“Would you come?” Susan asked softly. “Next Sunday?”
Paul nodded. “I’d like that. It’ll be good to make someone’s day a little brighter.” Some of the weight on his chest lifted. Not all of it—maybe it would never all go away. But enough for him to breathe a little easier.
“Was that what you meant when you said you had something you wanted to talk to me about?”
Susan nodded. “It was, but I wanted to tell you something else, too. Cole Morrison showed me the resort plans this afternoon. The kitchen is incredible.”
Paul’s eyebrows rose. “Are you thinking about working there?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” Susan looked uncertain. “Cole left me his phone number so I can call if I have any questions. He isn’t looking for an executive chef right now, so there’s plenty of time to think about it.”
Paul wrapped his arm around Susan’s waist. “Well, I think you’d be an amazing executive chef. Anyone who can reinvent my restaurant’s menu is worth their weight in gold.”
Susan smiled. “You might not have said that if you’d seen me second-guessing the desserts for Lynda’s reception.”
Paul enjoyed seeing the teasing light in Susan’s eyes. “What desserts are you considering?”
Susan launched into her dilemma. Should they have a traditional wedding cake or the assortment of smaller desserts that Matt wanted? Paul listened, asked questions, and let the normal rhythm of their conversation pull him back from the edge of his grief.
Susan’s voice, her presence, and the simple act of planning desserts for a friend’s wedding reminded him that life went on. That there was still joy to be found, still moments worth showing up for.
After the last few days, he needed to be reminded that life kept moving. That Susan was here, and that she wasn’t going anywhere.
Chapter 20
Susan followed Kathleen into the Lakeside Grill. She was amazed at how busy it was for a Tuesday evening. Nearly every table was occupied, and everyone was chatting happily.
“We’re lucky we made a reservation,” Kathleen said as Jenny appeared with the menus.
“We’ve been swamped since the new dishes launched,” Jenny said, leading them to a corner booth. “Everyone wants to try the new menu.”
As they settled in, Susan watched an older couple nearby sharing the wild mushroom phyllo cups. The woman closed her eyes, and her husband reached across to steal another from their plate.
“Those look incredible,” Kathleen said. “Are they one of yours?”
“Mine and Paul’s.” Warmth spread through Susan’s chest. “Paul suggested adding another ingredient to the filling, and it’s sublime.”
Behind them, a man praised the seared duck breast. “Best thing I’ve had in months. Paul’s always been good, but this is more than I expected.”
Heat rose in Susan’s cheeks as she leaned forward. “I’m so proud of what we accomplished,” she told Kathleen. “Creating the new menu was challenging in all the best ways.”
Before Kathleen could respond, Paul emerged from the kitchen. His eyes found Susan, and something softened in his expression as he approached them.
“How are my two favorite customers?” he asked.
“Listening to everyone rave about your new menu,” Kathleen replied. “It sounds like a fantastic success.”
“It’s been overwhelming,” Paul admitted. “The appetizers are almost outselling everything else. We’ve had to prep additional batches twice this week.”
“What do you recommend today?” Kathleen asked.
Paul pointed to Kathleen’s menu. “Start with the butternut squash soup. We’ve added crispy sage for texture, and it’s delicious. Then I’d try the pan-seared trout with caramelized root vegetables. The fish melts in your mouth.”
Kathleen smiled. “That all sounds wonderful to me. What would you like, Susan?”
“I’ll have the same as Kathleen,” Susan said as she handed Paul her menu. “And congratulations. From what we’ve heard, everyone is enjoying their meals.”
Paul leaned down and kissed Susan lightly on the mouth. “That’s because the chef had help from the most incredible person he’s ever worked with. Harry thinks you deserve a pay rise, and Jenny wants you to join our team permanently.”
