Unforgettable, page 4
“Yeah, it can happen,” Janet admitted with some reluctance. “So Gavin noticed. Isn’t that nice?”
“And your point?” Anna drummed her fingers impatiently on the armrest.
3
“The man is available.”
“You need to quit. You’ve some crazy idea that Gavin will…What? All of a sudden notice me? Or worse, I’ll fall into his lap like a ripe plum. Get over it. This is business.”
“Okay, okay. I’m stretching. But tell me what do you know about his love life? Is he—”
Just then the doorbell rang. Anna was grateful. She wasn’t about to waste time speculating on Gavin’s sex life. She didn’t even want to think of him as anything other than what he was…a good friend.
“Be right back.” Anna hurried to the front door. Switching on the outside lamp, she wasn’t surprised to see Carl Matthews on her porch. There was a welcoming smile on her face as she unlocked both the storm and front doors.
“Hi. Come on inside.”
She had liked him from the very beginning. There was no doubt in her mind that he was the right man for her friend and business partner.
“Hi.” He kissed her cheek. “Think she’ll talk to me?”
“I sure hope so,” Anna whispered back. “Come in.” Crossing the small foyer, she said, “Will you look who’s here? I think I’ll make some coffee. Excuse me.” She left the couple staring at each other.
Smiling to herself, she moved across the small hallway and through the kitchen’s swinging door. She took her time brewing a fresh pot of coffee. Stalling for more time she turned on the portable radio she kept on top of the refrigerator, then sat down to sort through her mail that Janet had left on the table. She glanced at her watch before she began flipping through the new issue of a favorite cooking magazine. Her mind wasn’t on the magazine, nor was she worried about the newlyweds in the next room. There was no doubt that those two were very much in love.
Anna couldn’t seem to concentrate on much beyond what had happened at Gavin’s. It was clear that he had a long way to go to shatter that protective shell Kyle had placed around himself. Trust was something the boy was not willing to offer.
Then there was the problem with Gavin’s father. But she had enough faith in Gavin to know he’d do everything in his power to help the boy.
She thought about the hints Janet had made concerning her friendship with Gavin. But Anna was reluctant to admit to even her best friend that she felt vulnerable where Gavin was concerned. It wasn’t as if she thought he was interested in her…she knew better. No, there were other issues.
As a teenager, she’d had a secret crush on Gavin. Even her family didn’t know. She’d longed for him to notice her back then. It hadn’t happened. It was something she had never quite managed to forget. Gavin thought of her as Wesley’s baby sister. That hadn’t changed. And it had stopped bothering her years ago.
Gavin kept so much of himself hidden, yet tonight he had opened up to her. She’d been heartened when he admitted he trusted her and needed her help.
Was it her imagination, or had he looked at her in a different way? Recently he’d been questioning her about her love life. What she couldn’t figure out was why. She’d made some changes to her appearance, certainly nothing drastic. Why should it matter? Their friendship was solid, and they both intended to keep it that way.
She wasn’t fooled. Janet’s teasing was nothing more than wishful thinking on her part. What she wanted was for Anna to fall in love and be happily married the way she was.
Janet called her name before she walked into the kitchen, followed by her husband. She was beaming. “Just wanted to tell you to forget the coffee. We’re on our way home.”
Judging by the way they couldn’t take their eyes off each other, Anna assumed all was well in the Matthews household. “Are you sure? It won’t take a minute,” she teased.
“You drink it. I’ll see you in the morning. We can talk to Krista when she comes in at eight.”
“Okay. I’ll walk you two to the door.” She hid a smile as she watched Janet grab her tote bag and jacket from the hook near the back door. Carl was grinning enough for both of them.
Janet gave Anna a quick hug. “Thanks for putting up with me.”
“Don’t be silly. Good night.” Anna waved after them and locked up. Returning to the kitchen, she poured the coffee down the sink before flicking off the light.
