Page 48 of A Recipe Called Home

“No, I’ve been up for a while.”

“Oh. Good,” he mumbled. “Well, Roxy asked me to call you. She went into labor last night—”

“What? Is she ok? Is the baby alright?”

“Yes, they are both great. Healthy little boy. They named him Oliver,” Miles informed her. “But that’s why I’m calling. She said you had volunteered to help her with the Bear Ball this week. She won’t be able to do it now. So I had suggested that, um, maybe you’d be interested in taking over for her? I know it’s a lot of work and you only have three days, but it would mean a lot to her, and I think you’d be great,” he rambled on.

Jules’ face scrunched in confusion. What was he asking her? To cook for the entire benefit? She’d never cooked for that many people, and never for an important event like this. When she volunteered to help, she expected Roxy to be there telling her what to do.

“Jules, you there?”

“Yeah, sorry. I’m just trying to get caught up. Is there no one else who’d be better at this?”

“No. I can’t cook, you know that. And Jax is even more hopeless in the kitchen, if you can believe it,” he explained. “They have a few high school kids scheduled to help, but no one who can take over. It would be a huge favor to them. And to me."

“Alright. Sure, why not? How hard can it be?”

She already felt in over her head.

Jules told Miles to get her all the information about the Bear Ball that he could. How many people would be there and had the food been ordered? Could he get the RSVPs so she could be prepared for allergies? There were so many details to sort out in just three short days; she needed reinforcements.

Jules rushed into the living room to get her grandma up to speed so they could decide what to serve for dinner. Roxy had a menu, but she didn’t get the order placed in time for the fish she planned for the main course. The fresh haddock wouldn’t arrive by Wednesday if they ordered it now; they needed a different plan.

Where to start, though? Jules flipped through the tin of organized recipe cards for inspiration. She was relieved to have her grandmother there to help. First, they worked to finalize a main dish they could build a cohesive menu around, which seemed like the hardest part. They’d also need a vegetarian plate based on the RSVP notes Jules now had in her email from Roxy.

As they discussed options, Grandma Rosa suggested chicken as the main protein because it would be easy to find in the quantity they needed for Wednesday and could be cooked in large batches. After considering a few recipes, they landed on roasted orange chicken thighs with artichoke and fennel. It was a hearty dish that had a lighter flavor profile, plus Jules had cooked it before.

They picked gnocchi alla sorrentina for the vegetarians, or non-vegetarians who preferred a pasta main. Her grandma cautioned her that people sometimes changed their minds the night of any preset dinner, so she should make extra.

For the appetizer, they went simple: a caprese salad. Dessert would be something Grandma Rosa could help Jules make ahead of time: strawberry honey mascarpone tart.

The menu focused on fresh ingredients and simple, yet beautiful presentation. This was not a time to overcomplicate things. They would just make good, satisfying food with the best ingredients they could get in time.

Satisfied with their selections, Jules thanked her grandma before stopping into the Golden Kernel. Roxy had emailed some instructions for Jules and had told her where to find a list of purveyors in the kitchen office that she should call to order whatever she needed. Knowing there was a possibility they might be able to get her everything in time, Jules thought she would start there and then head down to John’s Shoppe if all else failed. Micky would know how to help.

The gastropub’s kitchen wasn’t much different from the one at The Landing, just smaller and more intimate. The tables and cooktops were well used but kept clean. The shelves were full and organized with supplies. Jules did a quick inventory of the equipment, pantry, and walk-in cooler so she’d be familiar when it came time to cook.

Her hands shook with adrenaline as she lifted various pots and pans to get a better look at the cook range. Everything seemed in order, but anxious energy coursed through her body. She didn’t know if she could pull this off, and there was a lot of pressure to get it right. Roxy and Jax were counting on her. Miles was counting on her. The Golden Kernel was just starting to plant roots in Riverbend, but Jules had a sense it was still on shaky ground.

Before leaving the house earlier, Grandma Rosa gave Jules her version of a pep talk.

“Now don’t go listening to those pesky voices in your head telling you that you can’t do this. Of course you can. This isn’t brain surgery. It’s just cooking,” she’d said. Oddly, it was just the right thing to calm her down.This isn’t brain surgerywas a familiar refrain to Jules; she’d often repeat it to herself in stressful situations, just as her grandma had advised her over the years. A reminder that nothing was as serious as it felt, unless it was brain surgery, of course.

Over the next few hours, Jules hunkered down in the office, making lists of everything she needed and placing orders over the phone. She was relieved to discover everything could be delivered in time except for the artichokes, which John’s Shoppe carried. She’d never seen the store without them. Around her, the restaurant whirred to life for the lunch and dinner crowds, and without warning, Jax popped his mohawked head into the small office to say hello.

“You shouldn’t be here!” she protested.

“Nah, it’s all good. Roxy and the baby are taking a much-deserved nap, so I thought I’d stop by to talk to the staff. We have a few ‘assistant managers’ who will keep things running, but I have my doubts,” he said with air quotes. “We’re going to stick to the pared-down menu Roxy had arranged for her maternity leave. It’ll be alright.”

“Ok, well, if you need any help with things today, just let me know.”

“You’re already doing enough for the benefit. Thank you so much for jumping in with such little notice. You’re a lifesaver. I can see why Miles loves you,” he said before disappearing back into the dark hallway.

Jules’ breath caught in her throat. The comment took her by surprise, leaving her frozen, staring at the beige bulletin board on the wall in front of her.Had Miles told Jax he loved her? What did he mean? Did he mean it like a ‘friend’? Was it an offhand comment, or was it more than that?

Shaking herself back to reality, she lifted her shoulders and placed her hands in her lap, preparing for the serious talk she was about to have with herself. Out loud, she said, “All that matters right now is getting through the benefit. You have zero time to waste thinking about anything else for the next three days. Now focus, Jules. Worry later.”

With the stern self-talk over, Jules looked at her to-do list. It was long.

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