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“But you focus on Home Ec. Is that a career track at your school?”
Kaylee shakes her head.
“Unfortunately, it’s not. It’s really just extracurriculars, but I really like the courses. We learn sewing, knitting, and other household skills. The part I love, though, is the cooking.”
I grin at her.
“Then you’re going to love the pie Chef Maria is bringing out.”
She instantly lights up.
“How did you know I love pie?”
I smirk a bit.
“Just an educated guess. Not yet though. Let’s finish up before digging into the apple meringue.”
“Apple meringue!” she practically squeals. “Oh my god, I can’t wait.”
I lean back and chuckle.
“It’s got your name on it Kaylee. But first, lunch. So are you planning to be a chef?” I ask.
She lights up.
“How did you guess? I’d love to be a chef someday. My kitchen isn’t very big, but I still cook when I can. My mom doesn’t like to get too adventurous with her food, so if I want to experiment, I’m usually cooking for myself.”
“Any practice is good,” I nod.
She smiles.
“Thanks. I know being a chef is a ridiculous dream, but it really speaks to me.”
I cock my head to the side, looking at her curiously.
“But why is it ridiculous?”
She sighs a bit.
“Sometimes, I think cleaning peoples’ houses might be all I’m cut out for. Isn’t that sad? Sometimes, I feel like I’m permanently stuck at the bottom of the totem pole.”
Kaylee suddenly stares down at her plate, embarrassed by the admission. Her cheeks flush, and she stops chewing for a moment.
I take her hand comfortingly.
“If it’s your dream, you should go for it, sweetheart.”
She shakes her head, still not looking at me.
“Mr. Millbrook –”
I stop her for a moment.
“Actually, my last name is Connery, not Millbrook. But call me Elliot, sweetheart.”
She takes another deep breath and meets my eyes.
“Elliot, you make it sound so easy when you put it like that, but it’s not like that. At least, not for me. I support my mom financially. Without me, Coralie wouldn’t even be able to afford the trailer. Besides, I don’t have the money to go to college. How am I supposed to become a chef if I can’t even get an education?”
I think for a moment, drumming my fingers on the tablecloth.
“Most chefs never go to culinary school, actually. They learn the trade through apprenticeships, sweetheart.”
Her forehead scrunches a bit.
“Really? I didn’t know that.”
I nod.
“It’s true. It’s like you were saying before: some people learn better through doing, and I think most chefs are that way. My personal chef, Maria, studied at Michelin star restaurants before deciding to go the private route.”
Kaylee looks defeated again.
“I doubt any Michelin star chef would hire a girl from the poor part of Millbrook, Pennsylvania.”
I shake my head.
“Don’t sell yourself short, Kaylee. Where you’re from doesn’t matter. It’s where you want to go, and how you put yourself in a position to get there.”
She stares at me.
“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
“All I’m saying, sweet girl, is that 99% of life is showing up and being prepared for opportunity when it knocks. I think you’ve got the goods, Kaylee. You’re ambitious, you’re responsible, and you’re already taking care of your mom. When you’re a world-famous chef running your own Michelin-starred restaurant, you’ll remember my words and thank me.”
Kaylee laughs so hard that water almost spurts out of her nose.
“If only.”
But I won’t let her doubt me.
“You know, I happen to have a few friends in the restaurant business. Maybe I can talk to a few of them and hook you up with an internship at a restaurant.”
Her eyes go wide, and she’s practically trembling now.
“You would do that for me, Elliot? I’d appreciate it so much.”
I take her small hand in my own, the contrast of my bronzed fingers stark against her pale palm.
“Of course, I would. I want you to go for your dream.”
She bites her lip.
“But you don’t really know me.”
I cock my head to one side.
“I know you enough, Kaylee. Trust me, this is a great opportunity for you. You’ve been working hard your entire life, it sounds like. Let a rich man be your benefactor for once. Even if it’s just in a small way.”
She gnaws her lip a bit.
“But this isn’t small.”
I laugh.
“It’s small-ish, let’s say. But yes, it could make a world of difference for a young woman starting out in her career. Let me do this for you, sweetheart.”
She nods slowly, her small fingers twining around mine.
“Thank you, Elliot,” she says in a hushed voice while looking down. “I appreciate it so much.”
I give her hand an encouraging squeeze.
“Okay, that’s enough career-talk for now. Let’s move onto something more fun and delicious, at least. How about that apple meringue pie?”
Her eyes immediately light up, and she claps her hands with pleasure.
“Yes, please!”
I chuckle and get up from the table. I used to have a live-in maid named Carmen, but she decided to retire about a month ago. Before that, Carmen was slowing down, but I couldn’t fire her. She was more like a mother to me than an employee. She’d been working at the house since before I was born, that’s how far back our history goes.
