Page 44 of Recipe for Romance (Applewood #2)

~N icole~

Opening night was going off without a hitch.

Well, almost without a hitch. There was the issue of one of the servers losing their tie clip and the silky material dipping into someone’s water glass, but luckily that someone had been Aiden’s dad, and Nolan merely laughed off the encounter, accepting a new water glass with a smile.

Then about halfway through dinner service, a cook had dropped a few plates and every head in the dining room had swiveled toward the sound.

The crash of porcelain against tile echoing throughout the large space had Nicole scurrying into the kitchen, expecting to see Aiden red-faced, spitting out a reprimand to whoever made the mistake.

Just because he wasn’t quite as cantankerous as he used to be didn’t mean the little hiccups didn’t bother him.

Instead of the scene she’d played out in her mind, Nicole found Aiden gently clasping the shoulder of the cook who’d made the mistake, speaking calmly as he instructed him to sweep up the mess.

Watching Aiden deal with the mistake so patiently warmed her heart.

It also had other scenes playing out in her mind, ones where he helped their children learn how to pick an apple, bake it in the oven, and serve it up to their family and friends just as he did.

Her mind painted a beautiful picture of the future, and as Aiden caught her staring and smiled, Nicole realized that it wasn’t just a possible future, but the one she would get.

After mouthing a quick I love you , she backed out into the dining room and went about checking in with servers and diners.

Nicole told herself that she hadn’t purposely been avoiding her father’s table, but as the night came closer to an end, the knowledge that she would have to face her dad had the fluttery feeling that sat in her stomach all evening twisting into a knot of worry.

She hadn’t really talked to her dad since Christmas morning when she told him about her plan to stay on with Aiden.

He’d hummed and really said nothing more about it, but she could hear his disappointment through the line, probably because in his eyes, she was giving up easily again.

Luckily, that one call hadn’t ruined what had been a lovely holiday spent with Aiden and his family, but just barely.

Well, there was no avoiding her dad now.

After Aiden had presented all the food, it was up to Nicole to check in to make sure they didn’t need anything else, and he’d finished his part almost twenty minutes ago.

A little sad that she couldn’t put it off any longer, Nicole strode over to the table, smiling as best she could while her hands trembled with nerves.

“Hello gentlemen,” she greeted the table. “I trust everything was to your liking this evening.”

Three men she recognized from her dad’s various business dealings over the years smiled politely and nodded their heads. “The service was almost as fantastic as the food,” one mustachioed man told her.

“Yes. Chef has quite outdone himself this evening” The bald man poked at a few pastry crumbs that remained on his plate after dessert with his fork. “When Aiden emailed the menu, I wasn’t sure the simple fare would live up to what he’s done in the past, but I am happy to have been proven wrong.”

The third man nodded, pushing back from the table. “It was a lovely evening and you excelled in your role, my dear.” The rotund man nodded to the two who were not her father, and after they said their goodbyes to her dad, they walked outside.

Nicole glanced around the restaurant. A few tables lingered, mostly Aiden’s family probably hoping to catch a moment to congratulate him, and as much as she might like to, she couldn’t disappear and go sit with them.

Summoning all her courage, she sat at one of the abandoned seats and looked at her father.

His graying hair was styled neatly and he wore one of his finest suits, looking as intimidating as he always did.

“So, what did you think?” Her voice shook slightly, but she held her head high as she waited for his response.

A wide smile broke out on his face. “You heard the guys. The food was fantastic, not that I expected any less from my star pupil.” Nicole felt a twinge of envy at how readily her dad heaped praise upon Aiden, but it was dwarfed by her own feelings of pride for the man she loved.

“Aiden did very well, but you know that’s not what I was asking you.

” Nicole narrowed her gaze, hoping she could convey just how badly his avoidance of the question hurt her.

“Are you going to say anything about what I did? I put a lot of work into helping make this place what it is.” She gestured around the restaurant that she helped put together.

