“I’m sure it’ll be a hit at the next farmer’s market.” Mom smiles at me.
“You know what else I think would be a hit?” I say, thinking aloud. “Your kimchi.”
“What?” Mom blanches, unsure that she heard me correctly.
Instead of explaining, I look to Dad to take over. When he meets my gaze, he seems to understand.
“After the meeting with the farming co-op, Elena got me to see what this town needs.” Dad smiles at me. “What the town is looking for are things they don’t have, and today Dr.Blaire pointed out that kimchi is one of those things.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Mom’s eyes light up.
“I’m saying I hope you’re ready to work tomorrow. Because we’ll be spending all day planting cabbage, radish, cucumber, and whatever spices you need to make kimchi.”
Mom literally jumps for joy, clapping her hands with unbridled excitement. “Dale, I’m so glad you came around to the idea.”
“Thank Elena. She got me to see what the town really needs.”
“Elena.” Mom reaches out and pulls me in for a hug. It feels warm and comfy, like I imagine a mug would feel with one of Hal’s cozies wrapped around it.
“Knew you could do it.” Gavin gives me a nod of approval.
My time as a public figure has made me the object of envy and desire to many. But the look in Mom’s, Dad’s, and Gavin’s eyes makes that pale by comparison.
I thought we were fish out of water in Blaire, but maybe I was wrong. Gavin’s cooking, Dad’s farming, Mom’s kimchi-making, and my contribution to the town’s beautification are making me think we’re more in our element here than we were in LA. They’re also making me realize we do have something in common. We all want to be recognized for our talents. And more importantly, we want that recognition from one another.
Chapter 26
The phone rings the next morning, waking me up. I peek over at Gavin’s bed, expecting him to answer it. When he’s not there—or anywhere else in the house—I remember he had planned to speak with the manager at the cafe, which isn’t as Karen-y as it sounds. After Dr.Blaire’s suggestion last night, I bet he isn’t wasting any time getting his bulgogi burger and kimchi aioli added to their menu.
“Hello?” I answer, wiping the sleep away from my eyes.
“Elena? It’s Jean. I made the new products you suggested—lavender salts, lavender sachets, and lavender tea.”
“Wow, you must have been busy!” It’s only been a week since our meeting with the co-op.
“I had to if we want to sell them at the next farmer’s market.”
“You’re right. The next one is in two weeks, which doesn’t give us much time to create a whole new product line.”
Jean starts to ask me if I’d be willing to try the products for research, and I say yes before she has the chance to finish her question. I wish I could say that this was part of my plan all along, but sampling self-care products is an unexpected perk of the job.
I quickly get ready and walk over to grab the bag of sample products she has for me. As soon as I leave the house, I do a double take at Mom and Dad working in the field.Together.Between thebickering and the passive-aggressive silences, I was beginning to worry about them. But watching them side by side—him digging a hole and planting a seed in, her covering it up with dirt and watering it—is giving me life. I don’t want to keep Jean waiting, so I have to force myself to keep walking, resisting the urge to continue creepily staring at my parents being cute.
After picking up the samples from Jean, I hurry back home, eager to try out her products. I reach the house at the same time Gavin does.
“So, how was it? Did the cafe accept your recipe?” I ask.
“They did. And not only that. The head chef there let me cook it for them to sample.”
“Oh my God, Gavin, that’s amazing!”
“I swear, cooking in a professional kitchen validated that it was where I should be. It felt like I was in my natural environment.”
“You’re giving me goose bumps!” I show him my arms. “You have to tell Mom and Dad. They’ll be so proud of you and happily support you when you tell them you want to go to culinary school.”
“You think?” He rubs the back of his head.
“How could they not? Gavin, this is a big deal. A restaurant is putting your food on their menu. I mean,I’meven proud of you!”
