Chapter Twenty-Three
Kris
The movie had been good though he’d been far too full to do more than nibble politely at the popcorn Bob made. Bob more than made up for that, though.
“Okay, well, Crichton will be here to relieve me in a few.” Kris stiffened at the name. Bob carried on, either oblivious to or ignoring Kris’ sudden discomfiture. “Sorry I ate so much of this. Let’s take this to the kitchen. I saw some mixed nuts and dried fruit in the cupboard. We can mix those with what’s left and season them a little bit to make you a snack for later, yeah?”
Kris, swallowed, his mouth gone dry. “Yeah, sure,” he managed.
Bob picked up the large bowl that held the remainder of the popcorn and carried it to the kitchen, placing it on the island. “Okay, you look in the drawers for a ziplock bag or similar, and I’ll get out the spices and salt.”
Kris forced himself to go into the kitchen and do as he was told. “Crichton,” he managed at last, as he rummaged through the top drawer of the island’s end cabinet. “I, uh, met him last night.”
Bob pulled out a handful of spice jars and a salt mill, bringing them over the island. He gave Kris a knowing look. “Oh, yeah, I heard about that. Look, kid, Crichton’s all right. He was just the one on duty last night. If it had been me, I’d have had to help punish you, too. Now, I don’t want to have to do that, but I will, and I won’t hold back just because I like you. In fact, it’s because I like you and care for the boss that I’d make sure I helped teach you whatever lesson you need to learn.”
Kris felt as if he’d been doused in cold water. It was one thing to know things theoretically. It was quite another to be confronted with the reality of it.
I guess he’s actually done me a favour. When it’s his turn to ‘help’, it won’t feel like a huge surprise or a betrayal.Kris mentally shuddered.I got used to thinking of him being a kinda nice guy.Kris found a box of large ziplock bags and pulled one out. “This big enough?” he asked.
“That should do,” Bob confirmed, grinning. “Okay, now you pour the popcorn from the bowl into the bag while I grab the fruit and nuts.”
That accomplished, Kris took a close look at the spices and salt mill. They weren’t in ready filled spice jars like he usually saw at the supermarket and which filled the spice rack his mother had in her kitchen. Instead, they were small round jars with metal lids. The salt mill made him look twice as well. The large crystals inside were pink.
“I’ve never seen salt like that before,” he said as Bob began adding dried sultanas, cranberries, pecans, walnuts, and slivered almonds to the bag.
“It’s Himalayan rock salt. Boss gets that and the fresh spices from the market. There are fresh herbs too, but he freezes those, so they last longer.” Bob reached into another drawer, pulling out a miniature spoon-like scoop. “Now, these spices are used in curries, so, I’m going to add these to the bag with a bit of salt. But first, we’re going to add a wee bit of MCT oil.” Kris watched as Bob took a bottle of oil from beside the blender on the counter behind them, opened it, and dripped a bit inside the bag. After recapping the bottle and putting it back where he found it, he zipped the bag closed and began to shake it vigorously. “The oil will help the salt and spice stick, plus MCT oil is good for cognitive function.”
The front door opened. “I’m here,” Crichton said. “What are you guys making?”
“Kris had some leftover popcorn after his movie, so I’m showing him how to add some fruit and nuts to it to make a spicy snack mix.”
“Cool,” Crichton said. “Hey, kid, you have nothing to fear from me. You can look at me, okay?”
“O-okay,” Kris said, his tremulous voice betraying his doubt.
“Okay, now, Kris, I’ve added the spices. You grind some salt in, then seal the bag and give it a shake. Then have a taste and see if you need more salt or want more spice,” Bob said, walking away.
“We’ve had a quiet afternoon,” he told Crichton as Kris salted, shook, and tasted the concoction. “Ollie’s having food from Bali Bali delivered around seven, so it’ll be their usual delivery driver dropping it off at the front desk. Hotel security knows they’re coming.”
“Gotcha.”
“Boss man told him to not to wait up but to be naked in bed.”
Kris flushed, hearing them discuss that part of Ishmael’s plans for his evening. Crichton merely nodded. Kris sighed. No doubt Crichton was going to make sure he was definitely nude when he climbed into bed. Kris tasted the snack mix and decided it tasted fine as it was, so zipped it closed.
“Um, where do I put these jars?”
“In the overhead cabinet next to the fridge,” Bob called out in reply, then began speaking in a low voice to Crichton. Kris wished he could hear what they were saying. Was it about him and something that was to happen later that night? Or was it about what happened earlier in the restaurant? As he put the salt and spices away and wiped the counter down, he sighed in frustration.
Might as well get used to not knowing. It’s not like you have any choices in what happens anyway.
Bob and Crichton stopped speaking, and Bob walked to the front door, giving Kris a cheery wave. “See you tomorrow, kid.”
“Tomorrow? You’re guarding me tomorrow as well?”
“Yeah. Boss thought it best if I took the day shift with you all week. Next week, it’ll be Ezra.”
Kris took the time to digest this piece of information as he watched the door close behind Bob. Somehow, knowing he wouldn’t be passed around day after day to men he wouldn’t get a chance to know made him feel better.
