“Oh, I try not to eat out,” I tell her, imagining how expensive a restaurant around here must be. “I’m on a budget. I prefer to cook for myself.”
“Nonsense,” Eloise titters. To my surprise, she leads me up the stairs, not out the door. “Our restaurant is on the third floor, adjacent to the staff rooms. Everything is comped, and you can have whatever you want.”
My stomach grumbles, as though it’s heard her.
“That’s very generous,” I say.
She leads me up to the third floor, toward a set of mahogany double doors. I’m expecting a cafeteria-like set up, with tables and maybe a buffet. But she lead me into what looks like an expensive, five-star restaurant. It’s full of tables with crisp tablecloths, dotted with candles and single red roses. There are enormous windows along two sides of the restaurant, displaying the rich greenery outside and the bright, blue sky. It’s completely empty.
“Look, you’ve got the whole place to yourself,” Eloise says. “Pick any table, and a server will come take your order.”
“You aren’t hungry?” I ask her.
“I ate already, but you should enjoy yourself. We have lots of different breakfast options, although now, they may have switched to the lunch menu.”
I look around nervously. I’ve never eaten in such a nice restaurant, and it’s hard to believe I can just sit anywhere I like and order whatever I please. “Are you sure?”
“Of course,” she laughs. “They should have something you’ll like. Unless you only like shellfish. Me and the host are both allergic, so we don’t serve any shellfish here. But they should be able to make anything else you request.”
A swinging door opens, and a man wearing the same crisp, black-and-white uniform as the servers last night enters. He gives us both a warm smile.
“Good morning, Eloise, Paige,” he says. I’m surprised that he knows my name. “Will you both be dining with us today?”
“Just Paige,” Eloise says. “Please take care of her, Clarance, won’t you?”
“Of course,” he says with a nod. He turns to me, and gestures toward the many tables. “Sit anywhere you like, Paige, and I’ll get you a menu.”
Eloise waves goodbye, and I pick a table in the corner, by a window. The view isgorgeous. Last night, in the dark, I wasn’t able to see outside clearly. But in the morning sunlight, I can look out at the beautiful maples and aspens that dot the grounds of the mansion. Did Eloise say there was a garden somewhere? I’d love to go see it, before I leave.
I guess I have no choice but to stay here another day. Perhaps itwon’t be so bad. I can eat now, then have some dinner before the sun goes down, then tomorrow, I’ll be off.
Clarance hands me a food and beverage menu, and fills up a glass of water for me. My stomach grumbles as I survey the lunch options. Since my mother died (and evenbeforeshe died, if I’m being honest), I’ve never had much money, and certainly have never been able to afford a nice restaurant like this. Even when Blake takes me out, I always feel nervous about ordering something expensive, so I just get a salad. I don’t want Blake to make any comments about how I’m too high maintenance.
My anxiety gets the best of me, so when Clarance returns, I request the soup of the day. There are no prices on the menu, but that can’t be much trouble to make, can it?
Clarance raises an eyebrow when I order. “Are you certain? I can highly recommend the pad see ew, or the salmon croquettes. I could even have the lunch chef prepare a tasting platter for you, so you can sample our various options if you’re unsure what you might like.”
“Oh, no, thank you,” I reply, almost blushing. “That’s far too much work. I’m the only one here, I don’t want to put you out…”
He leans in, a warm smile on his face. I tend to get a little intimidated by wait staff, but he’s very friendly, and I get the sense that his words are genuine. “It’s no trouble at all, Paige. We don’t often get diners this early in the day, so we’re glad to have something to do. Let us take care of you while you relax.”
Before I can protest, he swoops back into the kitchen. I feel a little uncomfortable. I hate to be a burden, and I’m not used to being waited on. I can’t help feeling a little bit like an impostor. After all, I’m not even working here anymore. He really doesn’t need to make such a fuss over me.
In a matter of a few minutes, he brings out a tray laden with drinks.
“I brought you some drink options to sample,” he says graciously. “A hazelnut macchiato with a single shot, a mimosa with our finest champagne, and a non-alcoholic lavender spritzer, if you prefer not to drink so early in the day.”
My eyes widen as he lays them all down on my table. “Oh…you didn’t need to do all of this…”
“Of course we did,” Clarance replies, with a kind nod. “It’s our pleasure to make your stay as comfortable as possible, and to ensureyou’re well cared for. Is there anything else I can get you, before your appetizers arrive?”
“Appetizers?” I ask, incredulously. But from the look in his eye, I know I’m not going to be able to convince him that it’s too much. “I…no, I don’t need anything else. Thank you very much, these drinks look delicious.”
“It’s our pleasure, Paige,” Clarance says, before disappearing again.
I take a sip of coffee. It’s in a beautiful, wide ceramic cup, with a matching dish underneath. It’s the tastiest coffee I’ve ever drank. The espresso is smooth, hitting my palate first, and the milk is rich and frothy. The taste of hazelnuts is perfectly subtle, complemented by a small drizzle of caramel on top of the foam.
Although I feel silly to be having three drinks at once, it seems a shame to let them go to waste, so I try the other two as well. They’re also delicious, well-balanced, with just the right level of sweetness. I don’t drink too much of the mimosa, it’s a bit early in the day for me. But the champagne settles down well in my stomach and I relax a little. It helps that I’m the only one here. It’s peaceful, and I find myself enjoying the beautiful view and tasty drinks. I don’t often have quiet moments for myself.
