Page 16 of Knockin' Boats
I wanted nothing more than to run over there now and take Master Bites for a ride, but I couldn’t keep Vera waiting.
Skylar walked me to the staff entrance and let me in, then led me down a back corridor to a side entrance to the kitchen.
I thanked him and slipped inside. Last night, the kitchen had been buzzing with activity after serving dinner. Supplies were being stowed, dishes were clanking into the dishwasher.
I’d only briefly said hello to Vera, seeing that she was busy. Also because she’d barely looked twice at me. It had suddenly hit me that Sawyer might not be the only one holding a grudge toward me.
We’d set up a meeting for today when things would be quieter, and they were. Vera stood at a stainless steel counter with a younger woman, both of them in chef whites. Their heads were bent over an erase board, voices a quiet murmur.
I cleared my throat and stepped forward. “Am I interrupting?”
Vera turned toward me. “Ash, there you are. I was beginning to wonder about you.”
I winced. “Sorry I’m late. I stopped to see the food boat, and I got a little caught up.”
That sounded better than being unable to borrow my daddy’s boat, right?
She waved a hand. “That’s all right. It’s quiet today. We’re mainly just getting our ducks in a row for our first dinner service Friday night.”
“That must be exciting.”
Her eyes lit up. “It sure is. I’ve been getting antsy with all this dang planning. I need tostart.”
I laughed, because I could relate. “I’ve been testing and re-testing every recipe I have because I’m impatient.”
She cocked her head. “You’ve got your own recipes? I thought the food boat was an extension of the resort’s restaurant.”
“I partnered with the resort, but this is my idea. I don’t want to drive around serving someone else’s food.”
“I see we have things to discuss.” She glanced toward the other chef. “Can you give us a minute, Helena?”
“Sure.” She flashed me a sympathetic smile on her way to the door.
Shit, was Vera going to take this away from me just when I thought I’d achieved my longtime dream?
“Ashton—”
“Please don’t tell me I can’t do this,” I said hurriedly. “I’ve been waiting so long, and this is supposed to bemyfood boat. I’m sorry about what happened to Sawyer. I’m sorry if you’re upset with me?—”
“Ash, honey, no. Whatever happened with you and Sawyer is between you boys. I want no part of that.”
I stopped short. “Okay? It’s just…last night you seemed sort of…”
“Distant?”
“Well, yeah.”
“To be perfectly honest, I didn’t recognize you right away.”
I winced as heat flooded my cheeks.
I’d worried that Vera was angry at me on Sawyer’s behalf. But it was worse than that. She’d simply…forgotten me.
That hurt a little.
Mrs. West—Vera—had been like a second mother to me when I was a kid. I’d stayed over at Sawyer’s house practicallyevery night one summer that was particularly bad after my dad died.
Mom had worked evenings, then come home exhausted and sad. It had been easier for us both when I stayed with Sawyer instead.
