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“Enough with all this seriousness,” she says. “Where’s fun Ethan? I need him back.”
“I’m pretty sure fun Ethan only lives around you. Most of the time, I’m serious, responsible Ethan.”
“Well, serious, responsible Ethan needs to take a chill pill. You’re on vacation,” Val says in a droney, nasally voice that makes me snort with laughter.
“Oh, I do have one fun thing to tell you,” I say with a smile. “I’m in the final round for a sous-chef position in a fine dining restaurant in Montana.”
“Of course you would think that a job offer would count as ‘fun.’”
I give her a look. “Okay, how’s this: it’s a fine dining restaurant on a train car.”
Val’s eyebrows pop up. “That ups the ‘fun’ factor a little.”
I laugh.
“So you’d be a fancy chef on a fancy train?”
“Basically. But don’t get too excited, I haven’t been offered the job yet.” Then, without thinking, I add, “And even if I am, I’m not sure I’m going to take it.”
“What’s stopping you?”
“I…” I frown. “I don’t know if I want to be a chef.”
Val’s eyes widen, as do mine. I’m as surprised as she is by my revelation. She just makes me feel so comfortable, like I can tell her anything. The words slipped out.
“Oh. Well, that is a pickle.” She sits back, her brow crinkled. “You know, I never saw you as a chef. I pictured you as more of, like, a baker. Making cakes and sweets.”
“A baker…” I repeat, remembering vividly how much I loved baking with my grandma. I never seriously considered any other option than being a chef. It made sense—financially, personally, practically—that I would go down that road. “There was this cafe I used to love in Aston Falls called Morning Bell. They had the best scones, the cheese ones especially.”
“Exactly. You always seemed so passionate about baking. And you’re so good at it. Heck, you could open a bakery with your brownies alone.”
I screw up my face. “I don’t think I’d want to have my own bakery.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. Running a bakery sounds like a lot of management and paperwork. And suits.”
She shrugs. “Well you’d have a loyal customer in me. I will go broke buying your brownies.”
“Don’t be crazy, Teeny.” I give her a wink. “You’d get a friends and family discount.”
“Har dee har har.”
But she’s laughing, the sound bubbly and light, and soon, I’m joining in. My mind is racing with possibilities and questions I’ve never truly allowed myself to consider, but for now, I’m happy to be laughing with Val as we head towards a run-down diner with—admittedly—the best burgers I’ve ever had.
A comfortable silence settles between us and Val smiles as she gazes out towards the fields and mountains. The sunlight makes her skin glow.
“I missed this,” she murmurs, almost too quietly for me to hear.
I match her tone, speak from the heart. “I missed you.”
21
Val
“VAL!” Ivy sings into the phone. “How are you, old chap?!”
“Old chap?” I ask with a giggle. “I’m flattered.”
