Verahad taken me under her wing and pushed me toward my goal. She’d inspired me toget to know the restaurant, all the ins and outs and ups and downs, and thenshe’d showered me with invaluable advice.
Dillonwas my ride or die. She was always there to challenge me and help me getbetter. And she’d put the very idea in my head.
Iwas nothing without these incredibly, super talented women by my side. None ofthis would have been possible without them cheering me on and pouring into mylife.
Theywere the kind of friends that would mark my life forever. One day, I would lookback and see that some of my best moments were because of them and with them. Icould have done this on my own. It probably would have taken longer. And itwould have hardened me in a way that could have made me bitter.
ButI preferred this way. I preferred having friends I could count on and lean on.I preferred not being able to take all the credit myself because I’d rathershare it with these wonderful women.
TheLilou staff was next. I hugged so many people, I knew the Free People maxidress I wore was wrinkled to crap and I smelled like a kitchen again, eventhough I’d showered and dressed for a date with Wyatt.
“Hey,if you get tired of him,” I pointed to Wyatt across the room, “You can alwayscome work for me. I promise to be nicer. And not to yell as much.”
Bennylaughed. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, chef. Besides, he doesn’t yellnearly as often now that he’s getting action on the regular.”
Istared at Wyatt across the room. “Yeah, those hookers I’m paying for nightly arereally doing wonders.”
“Ridiculous!”Benny groaned. “Happy for you two,” he murmured and then disappeared.
Iturned around and found my mom waiting for me. “Er, hey,Mom.”
“Kaya,”she said stiltedly. She held a glass of wine in her hand and a napkin with ashortbread on it. Wyatt had made his staff cater this little party. One lasthoorah from Lilou. “This is quite the party in your honor.”
Mycheeks hurt from smiling so much, but I couldn’t stop. This was too much. Ididn’t know it was possible to be this happy, this excited for life. My littleGrinch heart grew fifty whole sizes and I knew one more piece of good newswould tip me over the edge and I would just explode into itty bitty pieces—likea human confetti cannon.
WhichI realized was a super gross analogy if you got into the logistics of it, butalso legitimately how I felt.
Feelingextra forgiving in light of my new job, I said, “I’m sorry about how we leftthings the last time you were in town.”
Sheraised a single eyebrow, surprised by my apology. “How did we leave things?”
Shewas going to make me say it. “With you mad at me over Nolan, because I don’twant to marry him. Or move back home to be with him.”
Shewaved her shortbread around. “Oh, Kaya, I wasn’t mad at you because you don’tlove Nolan.”
Iresisted an eye roll. Yeah, right. Her pushing Nolan on me has only been aconstant conversation since I left Hamilton. “Mom, I know you love him. I knowhe’s like… the son you never had. But we were never meant to be together.”
“Kaya,stop.” She sighed. “All I have ever wanted was for you to be happy. Maybe I gotit wrong, but I thought Nolan made you happy. The last time I really saw youexcited about anything was when you two were together. You know, I don’t get tosee you cook. And I’m not a part of your life here. So maybe you’re those thingswhen I can’t see you, but from my perspective you were so much happier at home.I just wanted you to have that light back in your eyes again. It had nothing todo with Nolan.” She made a sound in the back of her throat. “Honestly, I couldtake him or leave him.”
Emotionrushed through me, testing the boundaries of my body. “Oh, Mom.” I sniffled,pulling her into a tight hug. Her arms swung wide to protect me from the wineand dessert. “I am happy. I’ve never been happier.”
Ipulled back and I was shocked to find real tears dampening her eyes. “I seethat now.” We simultaneously turned our attention to the party, both of usembarrassed to be caught teary-eyed. “And this new boy you’re with? What’s hisname?”
“WyattShaw,” I told her.
“Wyatt.He’s nice?”
Iran my lip ring through my teeth. “He’s amazing.”
“I’dlike to get to know him better,” she insisted.
Heturned to face me from across the room, and I wondered if he’d felt my gaze onhim, if he was always as cognizant of me as I was of him. “I’d like that.”
Wyattcrossed the room in long strides as if sensing my desire to be with him again.Or maybe he just had the same intention.
WhenI introduced him to my mom for the second time, she was much more pleasant. Sheeven laughed when he made a joke about how difficult I was to work with. My dadjoined us and then my sisters. We spent the rest of the afternoon laughing overdrinks and yummy food that was familiar for probably the last time.
Butby three p.m., it was time for everyone to get to work. We’d put it off for aslong as possible, but dinner service waited for no one.