Curling up in her favorite chair, she hummed to herself as she began writing out a “to do” list. The first thing that needed to be done was an inventory of Gavin’s kitchen and pantry. She had to admit she was excited about working in his fabulous kitchen. If Krista agreed to take over Anna’s job, then all they had to do was find Krista’s replacement. How hard could it be?
For the next few days Anna and Krista Moore worked together, from menu planning to learning the routine. Krista went with Anna and was introduced to all their clients. There was so much to do, and both Janet and Anna wanted to ensure that the transition was smooth.
The hardest problem was finding a new assistant, but that was finally resolved when Lori Fleming, a recent culinary arts graduate, answered their newspaper ad. Janet and Krista would continue to work out of Anna’s kitchen. For the most part, Anna would be available to help with their upcoming weekend catering jobs.
Anna’s mother welcomed her with a hug when she surprised her family by coming for dinner in the middle of the week. She was working alongside her mother when her father arrived home.
“Whom do I owe for this treat, precious?” Lester Prescott grinned as he closed the back door. “You’re home for dinner on a Thursday night? What happened to all those hungry bachelors?”
He pulled his daughter into his arms for a hug. He was tall, six-foot-two inches with dark, caramel brown coloring and a youthful, handsome face despite the flecks of gray in his hair.
“Hi, Daddy.” Anna reached up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “I have the night off, so I thought I’d come by and eat all your food,” she teased. “I brought an apple cake with caramel and pecan topping.”
He was grinning when he said, “You didn’t have to do that.” He gave her a hard squeeze before he let her go. “But I’m glad you did. Isn’t that right, sugar,” he said as he leaned down to place a lingering kiss on his wife’s lips.
“That’s right.” Donna Prescott smiled up at her husband, her dark gray eyes sparkling with love. “You’re kinda late, aren’t you, honey?” Even after four children, she was as petite and slim as the day she married. Her soft black, shoulder-length hair had touches of gray at the temples, but her ready smile and mocha brown skin was as smooth and unlined as her daughter’s. She was only five-foot-two inches, and all her children towered over her.
“Had to stop by a student’s home to talk to his mother. He’s been goofing off in his classes. Sorry. I didn’t realize it was so late.”
Lester and Donna Prescott smiled at each other, still very much in love after thirty-three years of marriage and four children.
“Ralph stop by?” Lester asked, referring to the nephew he and Donna had raised as one of their own after his parents were killed when he was twelve. Devin and Ralph were the same age, and both were single.
Donna laughed. “Not tonight. He has a class.” Although Ralph no longer lived at home with the family, he often showed up for home-cooked meals.
Lester nodded. “I keep hoping he’ll go back for his doctorate. Playing pro ball gave him a solid financial base, but now it’s time to shore up his career at the university. These days in the academic world, a master’s isn’t enough.” The pride in his voice was evident.
“Lester, you promised.” Donna reminded, “Ralph is old enough to make his own decisions.”
“I know. I know.”
“Anna, call Wayne.”
“Mama, don’t you want me to help?”
“No, angel. This is your day off. I want you to relax and enjoy yourself. You work too hard.”
“Did I hear my name? Dinner ready?” Wayne, like all the Prescotts’children, was tall. He was nearly six foot, but he was still slim, and his hands and feet seemed too big for his body.
“That’s all you think about, your stomach. Did you speak to your father, young man?” Donna scolded gently.
“What’s up, Dad? Sorry, must be the hunger dulling my brain.” Wayne grinned, patting his father on the back.
Laughing, Lester grabbed his son by the nape of the neck and hauled him close for a quick hug.
“Aw, Dad, I’m too old for that kinda stuff.”
“You’re never too old to give or receive love, son. Come on, let’s wash up. How did you do on your math test today?” Their voices trailed away as they headed down the central hall to the bathroom.
Anna laughed, shaking her head as she took a large bowl and began filling it with mashed potatoes.
“Anna,” her mother scolded halfheartedly, while filling a platter with slices of meat loaf.
