Vann filled us inon his cycle shop and his dysfunctional dating life. At Vera’s suggestion, he’dstarted trying to date women that weren’t the nice, good girls he usually wentfor. This had led to a series of high-maintenance crazies that he was positivewere now stalking him.
Ezra shared hisstruggle to find a chef for Bianca. He and Killian spoke in depth about who hecould reach out to and who would be right for the job. They also talked aboutEzra’s sister Dillon and how she was doing in her final year of culinaryschool. Apparently, she’d been flakey for the first part of her twenties thanksto a large inheritance from their dad. But now she was serious about growing upand had decided that she wanted to be a chef.
“She knows I’llgive her a job,” Ezra sighed. “That’s why she’s doing it.”
“Seems like a lotof work just to get a steady paycheck,” Vann laughed.
Ezra’s eyebrowsscrunched over his nose. “Good point. She knows I won’t fire her then.”
“That’s probablymore accurate,” Killian agreed. “How’s she doing, though? Is there any talentthere?”
Ezra shrugged. “Shereally isn’t bad. She needs some experience, but she’s well-traveled so herpalate is mature. And she’s brave.”
“Put her in Wyatt’skitchen,” Killian suggested. “He’ll whip her into shape.”
“You’re sure youdon’t want to take her on?” Ezra asked. “She knows you. I’m sure she’d be morecomfortable in your kitchen.”
“She wouldn’t makeit two days with me,” Killian admitted candidly. “I don’t have patience forgreen. I’d traumatize her.”
“He would,” Veraagreed. “He regularly traumatizesmein the kitchen.”
“And in thebedroom,” I added.
We’d had enoughwine that my joke was hilarious. Which probably meant it was time to go. Ididn’t want to spend two Saturdays in a row hungover.
Ezra seemed to readmy mind. “Are you about ready?”
I pushed away fromthe table and stood up, the three glasses of wine rushing to my head. “Yep. Butare you okay to drive?”
“I’ve stuck towater,” he explained.
“Thanks for afabulous dinner,” I told Vera and Killian. “Next time I’ll cook for all of you,then you can really be impressed with yourselves.”
Vera cackled at myoffer. “No thanks, Molls! I’d rather not die of food poisoning just monthsbefore my wedding. But any time you want a decent meal, you’re welcome here.”
My heart warmedknowing she was serious. There had been so many secrets between Vera and mewhile she was with Derrek, that I had often wondered if things would ever betotally honest between us again. I knew she was convinced she was a good liar,but those closest to her saw the truth. She had lived in fear for a long time.She had been oppressed and hurt and broken.
And she’d kept itall bottled up inside her, afraid that we would be carried away in the riptideof her crisis.
When she’d finallyleft Derrek, she’d run away to Europe. She’d claimed it was for cooking, tohone her skills and expand her palate. But I had been her best friend sincechildhood. I saw right through her. She’d been terrified to face us, to tell usthe truth. She’d been afraid of the consequences for a failed relationship thatwas not her fault.
Our relationshiphad taken some serious work to rebuild, even after she finally came back toDurham. She hadn’t been ready to trust for a long time, not even me or Vann orher dad. She’d still carried the weight of Derrek’s abuse on her shoulders likea hiking backpack filled with boulders.
Slowly, bit by bit,we’d pieced our relationship back together. And slowly, bit by bit, she’dpicked up the shattered remnants of her career, life and spirit. But nothingreally clicked until Killian came into the picture.
Things were finallyback to normal. There was no more reason to worry about her or wonder if she’dever truly heal. She was damaged by Derrek, but not destroyed. She had beenhurt by tragedy, but not defeated.
She was aninspiration to me. I saw what she’d been through and what she’d overcome and secretlylonged to have those same victories. Our struggles were widely different, butshe inspired hope that things wouldn’t always be this hard, this confusing,that maybe my backpack wouldn’t always be this heavy. She had this gorgeoushappy ending that I couldn’t help but want to mimic.
She was the fairytale that I aspired to be.
Killian and Verawalked us to the door while Vann ordered an Uber for himself from his phone.Vera pulled me into a hug on her porch, the chilly night air nibbling on ourskin. It went straight up my spine thanks to my backless shirt and I wiggledinto her, clinging for warmth.
“Make sure youworkthe whole time you’re in the carwith him. Then call me in the morning and tell me all about howproductiveyou two were.”
I chose to ignoreher innuendos. “I will call you tomorrow,” I told her. “And you’ll be soimpressed with everything. It’s going to blow your mind!”
She giggled andsaid, “Who’s mind is it going to blow?”