“I know I’m a constant source of disappointment for you, but can’t you at least acknowledge that I actually did something right for once? ”

Nicole ducked her head, blinked away tears and was thankful that she had kept her voice low so no one was privy to the content of their conversation.

At the feel of her dad’s rough hand over hers, she felt able to look at him again.

Pain and sorrow were painted all over his face, and for a moment she felt almost mortally wounded at having caused those emotions in him.

“You’ve always done things right, at least, the right way for you.

I know I wasn’t around much when you were younger and I haven’t been much better since then.

You’ve always had a tough time of things, and no one likes to see their kids struggle, but it went deeper than that for me.

” He cleared his throat and looked around the restaurant.

“Maybe we should do this somewhere else.”

Not wanting to squander her dad finally opening up to her, Nicole shook her head vehemently. “Here is fine. No one cares about us anyway.”

Her dad smiled, his expression a little sad, but knowing.

“I wouldn’t say that.” He nodded to the kitchen door where Aiden stood, his arms crossed over his chest. The glower on his face could wilt lettuce, but as soon as he saw Nicole looking at him it morphed into a fond smile.

“I think there’s a man over there who cares about you very much. And I’m guessing you feel the same.”

Nicole smiled at Aiden before turning back to her father.

“I do, but you’re avoiding the subject again, Dad.

” She jutted out her chin defiantly, wishing she’d had the courage to have this conversation years ago in the privacy of a home and not in the middle of a restaurant.

“I’ve let you skirt around things in the past, but I’m not doing that anymore. ”

He sighed. “Busting my balls just like your mom used to,” he said wistfully.

“I know I haven’t been the best at supporting you, but it’s just that seeing you was a constant reminder that I failed as a father and I just wasn’t ready to face that.

” At Nicole’s shuttered expression, he squeezed her hand and held her gaze.

“It wasn’t anything to do with you, honey, and everything to do with me.

I was so busy building up my business, trying to secure the future for our family that I wasn’t there as much as I could have been, and after your mom died, I couldn’t bring myself to change.

” He swallowed thickly, his eyes shining.

“I loved her so damn much. She was everything good and bright and shiny, and losing her broke something in me that I don’t think will ever fully heal.

Keeping busy, mentoring other chefs. That stuff helps but it doesn’t make the pain go away. ”

Nicole swallowed her grief, but a rogue tear escaped despite her best efforts. “If helping other chefs heals you, why couldn’t you do that with me?” She dashed the wetness from her face, waving off Aiden when it looked like he might storm over there and throttle her dad’s neck.

Looking more pained than she’d ever seen him, her dad sighed, his breathing thready.

“She was so good with you, Nicki. She knew exactly what to say and how to say it, how to turn a mistake into something good, something to be celebrated. I can’t imagine a better mother for you.

” He swallowed thickly, eyes looking a little glassy as well.

“I’m not a patient man, not anything like she was, and I knew that as much as I might hope that I could have helped you with your dream, I didn’t have it in me.

You needed someone far more patient than myself, and even though he can be a rough asshole, I knew that Aiden would soften up for you.

I wish I could be that for you, Nicki, but I can’t.

You’re so much like my Audrey, her mirror image in almost every way, and I know it makes me a horrible father, but that’s also why sometimes I just couldn’t be around you.

” His voice seemed to break at that moment and she reached over and pulled her dad into a hug.

Tears fell from her eyes, and as much as it hurt to hear how hard it was for her dad to be near her, knowing that it was because of something out of her control also lightened the weight that had been on her chest for the last thirteen years.

Nicole sniffled, the last of his words ringing in her ears until she realized something.

Pulling back, she looked at her dad and smiled tremulously. “You said couldn’t . Does that mean that you think you’ll be able to be around me more in the future?”

Her dad nodded. “One of the chefs I mentored lost his father not long ago. He invited me to the grief counseling group he attends and I thought, why not? It made me feel a little better and I’ve been going for a while now.

