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Caleb shook off his worries about Heath. It was time to buckle down and get ready for the lunch crowd. As his other staff members began to pile in to the bistro, Caleb couldn’t help but reflect on his meeting with Addie Fontaine. Things were about to change at the Blue Bayou. He would ask Paolo to be head chef. It would be a wise move. He prayed it was all for the good of his business.
The question was, would Addie be a breath of fresh air for the bistro or an albatross around his neck?
**
Addie went through the rest of her day with a spring in her step and a smile etched on her face. She felt optimistic about working with Caleb Donahue. Perhaps her father had been trying to do something nice for her. Maybe he’d viewed this as a great place for her to cut her teeth in the business world. This could be a wonderful opportunity to bridge the gap between herself and daddy. Maybe after all this time they would forge a close bond. She really didn’t care about being his heir. That was her mother’s concern and she didn’t want to make that a focus of her life.
“How was your meeting with your new partner?” Laurel Woods, Addie’s best friend, had invited her over to her house for dinner. They were sitting in Laurel’s back yard eating steaks hot from the grill, corn on the cob and potato salad that melted in Addie’s mouth. Addie had brought along a refreshing watermelon salad and cornbread as a contribution toward the meal.
Addie took a sip of her ice-cold lemonade. “It was fine, which was a relief. I wasn’t expecting him to be so nice. He was a bit brusque at first, but he mellowed out.”
“That’s great. I know how much you’ve been wanting to sink your teeth into a professional challenge. Now you have a chance to prove yourself.”
“Yes, although I hate that Caleb is smack dab in the middle. It’s not really fair that he’s all tied up in this. He was happy running the Blue Bayou all by himself without interference.”
Her friend’s eyes widened. “Did he say that?”
Addie laughed. “He didn’t have to say it. It was written all over his face. He was fairly fierce at first. Daddy didn’t give him any warning about my involvement.”
Laurel shrugged. “That’s the price of business, I suppose.” She leaned across the table. “So tell me about him. Is he handsome?”
Addie felt her cheeks blush. “I guess.” She ducked her head. “Who am I kidding? He’s really nice looking. Warm brown skin. A great smile. Eyes that seem all-knowing. I don’t know why, but I have the feeling he’s a really good person. It just radiates from him.”
“Really, now?” Laurel asked, wagging her eyebrows. “That’ll make work interesting.”
Addie coughed, then shook her head fiercely. “No mixing business with pleasure. Succeeding in this endeavor is my number one priority. I want to do it for myself. Not just to make inroads with my father.”
“Who says you can’t get to know Caleb Donahue in the process?” Laurel asked. She looked Addie up and down. The expression on Laurel’s face looked as if she’d smelled something rank. “Can I ask you a question? Did you wear that outfit to your meeting with Caleb?”
“Yes,” Addie said with a nod. “I wanted to wear my favorite skirt. It always brings me good luck.”
Laurel sputtered on her lemonade. “Addie, I love you to pieces, but that skirt is terrible.”
“What’s wrong with it?” Addie asked, surprised by Laurel’s comment. Her friend was one of the most supportive people she’d ever met.
Laurel made a face. “I remember that skirt from freshman year in college. And the blouse looks as if it’s four sizes too large for you.” She wrinkled her nose. “You’re going to be working at a trendy bistro, which means you need to look more current. That won’t cut it.”
“I hate being trendy,” Addie said with a pout. “That’s not me at all. It’s important that I feel like myself.”
“Addie, I’m your best friend. And I’m going to be brutally honest with you. You’re a beautiful woman. Not only on the outside, but your heart is as solid as they come.”
Addie frowned. Laurel was being as subtle as a bull in a China shop. “But? I can hear a but coming.”
Laurel threw her hands up in the air. “You hide your light under a bushel.”
Addie knew the expression well. Her grandmother, Genera Fontaine, had used it time and time again. Nana had always been of the belief that Addie hid herself away from the world. Addie willed away the painful memories. Nana had been right in a sense. Ever since losing her twin sister, she’d wanted to shield herself from life’s painful moments. The tragedy had made her turn inward. Hiding herself away helped ease that pain.
“I don’t like being noticed.” Addie surprised herself with her admission.
“Because of Tabitha?” Laurel asked in a soft voice.
Hearing her sister’s name felt like a jolt to the system. For the past ten years, they’d avoided saying Tabitha’s name out loud. The pain cut too deep. For Addie, losing her twin had been like losing the best part of herself. And she was still finding it difficult to navigate the world without such a large piece of her soul.
Addie shrugged. “Tabitha was the glamorous twin. She was the one who was an expert at putting on makeup and creating beautiful outfits from her designs. She was the one who turned heads wherever we went.”
“That’s not exactly true. You both radiated like the sun. And what you never realized is that the two of you were so alike but so different at the same time. Both delightful.” Laurel reached across the table and grabbed Addie’s hands.
“Addie, you’ve hidden long enough. Tab loved you more than anything. She wouldn’t want you to be hiding behind those thick glasses and long skirts. You’re
