Page 99 of For Butter or Worse
“Is she your date tonight?” he asked.
“Yes. Finding a last-minute date for Valentine’s Day isn’t all that easy.” She rubbed the back of her neck, feeling a bit of sudden tension there. A few months ago she’d been coupled up with someone she loved, but now? She wasn’t even sure she liked the sangria all that much.
“Well, lucky for me.” He raised his glass to hers, and she blinked. Was Joseph flirting with her?
A chorus of chimes sounded, and the people in the room began heading to their tables. “I hope to see you after dinner.” His eyes met hers.
“Me, too,” she replied. She turned to find her table and swallowed the lump in her throat. She wasn’t ready to be hit on, not yet. Who knew when that day would come, but Joseph had unintentionally reminded her that someday she’d need to try and move on.
Nina and Sophie were seated at a large round table settled under the branches of a blooming magnolia. The rich scent of the flowers mixed with the incredible food Jasmine and her team had whipped up had built an almost intoxicating aroma. They started off with sesame Halloumi and sweet potato tahini mash, followed by butternut squash and sage risotto, then there were hearty mushroom steaks with a side of roasted eggplant and miso salsa as their main. As they ate, she tasted the flavors from the earth, celebrating the gardens and passionate people around them. Her friend had harnessed the surroundings and created a rich culinary experience for the event. The other guests at their table barely spoke throughout dinner, focusing on tasting the food and washing it down with the perfectly paired wine offerings. Always a good sign that people were enjoying the meal.
“No offense, but this might be the best meal of my life,” Sophie said through a mouthful of mushroom.
“Believe me, I get it.” Nina dipped a bite of the scallion bread from the table into the remaining salsa on her plate.
Then she heard the uncanny voices of Cory and Dori from the small stage in front of the room. They stood tall and together, as if they were the proud parents of everyone in attendance. “Welcome.” Dori tapped the mic, then coughed. “Welcome to the LA Arboretum, or as Cory and I like to think of it, our second home.”
Dori smiled warmly at her husband, and he bent forward to speak. “We’re in a part of the gardens called Meadowbrook, because as you can see and smell, the magnolias and daffodils are just spectacular this time of year.”
“We feel so fortunate to be here with you on Valentine’s Day. A time that is all about love. Isn’t that beautiful? A whole holiday devoted to celebrating shared feelings,” Dori said, then grabbed Cory’s hand.
Nina and Sophie had never had a loving marriage modeled by their mother. Their lives had always just been the three of them. But she had to acknowledge that the sight of her friend’s parents together made her hopeful that she could have that someday, too.
“Speaking of expressing our feelings, can we all give a round of applause for the beautiful meal tonight?” Dori clapped and the crowd joined her. “Chef Jasmine Miles, would you be so kind as to come out and take a bow?”
When Jasmine came out from behind the stage, she self-consciously ran her hands down her sides. Nina smiled widely and stood up from her seat to continue clapping. Sophie followed suit, then put two fingers in her mouth and whistled so loudly that Nina had to clamp a hand over her ringing ear.
Jasmine met their eyes and grinned. Nina gave a small wave. Sophie did a fist pump in the air.
“Thank you, Chef Miles.” Cory smiled at his daughter as she walked back toward the kitchen.
“You have no idea how many couples get engaged on our grounds. How many others have their first kisses here under the bloom of a tree. How many weddings we’ve held. And the number of little babies that come from those unions, who love to run and play in our gardens.” Dori shook her head wistfully. “So we think of this as a space for people to be inspired. To fall in love. To commune with their families. And we’re delighted to be able to share this magical evening with you all tonight.”
“We want to continue the memories made here at the arboretum. And in the spirit of giving back, we’d like to start our auction.” Cory held up a blow horn. “Couldn’t find the gavel we use every year.”
“The man would lose his head if it wasn’t attached,” Dori added.
The crowd gave a gracious laugh at the joke.
“So we hope you don’t mind this substitution.” Cory hit the blow horn, and the screech of the thing pierced through the air.
Nina gasped unexpectedly. Most people in the audience jumped. A few chuckled at their own reactions. Cory had nearly tripped backward and fallen off the stage. But Dori helped to right him, and he reapproached the mic.
“I’ll use this wisely, then.” He impishly waved it.
“Everyone, please grab your auction paddles!” Dori announced. “No ferns were harmed in the making of these, we assure you.”
There was a container of “paddles” deposited in the center of each table—fern leaves with numbers attached to their sides. Before Nina could grab one herself, she heard her name loud and clear.
“Nina Lyon, would you come up to the stage?” Dori said enthusiastically. “Let’s get started off with a little Hollywood glitz! Everyone, please give Nina a round of applause.”
The audience began to politely clap as Nina stood up.
“You’ll bid on me, right?” she asked her sister.
“Of course, but I’m basically a penniless sitar player and you’re Satine, so I have about five bucks in my bag.” Sophie squeezed her hand.
Nina inhaled sharply as she turned to head toward the stage. She’d been on camera hundreds of times, but for some reason walking toward the stage had her feeling extremely self-conscious. She was in a room filled with people she didn’t know, and while she was used to being judged, she was also in the delicate position of currently having extremely low self-worth. If she got no bids, she might have to use her fern paddle to dig herself a hole.
