Page 20 of The Chef

All in all, Char was pleased with the meal. Now, all he had to do was cook enough for the hungry residents who would descend on them in about a half hour. He would slice the mushrooms and onions first and get the massive pots of potatoes boiling as well. Fill the grill with steaks, and then he could move over to cutting the brownies. Isa, Ralph, and Karl could plate those, and set up the serving area while Char cooked.

And then he had to find some spare time in all of that to work on his meal preparation for Fen. He already planned to make oatcakes after dinner to serve for breakfast in the morning; making a little extra would be easy enough and that covered breakfast for Fen’s group. They would eat lunch in the saddle both days, and Char had plenty of his homemade smoked jerky in storage. That left dinner, which he could make tonight if he stayed up late. Diced onions sautéed in butter, then add flour and milk to make a béchamel. Add cracked black pepper and mustard powder, then wait for it to boil and thicken before adding in his cheeses. Cheddar, Jack, and the Toval mystery-cheese special which was a mass-produced conglomeration of magic-derived uncertainty. It was called Tovalian cheese, although whether it actually had any actual cheese in it was a mystery Char wasn’t in a hurry to solve. However, it melted exactly like Char preferred and when combined with the cheddar gave his mac and cheese a smooth creaminess no other cheese could provide. First, though, he would need to form his pasta. The amount of dough he had made would serve about half this facility, but if he made more tomorrow, he could also serve mac and cheese for dinner. He could turn it into a create your own,with various vegetables or meats to add and a couple types of breadcrumbs sautéed for a topping.

First, though, was dinner tonight and Fen’s food, and trying not to worry about Fen leaving on a potentially dangerous trip. Trying, but Char knew he would fail.

Chapter Eleven

FOUR IN THEmorning was a ridiculous time to be awake. Normally, Char would still be asleep for at least another half hour to forty-five minutes, but needs must and he’d gotten up at three to have a head start. The bag of supplies resting on the table in front of him next to a plate of fresh oatcakes made a half hour ago weighed heavily on Char’s mind. Jerky for lunch today and tomorrow, more oatcakes for tomorrow’s breakfast, for dinner tonight a pan of mac and cheese under a protective lid with instructions for heating if Fen could have a fire, but which could also be eaten cold, and a double portion of brownies. All Char needed was Fen to appear so he could pass over the bundle.

Finally, Char heard footsteps down the hallway and a few seconds later Fen walked into the common area.

“Char?” he asked, catching sight of Char almost immediately. “What are you doing here?”

“I made some food for your trip,” Char explained, pointing to the bag.

Fen’s eyes lit up and he smiled. “That’s amazing. Thanks so much!”

He walked over and sat on the couch next to Char, close enough their knees touched. Char blinked, suddenly way tooclose to Fen’s disarming hazel eyes. Fen reached out with one hand, and this time he didn’t hesitate, trailing his fingers along Char’s cheek and tucking a strand of hair behind Char’s ear in a gentle caress that sent fire shooting through Char’s entire body.

“I really am glad I didn’t kill you,” Fen said, his voice low and growly. His fingers trailed behind Char’s ear and down his jaw until Fen pulled away when he reached Char’s chin.

Char’s brain had turned to pudding; the chocolate kind, redolent in vanilla bean and utterly sinful. Still, a small part of him was engaged enough to wonder how long Fen had been using that phrase in place of saying, “I love you.”

Char opened his mouth to respond and only air came out, breathy and almost a sigh, and his face went hot. Fen smiled, his eyes burning as he looked at Char, catching all of the minutia of Char’s reaction.

He suddenly pulled away to a polite distance. Char’s brain took a second to reengage and recognize the sound of footsteps in the hallway. The rest of Fen’s group emerged and joined them at the couches.

“Char made us food for the trip,” Fen explained, picking up the bag.

“Yes!” Laurence cheered, although quietly so he didn’t wake the rest of the building.

“And oatcakes for this morning,” Char added. He held out the plate, which was empty a half second later.

“You’re the best,” Naomi said through a full mouth.

“It’s the least I can do to help you have a safe trip,” Char explained. “I expect to see everyone for dinner tomorrow night.” He said the last bit to the group, but his eyes were focused on Fen.

Fen nodded. “We’ll be there. I promise.” His gaze was locked with Char’s for a long moment before he wrenched himself away. “Let’s go. Daylight’s wasting,” he said to his group, leading the way outside into the scant predawn light just starting to glow on the eastern horizon.

The door closed behind the last of them with a thud, and Char sank back into the couch cushion, letting out a heavy sigh.

Fen loved him? No, that wasn’t possible, and yet that caress and the meaning behind those words said otherwise. Fen wasn’t someone to dally or to arrange conquests; no, if he was expressing interest in Char that way, it was because he meant it. Maybe Char was misinterpreting. He could be projecting his own inner wishes over Fen’s words. Yet Fen was the one to reach out and touch Char, the one to say those specific words in that deep tone, and Char was utterly confused.

He would have to wait until Fen returned to figure out what was real and what part was his brain going off into a lovely fantasy, but perhaps for the next two days Char could dream.

And in the meantime, he had breakfast to prepare. Char stood and headed back toward the kitchen. The bread and rolls he had made yesterday and left overnight to rise needed to go in the oven. In addition to the oatcakes, today was scrambled eggs as well; two different kinds to please multiple palates. The first completely plain, only eggs scrambled in butter. On the side he would offer bowls of shredded cheese, salt and pepper, and his homemade salsa. To the second version, he would add milk, salt, and pepper to the eggs before cooking, and directly after he put the eggs in the pan, he would add cheese. Cooked low and slow, the cheese melted and incorporated into the egg, making for a creamier and fluffier final product. Particularly when Char used Tovalian cheese, although he liked Swiss or Jack as well.

And any free moments he had, Char would be rolling pasta shells off the end of a table knife, trying to make enough to feed the entire complex mac and cheese for dinner that night.

Char walked into his kitchen and let out a breath. With food and cooking to distract him, he might make it through the next two days with his sanity intact. He hoped.

The five o’clock wake-up bell rang from the nearby tower, and the building began to hum with activity as everyone not on night shifts began their day. Char’s morning crew arrived not long after. Two volunteered to start washing the pile of dirty dishes, and Char directed the other two to the large chunks of cheese and the handheld shredders. Then Karl walked in.

He didn’t look awake or happy, but he was on time. Char had to give him a decent grade for effort. That was, until Char took a closer look. Dots of last night’s marinade spotted Karl’s white shirt and Karl’s hair was greasy from not being washed. Char stopped cracking eggs into a bowl, rinsed his hands, and went over to Karl.

“Let’s have a chat about my expectations for you working here,” Char said, leading Karl over to a table to sit. “Good hygiene is the most important thing you or I can bring to a kitchen. I expect you to shower at least once every day, scrubbing head to toe with soap. Every morning you will wear clean clothes, and if you spill on yourself during the day, you will go change.” Karl opened his mouth, no doubt to protest since he had started scowling at Char’s first words, but Char spoke over him. “If you want to continue working in my kitchen, you will obey these simple rules. Now, go shower and come back when you’re ready to get to work.”

Karl left. Slouching and grimacing, but he went. Char returned to his eggs.

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