Page 23 of The Chef's Kiss
“Emery? Was she working at the market? She can’t be old enough. Gosh, last time I saw her, she had to be ten or eleven.”
“I don’t know about all that, but she’s really bad at her job. Between Rosalie’s produce and Jake’s Cakes, I’m striking out left and right with all the important local resources the restaurant needs if it’s going to be a success.”
“Sounds like you’ve got quite the dilemma.” She stuffed the last bite of scone in her perfect mouth and washed it down with her drink before she stood, grabbing her notebook. “You know, you should try the scones here. They’re really delicious.”
She dropped her napkin on the table and made her way out the door.
9
JORGINA
I could do this. Walk up to the door, pull it open, and step inside. Easy, right?
The Superiore Bay Winery offices sat at the northern edge of town, far enough away to feel like a different world. Well, it was. Gone was the congenial atmosphere of Main Street. Here, it was all business.
My exact idea of purgatory.
It was day three. If I didn’t do this, one of my brothers would. They’d ruin everything. Let’s be honest, my dad probably already knew I was in town and his patience was slowly ebbing away as he waited for me to come to him, as I would have even a few months ago.
The man was hard, especially on my brothers, but he was my dad. I loved him more than I loved anyone. Unlike my two oldest brothers, I didn’t remember my mom. Her place was just this empty space in my mind. I missed her, but Dad was all I’d ever had.
Drawing in a deep breath, I took one step forward. “Don’t be a wimp, Jorgie.”
“What are we being a wimp about?” a soft voice asked by my ear.
I squeaked in surprise and turned, taking in my favorite person on the planet. “Don’t scare me, old man.”
“I may be old, kiddo, but I can still whoop you in an exciting game of Mancala.” Grandfather smiled, knowing how much I hated that game.
I didn’t care. I’d play with him as often as he wanted just to get time together.
He yanked me to him in a tight hug that belied his age. “I thought I was finally losing it when I saw you standing here.”
“I thought I was losing it to be standing here in the first place.” I laughed into his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of pine and pipe tobacco. There was no more comforting combination. It was the smell of my childhood, when most girls were scared of me, of my last name. I hadn’t had many real friends, only followers who talked behind my back.
My only two friends had been a Hillson, who I was forbidden from seeing, and Jake, who was also a no-no in my family. There were a lot of evenings when my brothers were gone to college that I spent just with my dad and granddad.
He squeezed me tighter before releasing me and holding me at arm’s length. “Let me just look at you, Jo.” He was the only person who called me that, but apparently, my mother had liked it.
I took in his weathered face, from bright eyes to warm smile. The man never changed.
“What are you doing at the office?” As far as I knew, he retired from the wine business years ago.
“Oh, just annoying your father with my opinions.” He winked. “Actually, Selena called me up. Your father and Conner aren’t exactly seeing eye to eye right now, so when she needs a favor, it’s up to an old, mostly useless man.”
“You could never be useless.”
His smile widened. “We sure have missed you around here.”
“I missed you too.” At that moment, I didn’t know how I could have stayed away for so long. I hadn’t only left my life as an Ashford behind. There were real people involved, people I loved.
“Come on.” He tugged me toward the door. “Your father isn’t all that scary. He’s like a giant pit bull who has been raised by a single, childless millennial who snuggles too much.”
“That makes no sense.” I could hardly breathe as we stepped into the lobby.
“Sure it does. It means, he’ll bark, but when it comes down to it, he’s more likely to curl up and sleep in your lap than bite you.”
“I don’t need that visual, pops, thanks.”
