‘That would be amazing. Yes, please.’ My cheeks flushed, and I smiled wide.
‘I am extraordinarily biased because I loved my time at Johnson & Wales, but it is an excellent school. If you haven’t visited yet, let me know. I can have someone show you and your mother around.’
‘Thank you so much.’ Having Roni on my side seemed like such a win. And this was the most I had ever learned about her. She was always very focused when she was in her kitchen, so seeing this supportive side of her was something special.
‘Can I ask you …’ I said. ‘You’re a really great chef.’
‘Not a question, but thank you, I know I am!’ She flashed her perfect teeth at me, and I laughed.
‘Just … why here? You could probably be head chef anywhere, even have your own restaurant if you impressed the right person. So why an old folks’ home?’
Roni frowned. ‘What’s that supposed to mean? Anold folks’home. Like Dante and I don’t turn out the best food these “old folks” have ever had.’
‘No, no, that’s not what I meant.’
She nodded and gave me a sly grin. ‘I know what you meant, Tommy, I’m teasing you. Once I dreamed of owning my own place, but then I worked in the field and realized maybe that wasn’t something I wanted after all. My mama lives here. When I heard they were looking for a head chef, I applied. I just want to be close to her and make sure she’s eating right.’
‘Your mom?’ I tried to run through all the residents I’d ever spoken to. None of them had Jamaican accents like Roni. Maybe Roni was adopted?
‘Carol Fredericks.’
For the millionth time that night, the world seemed to drop out from beneath my legs. ‘Thejudgeis your mother?’
Told you. Everyone who works here either knows someone who works here, or someone who lives here.
Roni groaned. ‘The judge. No wonder she feels so self-important when I come see her. You all calling her the judge.’
‘I mean, she is, though. But … why doesn’t she have an accent?’
‘She was a Black woman in a white male profession, so she had to hide her accent. But, oh, you give that woman a couple glasses of cream sherry and you see how her accent comes out.’ She laughed – something Roni very rarely did. ‘That’s why I was coming through tonight on my way out and found you all trying to mess up my kitchen!’
I had almost forgotten about why we were in the office in the first place. ‘Oh, but … Does that mean we’re all fired?’
Roni frowned. ‘No. You’re not fired. We can’t just fire four of our senior staff, though you’re lucky Natalie lives forty-five minutes away and hates to stay past eight.She’dfire you just because she could.’
She stood, and I followed her as she went back out to the kitchen. Grant had packed up his equipment and Morgan, Kevin and James had put the groceries back in their bags. Roni put her hands on her hips and looked at all of them.
‘And who are you?’ She pointed at Grant.
Usually calm, cool Grant stuttered. ‘Um, I – uh, I’m the cam-camera guy?’
‘Yourname, camera guy.’
‘Grant. Ma’am.’
‘Grant, unpack your camera. And it’schef. Notma’am.’
Grant nodded. ‘Yes, ma— erm, Chef.’ He spun and began unpacking his equipment. Ava and Morgan gave me a look of concern as Roni passed between them and reached into the paper bags.
‘What y’all got in here, then?’ She pulled things out one after the other, placing them on the counter. ‘Tommy!’ she shouted over her shoulder.
‘Yes, Chef?’ I walked around to the other side of the counter. Roni pursed her lips together. ‘You sure you want to do croquembouche?’
I glanced at Ava and Morgan on one side of her, then at James and Kevin. Was she really planning to help us?
Her words echoed in my mind:Just because thingslook flashy or seem to have clout, doesn’t mean they’re the best option for what you’re looking for.
‘Unless you had something better in mind, Chef?’