I can’t promise to be a different person overnight, but I can promise to try and be better. ” He pulled Nicole into another hug.

It lasted a long time until finally he pulled back, his eyes boring into hers.

“I need you to know something, Nicki. You have never, ever , been a disappointment to me. You’ve struggled, but you persevered, never gave up.

And now?” He looked around the expansive space, his eyes lighting up.

“Everything you’ve done here is amazing.

This restaurant wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for you. ”

A rebuttal was on the tip of her tongue, but Nicole swallowed it. Her dad was finally complimenting her, and she was going to take it at face value. “Thanks, Dad. That means a lot.”

They stood and hugged once more, the action becoming more familiar each time it happened. “No, thank you for listening and not giving up on a dumb bastard like me.”

“I think that’s her specialty,” Aiden said.

When she turned to face him, he was scrutinizing the two of them.

Nicole could handle herself, but there was something kind of hot about him wanting to make sure she was okay, and she couldn’t wait to get back home to show him how much she appreciated it. “Are we all good here?”

Nicole smiled and grabbed his hand as she left her dad’s arms. “We’ll get there,” she told him.

It would take a lot more than one conversation and a few hugs to bridge the gap that her dad’s behavior had created in their relationship, but she was confident that with more of those things and plenty of visits, they would get there eventually.

Aiden pulled her into her side and kissed the top of her head.

“Good.” He looked up at her dad, the respect for his mentor still evident, but a new protectiveness for her obvious in his gaze as well.

“Hopefully we get there soon. I may be more of a chef than a butcher, but I know how to wield a cleaver when I need to.”

Nicole’s dad barked a laugh and extended his hand to Aiden. “As do I, so how about we both promise to treat Nicki like she deserves to be treated and we won’t have to bother.” Nicole rolled her eyes at their male posturing, but it felt good too.

Aiden smiled and shook his hand. “Easiest promise I ever made.”

After another hug to her father and a promise to see him before he flew back to Los Angeles in the morning, Aiden steered her over to where his family had pushed a few tables together and were laughing hysterically as they passed around a bottle of Felix’s cider.

The rest of the dining room was empty, the servers back with the kitchen staff closing out their tabs for the evening.

When they got to the edge of the table, a hush fell upon the previously raucous group. “What did you think?” Aiden asked them.

Everyone looked at each other before a chorus of congratulations and compliments rang out.

Aiden’s father pulled him into a tight hug before passing him over to his mom and then around to every other member of the family.

Nicole squeaked with surprise when she became next in line, hugging each and every Kemp until she was so turned around that she nearly tripped back into a chair.

She and Aiden joined in on the celebration for a few minutes, but once the cider was gone and it was time to deal with the end of the night duties, they walked Aiden’s family to the door and bid them goodnight.

“Thanks again everyone,” he said to them, his cheeks pink.

“I really appreciate your support.” After another round of hugs and each member proclaiming how much they loved the other, Nicole and Aiden got back to work.

It wasn’t until much later, after the restaurant was dark and Nicole sat in a warm bath, bracketed by Aiden’s legs as he soaked in the tub with her that her new reality sank in.

She looked over her shoulder at the man she loved, studying his face as his head lolled back in relaxation.

He looked tired, but more than anything else, he looked happy.

Nicole reached up and kissed his chin, smiling when he blinked his blue eyes open. “Congratulations, Chef,” she told him.

Aiden leaned down and brushed his lips against hers.

“Congratulations to you too, Angel.” He rested his forehead against hers for a moment before kissing her again.

“Thank you for helping me do this. It means everything to me. You mean everything.” As Aiden wrapped his slick arms around Nicole and pulled her back against him for a deeper kiss, her chest expanded to make room for more love for him, more than she’d had even moments ago.

It turned out that sometimes, you could have your cake and eat it too, and with Aiden, she would enjoy every bite.