Anna grinned. “That boy is growing so fast. He’s already taller than I am.” She took the platter and bowl into the dining room.
“That he is. Now, young lady, when are you going to tell me what’s going on with you? How come you don’t have to deliver dinners tonight? Are you and Janet in financial trouble? If that’s the case, then Daddy and I can certainly help. Your brothers and cousin keep tossing money at us after we’ve told them we have no need for it. Just look at this huge house they insisted on buying.”
“Mama, it’s nothing like that.” Anna kissed her cheek. “Yes, I have news but you have to wait. I want to tell both you and Daddy together.”
Her mother lifted a beautifully arched brow. “It sounds serious.”
“Not really.”
“Well?” Donna prompted as she watched her daughter pull a pitcher of iced tea out of the refrigerator.
“Not even a hint.”
Although Donna wasn’t pleased by the delay, she followed her daughter into the dining room, carrying a basket of homemade rolls. Donna was an excellent cook and was very proud of her homemaking skills. Once the children came along, she had given up her teaching job to become a full-time mother.
“You sure didn’t get that stubborn streak from me. It had to come from your father’s side of the family.”
Anna laughed, “Mama, everything looks wonderful.” She began filling the glasses.
Lester had just said grace when Wesley let himself in through the back door.
“Hey,” Wesley called out before he appeared in the dining room. “Something smells good.” He was a big man, broad shouldered like their father, but he shared the same eye color and skintone as their mother. “Looks like I’m just in time.” He grinned, rubbing his hands together.
“No food without hugs and kisses,” said his mother.
Wesley laughed, but kissed his mother and sister before he slapped his dad on the back and squeezed his younger brother’s shoulders.
“Looks good, Mom. Be right back.” While Wesley went to wash his hands, Wayne drew up a chair from the sideboard and Anna went to get another place setting and silverware.
When Wesley was settled in the chair beside Anna, Lester asked while passing the platter, “What brings you here without your wife and our grandbaby?”
“Kelli is having dinner with two of her girlfriends from college and took the baby with her.”
Donna didn’t even try to hide her disappointment.
“Don’t worry, Grandma. We’ll bring Kaleea for dinner on Sunday.”
“What do you have to say for yourself, Short Stuff? I heard about your new job,” Wesley said to his sister as he filled his plate.
Anna scowled in exasperation. Evidently Gavin and Wesley had spoken. “And they say women can’t keep their mouths shut.”
“Is that your news?” Donna asked excitedly.
“What new job?” Lester joined in, as both parents looked pointedly at her.
“What’s going on? Some kind of secret?” Wayne paused from forking mashed potatoes into his mouth.
“Not at all,” Anna replied. “I was planning to tell everyone after dinner, until my big brother opened his gigantic mouth.” She sent Wesley a sharp look.
Wesley shrugged as he helped himself to more vegetables. “What’s the big deal? You’re only going to be working for Gavin.”
“Gavin? Doing what, young lady?” her father asked.
Anna kicked her brother under the table. “Cooking, Daddy. What else did you think? Surely you don’t think Gavin is interested in me”—she glanced at her youngest brother before she finished—“that way.”
Wesley roared with laughter. Anna flushed, clearly upset. “What are you laughing at?”
“I’d also like to know the same thing. Your sister is a very lovely woman. Any man would be lucky to have her.” Lester frowned at his eldest son.
Wesley swallowed, taking a sip of his tea before he answered. “I didn’t mean a thing. You know I love Anna. I’d never do anything to hurt her.”
“Then what do you mean, son?” Donna demanded.
“It’s okay,” Anna interrupted. “We all know what he means. I’m not the glamourous, petite type that Gavin dates.” She didn’t wait for a response, but went on to say, “Gavin offered me a job as his personal chef. His younger brother is staying with him now and he needs help. I’ll be cooking and will be there when Kyle comes home from school. And I‘ll stay over when Gavin is on the road.”
“I didn’t know Gavin had a brother,” Wayne said, around a mouthfull of meat loaf. “How old is the kid?”
“Fourteen,” Anna and Wesley answered at the same time.
Donna asked, “What about your catering business? Will this leave Janet in a jam?”
“That’s right,” her father added. “Surely you haven’t given up on your business, now that it’s been doing so well?”
“Of course not. Janet and I have talked it over. We’ve promoted our assistant, Krista Moore. You’ve met her. She has taken over my duties and we’re making enough to increase her salary and hire another assistant. It won’t be a problem. Gavin has offered me a very generous salary.”
Anna couldn’t explain the custody issue with Wayne sitting there. It had taken a while for Gavin to obtain temporary custody in order to be able to enroll the boy in school. Monday was a day of new beginnings. Anna would start her new job, and Kyle would start school.
“I’ll be able to help him out, and while Kyle’s at school, I’ll have a chance to work on the family cookbook.”
“Oh, that is wonderful.” Her mother beamed with tears in her eyes. It was a project that she’d been longing to see completed. She jumped up and kissed her daughter. “I’m so proud of you. Your great-grandmother would have loved to see it come to fruition.”
“It’s a dream that’s a long time coming,” her father said. “Well, well. It looks like you’re going to have to get serious about finding a publisher.”
“Congratulations, sis.” Wesley kissed her cheek.
Anna laughed, “Thanks. I admit I’m excited. Gavin has volunteered his kitchen for any additional cooking I might have to do for the business and the book. All he wants is regular meals on the table so Kyle can feel comfortable and at home.”
“How long will his brother be staying?” Wayne asked as he helped himself to yet another serving of meat loaf.
“Indefinitely,” Anna said quietly. She and Wesley exchanged a look of understanding.
It wasn’t until later as Wesley and Anna were cleaning up the kitchen that he had an opportunity to say, “I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
Placing a clean, wet plate into the draining rack, she shook her head, before saying, “You didn’t hurt my feelings. Growing up with you all, I learned early to grow a thick skin. Besides, I knew what you meant. And I’ve seen some of the beautiful women Gavin dates. They’re petite and drop-dead gorgeous.”
“Any other man would be lucky to have you,” Wesley persisted as he dried and put another glass in the cupboard. “Unless the guy is offering a ring, he’ll have to go through me first.”
“Surprise, surprise, brother. I don’t need your approval to date.” Anna scoffed at the idea.
“Please. You’ll always be my baby sister. When you’re ninety-six and I’m a hundred, you’ll still be the baby,” he teased.
She pushed his shoulder. “Time you got over yourself.” More than ready to change the subject, she asked, “What do you think of this Kyle situation? Do you think their father is coming back for him?”
Wesley swore beneath his breath before admitting, “I think Gavin is on his own with this one.”
“I do too. He’s going to end up dragging that pitiful excuse for a man back here to take care of Kyle. But then there’s no guarantee that old George will do right by the boy. Gavin is determined to see that Kyle gets a fair shake, but he certainly can’t follow his father around every minute of the day.”
“You got that right. I still can’t believe that sorry son of a bitch left his own child.” Realizing what he let slip, Wesley offered a hastily apology before he added, “Gavin doesn’t know how lucky he is that his parents never married. George Reynolds isn’t my idea of a decent man, let alone a good father.”
“Mine either. Both Kyle and Gavin deserved better,” Anna agreed as brother and sister exchanged an understanding look.
It was Anna who said, “I feel bad for Gavin, but poor Kyle is the one who’s suffering the most. He is so resentful…so alone. It’s almost as if the kid expects Gavin to turn his back on him as well.”
Wesley shook his head, “That won’t happen. Gavin believes in family. Look how much he respects Mama and Daddy.”
“We were lucky, weren’t we?” She smiled as she finished rinsing the last pan.
“Yeah,” he replied. “I’m glad you’re going to be able to help Gavin with this one. He’s a good man.”
“That he is.” Drying her hands, she said, “Looks like we’re all done. Now tell me all about my pretty little niece. Did you bring any new pictures?”
