"Oh, I was just about to look for you." Preston steps toward me and rubs his tummy like Winnie the Pooh. "I don't suppose you've made that PB&J sandwich for me yet?"
"No, sir. I wasn't exactly sure where the kitchen was and?—"
"Oh, dear me," he says, looking flustered and disappointed. "I am so sorry. I absolutely forgot that you have never been here before. My, my, what was I thinking? I suppose you will need a tour?"
"No, sir. Unfortunately, I have no idea where anything is." I want to add,including my room, but I don't think that now is the right time to mention that tidbit.
“So, you don't even know where we keep the peanut butter and jelly or where we keep the bread, do you?" he asks, like we haven't already established that information, and I can feel the irritation rising in me. I know I can't show my annoyance, so I offer him my best fake pleasant smile.
"No," I say, shaking my head. "I know where nothing is. I don't even know where I'm sleeping." The words slip out. I couldn't keep them in.
He puts his hand to his mouth and gasps, and I wonder if this is some sort of weird test or theater production. This is not the first time today I've been taken aback by the characters in this household. "I'm so sorry, Gina. You must think that I'm an absolutely awful host."
"Well, you're not my host. You're my boss. And no, I don't think that you're awful. I?—"
"Follow me. Let's go to the kitchen, and we'll get something to eat, and then I'll have Cook show you to your room."
"Thank you," I say. I follow him down the corridor, and we make a sharp left. I gasp as we step into the largest kitchen I've ever seen in my life. I see a young girl cutting carrots, and she looks up, her soft features confused at seeing us standing there.
"Good afternoon, Janina."
"Good afternoon, Mr. Waverly," she says, though she doesn't stop cutting. "What can I get for you?"
"Oh, no, no, nothing. Don't bother yourself. I know you are helping my wife and her group. This is Gina. Gina is actually going to be writing the biography of how Mrs. Waverly and I met and fell in love. I'm just showing her where the kitchen is, and she's going to make us a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with some bananas because we're both feeling a little bit peckish, aren't we?"
"Hi, Janina," I say, holding my hand up. I am slightly nervous that I'm not going to remember anyone's name tomorrow because I've already met way too many people, but I'm not going to worry about that right now.
"Hi, Gina. Feel free to help yourself. Cook and I don't mind, as long as you clean up after yourself." She grins. "And are you sure you're meant to be having PB&J sandwiches, Mister Waverly?"
He gives her a look, and she giggles uncomfortably. "Sorry. I'll keep my mouth shut. You know where everything is?"
He turns to me with a smile. "Yes. So the peanut butter is in the butler’s pantry…. Do you know, Gina, that when I very first met Enid, she was leaving a bakery, and she had a bag of jelly donuts. One of them was a raspberry jelly donut, and she let me have a bite, and it was love at first bite." He grins, lost in memory. "I don't know if it was love at first sight with Enid or with the donut, but I will always remember that day. Love is a strange thing, isn’t it? Enid wasn’t the only woman I ever loved, but she is the Juliet of my story."
"So, where's the bread and the plates?" My phone starts ringing, and I quickly grab it from my bag. "I'm sorry, I'll silence it."
"Feel free to take the call. You know what? I'll grab the ingredients, seeing as this is your first day, and I don't want youto think that all I expect you to do is work. Take the call, and I'll be here."
"Thank you," I answer the phone, and I see it’s Emma. "Hey, Ems. How’s it going?"
"That's what I was about to ask you."
"Yeah, it's really great," I say, though that's not quite true.
"Why is your voice so loud? Is it an absolute hot mess?"
"It is a really nice day today."
"What are you talking about?"
"No, I don't know if it's going to rain."
"Are you okay, Gina? What are you talking about?"
"I am with Mr. Waverly right now," I whisper under my breath.
"Oh my gosh. Sorry. I totally should have gotten that. So, it's going well?" She starts giggling.
"I haven't been here very long, but actually I do need to come back home and pick up some stuff that I forgot to grab." I look over at Mr. Waverly. "Do you mind if I just drive back and pick up some stuff? I'll be back in a couple of hours."
