Buchanan: Delicious Part 66

Penny grimaced. Stealing setup supplies was a clear invitation to be stabbed in the back. Literally.

Edouard clucked and hurried to the walk-in. He came back with shallots and made sure everyone was supplied before returning to his demiglaze.

"Thanks," Penny told him.

"You are lucky I am in a good mood," he said.

"Things happy at home?"

"Bliss," he told her with a satisfied smile. "George wants to move in. We are talking about getting a cat together."

"You can't have Al. We need him here."

"You'll have to send him somewhere when the health department comes calling," Edouard said.

"I know, but he's worth it." She grabbed a plate of salmon as it came past and slid on a small corn cake topped with crab.

"Order up," she yelled.

Naomi appeared at her side. "Your parents are here. And your sisters. No kids or husbands. Should I be worried?"

"Husbands are at home, kids are with Grandma."

"That's the way to do it." She picked up a second plate. "Should I offer to take them bar hopping?"

Penny didn't want to think about her very married sisters hanging out in Naomi's wild world.

"They're kind of focused on having rooms to themselves and taking baths."

"Well, I wouldn't want to get in the way of that," Naomi said as she hurried out of the kitchen.

Penny glanced around to make sure that everything seemed in order, then she left Edouard in charge as she made her way into the dining room. She smiled at Cal, who stood by the hostess station, then crossed to the table by the water where her family sat.

"Hi," she said as she pulled up an empty chair. "Have you ordered?"

"Not yet," her father said. "We were waiting to get a recommendation from the chef."

Emily leaned close. "This place is terrific. Fabulous view. Did we know you were working with your ex-husband?"

"Oh, you saw Cal?" she asked, hoping to sound friendly and calm, not at all as if she'd spent a fair amount of the afternoon naked and begging for more.

"She told us," her mother said. "I'm sure I mentioned it." Fay glanced at him and waved. "I always thought it was a shame the two of you couldn't work things out. Any sparks?"

"Not really," Penny said, and hoped her mother had lost the ability to tell when she was lying.

Julie shook her head. "Let it go, Mom. Penny's moved on, obviously. She's having a baby on her own. She's the perfect modern woman."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Penny said, although she appreciated the vote of confidence.

"Speaking of the baby," her mother said. "Are you sure you'd still like me to come out for a couple of weeks when it's born? I don't want to intrude or get in the way or-"

"Yes," Penny said, cutting her off in midsentence. "I would love the help. I'm terrified of being on my own with the baby."

Her mother beamed at her. "You'll be fine, but I'm happy to help. We'll work out the details later. Now let's order some food."

Penny made several suggestions, then excused herself to go back to the kitchen. Her mother rose and walked with her.

"You've done a wonderful job here, darling," Fay said. "We're all so proud and happy for you."

"Thanks. It's nice to hear. Especially after all the years I spent s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g up."

Fay frowned. "Don't say that. We never thought of it that way. You were trying to find what was right for you, that's all."

"But I flunked out of college. Twice. And let me tell you, it's hard to flunk out of community college."

"You refused to settle. Your father and I always admired that about you."

"Really?"

"Of course. All I've ever wanted was for my girls to be happy. You've made that happen. Oh, Emily and Julie did, too, but in a more traditional way. They knew what to expect from their lives. You never did. You forged your own path. That takes courage."

Until that moment, Penny had always a.s.sumed her parents saw her as a failure. That they'd been disappointed in her stops and starts along the road of figuring out what she wanted to do with her life.

"Thanks, Mom," she said and kissed the other woman on the cheek. "You're the best."

Her mother laughed. "All I ask is a chance to taste your cooking."

"I promise."

Fay returned to the table. Penny continued toward the kitchen, only to be intercepted by Cal.

"Your folks are here."

"I know. Sorry. I forgot to tell you." She stared at his face, liking the way the light played on his features. "Hi."

"Hi, yourself. How are you feeling?"

"As if I could sing opera," she said with a smile. "You?"

"Pretty d.a.m.ned good." He jerked his head toward the table with her family. "Okay for me to go over and say h.e.l.lo? Or would that be too awkward?"

"I think it would be fine. They always liked you."

"Good. Then I'll do that." He brushed his fingertips down her arm. "Maybe we can get together later?"

"I'd like that."

She walked into the kitchen only to find Naomi standing in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips.