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“I’m going back to help make baskets. I know she won’t want to help with that,” I said, and exited into the kitchen.
“Ah, Trey, you’re back, but without Chloe,” Chef Harris sighed. “I like this girl. You need to keep her.”
“I can’t keep her. She lives in Australia and has to go back in a couple of weeks.” I patted his shoulder. “I need some milk and chocolate cake for her little girl, who is just as sweet as Chloe.”
“Yes, yes, of course. Come, let’s get it.” Chef Harris gestured to his assistant. “How many do we need?”
“Five. Murphy will be upset if I don’t bring her some too.” I pulled 5 glasses out of the tray. “We will see you tomorrow still, right?”
“I am getting too tired for all these parties, but I will make your dinner tomorrow, then go home and rest.” Chef Harris sliced five pieces of cake.
“I’d rather we have your staff cook for tomorrow and you rest with the family. What do you say?” I asked. “Maybe you need to stop doing the big parties and retire.”
“Eh, I’m not retiring. What would I do? I only cook,” Chef Harris griped.
“Okay, then just be one person’s chef.” I had an idea. “Come work for me. I need someone to cook all my meals with my crazy hours.”
“You’re a good boy, but how much food could one person need?” Chef Harris covered each plate and placed the milks on a tray. “Now where are we delivering these plates?”
“Think about it, okay? For me?” I begged. “I’m getting tired of take-out and Elizabeth says I eat too much garbage.”
“My boy, I can still make you meals. Just send someone to pick them up. Now go.” Chef Harris pushed me out, mumbling about retiring.
“What about if I get married and have a family. Will you be my chef then?” I called back from the door.
“Yes, yes maybe then, but you are no married, so no need me right now.”
Little did he know I had already talked Mom into getting me a bride. A family was shortly after that.
I need to make sure Mom puts that on the contract. I want kids right away.
The staff followed me with the covered platters and milk. I shot Murphy a text to meet me in the basket room, then I closed the doors off to other guests. It was then that I realized I should have had more cake brought in, when the four ladies packing them looked up.
“Ladies, would you be interested in joining us in some milk and cake?” I pointed the staff over to Sophie.
“Thank you, Mr. Hawthorne,” they all responded with a no. “We have been snacking for the last hour.”
I asked the waiter to bring four more servings, then sent the twins a text to join us. Ten minutes later, they strolled into the room and dug into their cake without a single complaint.
“I knew you were up to something,” Mom said from the doorway. “You better have a piece for me.”
“I have your cake and milk over here, Miss Victoria.” Sophie stood on her chair. “Mr. Trey said you would come get it.”
“You better get one for your father. I know he saw me come this way.” Mom sat next to Sophie. “This looks delicious. I should just have this served at these parties instead of all that fancy dessert.”
“Agreed,” the twins said in unison. “Is Chef Harris cooking tomorrow?” August asked.
“As always,” Mom said. “We’re eating a little later tomorrow. I told him to rest in the morning. He’s getting too old for these parties.”
“I just told him the same thing,” I nodded. “I told him to retire and come work as my chef.”
“Don’t go making him mad before Easter dinner. He is a proud man.” Mom drank her milk. “Sophie, you picked the perfect drink. Milk is much better than champagne.”
“I never tasted that, but milk is my favorite,” Sophie said, around a fit of coughs. “Sometimes it makes me cough though.”
“Back to the party, Hawthornes, but before we go, I have the winner of the challenge between Trey and Chloe,” Mom said.
“I hope it’s Mummy,” Sophie said.
