona before spending the past couple years in New York at Per Se.

The Chef du Cuisine I hire will work with me to test and perfect recipes, recruit the rest of the team, train them, and get ready for service.

Gus doesn’t have running water yet, so we’re still weeks away from being able to use the kitchen. In the meantime, while Zane and Mia are in San Francisco for a show, I’ve flown Petra and Justice to Seattle to cook with me at the house for what is, essentially, a working interview. The fact that these two outstanding candidates are even considering coming on board blows my mind. I’ve been away from the restaurant scene for a while, but Seattle is a foodie town and the prospect of bringing a Michelin Star here is an exciting opportunity,

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