“Two?” the hostess asked, as she grabbed plastic menus and led us to a wooden table.
I looked over the menu. Okay, I could see what she was going for.
“This is supposed to be the best barbecue in the area,” she said.
Someone came over to us to take our drink order.
“I’d like a whiskey smash, he’ll have a bourbon, and two waters,” she ordered. “We’ll need a few moments to look over the menu.”
The server looked at me, I nodded, then the server smiled at her. “Sure, Hun.”
“I hope you don’t mind that I ordered for you, I figured with the day you’ve had you might need it,” she added, scent going a little anxious as she fiddled with the menu.
“It’s okay, Grace.” As promised, she’d been quiet on the drive over. It made me wonder if there was more to this kidnapping than just my having a shitty day.
Though either way, I was flattered that she’d do something like this for me.
The server brought our drinks and took our order. She was still quiet.
“I appreciate you kidnapping me. Does your boss know that you’re on an adventure instead of working?” I asked.
“Yes. I was supposed to work from home this afternoon, anyway. The interns are on a field trip to the warehouse.” She took a sip of her drink.
“Katie and I are getting violent. Also, I gave a press conference. Fuck. I hate them.” My phone rang. Mother. Nope. I sent it to voicemail.
“I’ve never given one,” she replied, taking a biscuit out of the red plastic basket and putting butter and honey on it.
“Ugh, they’re a necessary evil.” Without meaning to, I dove into what exactly had happened, not knowing if she actually knew specifics.
“I’m glad you’re protecting your dad. I don’t really know him, but we talked a little at the party and the science dinner, and he seems nice.” She finished her biscuit just as they brought us food.
“He is. My dad annoys me sometimes, but when I asked him to stop doing something I didn't like, he actually did.” I hadn’t been calledsportonce since my request. If I’d known asking would make him stop, I would have done it years ago. I hadn’t because it didn’t work with my mother or brothers.
The server set an enormous plate of ribs in front of me, along with beans and creamed corn. Grace had a plate of meat chunks, mashed potatoes and gravy, and corn on the cob.
Grace took a bite of one of the meat chunks. “Ooh, yes.”
Reaching for the squeezy tubes of sauce in the basket on the table, she tried the different sauces on her meat chunks. Her expressions as she thoughtfully tasted them were much more interesting than my own ribs.
“Do we have a winner?” I finally asked.
“We do. Try?” She stabbed a sauced-up meat chunk with her fork and offered it to me.
Leaning forward, I let her feed me. Smokey meat with a savory sweet sauce melted in my mouth. That was good.
“What am I eating?” I asked her, as I took a bite of my own ribs, which were absolutely delicious.
“Burnt ends. Beef. I’ve never mastered burnt ends. I’m pretty good at ribs though.” She took a bite of potatoes. “Okay, these potatoes are not quite as good as the ones Spencer gets me from that fancy restaurant, but they’re still pretty good.”
“These ribs are incredible. Here.” Cutting one off, I gave her one. “Spencer’s ribs are delicious, but these are different.”
“These are smoked, not grilled.” She took a bite of corn.
I tried some sauces. “When you use the smoker, can you show me how to use it? Also, are you going to make a sauce with the peach bourbon?”
“Of course.” She smiled, a little sauce on her nose.
I reached over and wiped it off, then tasted it. “Very good.”
