“That’s an understatement,” said Brad. “The new assistants are both fresh out of school, but they’re very good.”
“So, in theory, you could straddle both jobs.”
“I mean…I guess. Not tomorrow, but in another month or so, yeah, I think the assistants will be ready to work without training wheels. But I’d only take a new job if I had creative control.”
“Of course. I still haven’t decided if I’m taking the job. I just figured, if you were interested in restaurant work again, I’d toss your name in the pot for pastry chef.”
“So, wait, you got offered a restaurant job?”
“Yes, but it’s a long story.” Lindsay waved her hand. “I don’t really think I can do it. I have zero executive chef experience.”
“Sure, but every executive chef had a first executive chef job.”
Lindsay frowned. “I guess. It’s overwhelming. Or, I don’t know, it’s just a crazy idea. I have a job I really like. I don’t know if I really want to take a risky, overwhelming, stressful job just because it would get me back in a kitchen.”
“Okay.” But Brad liked the idea of Lindsay cooking again. He wasn’t totally sure why. Part of it was guilt over possibly being the reason she’d quit. But part of it was that he knew how passionate she was about food. She deserved a good job where she could use that passion.
“Is this a new restaurant?” Brad asked.
“Yes. And that’s the other thing. It seems insane to me to quit a steady job to go work in a restaurant that might close in three months. Like, remember that place near school, the restaurant run by one of theTop Chefwinners?”
Brad totally remembered that place. It had served the best chicken wings he’d ever eaten. “I still have dreams about those hot wings.”
Lindsay laughed. “Right? The reviews were glowing, the chef was famous, and yet the restaurant only lasted six months.”
“It’s a tough industry.” Brad tried to read what she was saying between the lines. Thiswasa tough industry. So Lindsay would have to take a risk. Lindsay, the most risk-averse person Brad knew, would have to put everything on the line if she really wanted to follow this dream.
“So, yeah,” Lindsay said, staring at the table. “Still trying to decide if I want this job.”
“I’m starting to see why some chefs have their fingers in so many pots.”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “I’ll let you get back to work.”
“You didn’t come here to talk to me, did you?”
“Nope. I was working at home, but they’re replacing the water main on my block, and the jackhammering was getting to me. You were just a happy bonus. Although I did want to ask you about this, just to see. Like, I could pitch you to this restaurateur anyway and see what he says.”
Brad smiled. “Sure. Can’t hurt.”
He thought about giving Lindsay a quick kiss, but he was aware that little Tanisha still had an eye on him. Instead, he patted Lindsay’s hand where it rested on the table, then made himself get up.
He spent the walk back to the kitchen wondering what all that was about.
When he got back to the kitchen, Stephanie asked, “Are there a lot of customers?”
“No, but someone I know was sitting in the cat room. Sorry to take so long. Those cat treats are probably close to ready to bag. You want to taste a few before we do?”
Chapter 22
Some highly unpleasant summer cold had moved through the café staff, so when Brad wrapped up work in the kitchen for the day on Saturday, Lauren all but got on her knees and begged him to help out at the counter. Brad was tired but couldn’t in good conscience leave Lauren in the lurch, so he agreed. Monique, who looked a little the worse for wear after being out sick the last couple of days, rang up purchases and ran the espresso machine while Brad bagged pastries and poured regular coffee and hot water.
“It’s not fair that you’re not sick,” Monique said during a lull.
“I’ve been chewing on immune-support gummies ever since the first one of you was felled by this virus. And I’ll thank you to keep a wide radius.” He winked to show he was kidding.
Monique shook her head. “This thing knocked me on my ass. I couldn’t get out of bed for two days. Thank god for my boyfriend or I wouldn’t have eaten. Although, now he’s sick, so as soon as my shift is over, I gotta go home and feed him soup.” Monique grabbed a napkin from the dispenser on the counter and blew her nose. “Ugh. Having a cold in the summer is theworst. Is it really hot in here, or is it just me?”
“It’s a little warm, but after years of working in kitchens, I’m kind of impervious.”
