Page 15 of Waves of Reckoning (Echoes of Camano Island #1)

Chapter Fourteen

P aul was getting ready to head out in his boat for an early morning ride when his phone rang.

It had to be the restaurant . That was his first thought. Or Sarah!

He made a mad dash for the device and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it wasn’t Sarah.

“Hello?” he answered cautiously.

“Paul, sorry to wake you,” Ken, his head chef, said on the other end.

He knew it. It had to be the restaurant.

“You didn’t. What’s wrong?”

Ken chuckled lightly. “You were always so insightful.”

“It’s not every day I get a call from my head chef at six in the morning,” Paul replied.

Right away, a bout of coughing gripped Ken, and Paul knew why he had called. “You’re sick?”

“Yeah,” Ken replied. “I got bit by the flu bug. I’m afraid I’ll have to be out for a couple of days.”

“That’s alright, man,” Paul replied with understanding. “There’s nothing you can do about it.”

“Do you think you can maybe take over for me? For just a few days?”

“It’s too late to get anyone else anyway,” Paul replied. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll figure something out. Feel better.”

“Thanks, man,” Ken said and hung up in the middle of a cough.

Paul stood by the doorway as excitement and trepidations swirled inside him. It was far too late to get another qualified chef. He would have to take over at the restaurant. It wasn’t something he’d done full-time since he’d discovered he had a heart condition.

But it had to be done.

His hands shook as he put on his chef whites and prepared to go to the restaurant later that morning. He chose not to announce to his staff before he arrived, so they were surprised and elated when they saw him walking into the kitchen dressed for work.

“Aw, man.” Will laughed. “Don’t tell me you’re coming back,” he joked.

Paul chuckled. “Just for a couple of days. Ken has the flu.”

“Oh,” Will replied with a shocked expression. “I hope it isn’t bad.”

“It sounded like it,” Paul replied sorrowfully. “But he’s tough. He’ll be back here bossing you around in no time. For now, I’ll be that guy.” He grinned.

“Good to have you back,” Will replied. “I’ll try to take it easy on you.”

Paul laughed. “I’ll be fine. Now, what do we have in the refrigerator?” he asked as he moved away and toward the walk-in refrigerator. He felt a rush of excitement as his staff followed him, and they checked the menu and pantry items.

A deep yearning overwhelmed him as he walked back into the kitchen. He loved cooking and hated that he couldn’t do it all the time, on account of his heart. But his health came first, and he had to abide by the advice of his doctor and his daughter.

His heart was racing when the customers started walking in, and the first of the orders began to pour in.

Paul took the order from Lexi, who gave him a broad smile. “Welcome back, boss,” she said.

“It’s not like I wasn’t here,” Paul reminded her.

“You know what I mean.” She winked.

He smiled and turned to the chefs. “Table four, two scallops and one tamarind glazed chicken wings. Table two, one lobster bisque and clam chowder.”

“Heard, Chef,” Will replied and got to work.

“What’s the time on the scallops and wings?” Paul asked.

“Eight minutes, Chef,” Will replied as he reached for the ingredients.

Paul started on the clam chowder and felt like his old self again, even as more orders came in. He relished giving the orders and checking the plates for perfection. He tasted every dish that was prepared and only sent out the ones he thought were Michelin-starred quality.

They worked feverishly throughout lunch and into dinner, and at no point did he feel overwhelmed. He was in his element, and he loved it.

Every so often, he ventured into the dining room to meet some of his guests when things slowed down for a few minutes.

“I knew something was different about the dinner today,” Simon, one of his resident customers, declared when he walked over to them. “I didn’t know you were back. I hope you’re staying.”

“Are you suggesting my chefs don’t know what they’re doing?”

Simon laughed. “Not at all. But Chef Gordon Ramsay’s chef isn’t Chef Gordon Ramsay if you catch my drift.”

Paul laughed. “Well, thank you for the compliment. I’m glad you’re enjoying the experience.”

“As always,” he replied. “The chowder was superb. Not to mention the beef Wellington. Melts in the mouth.”

Paul’s heart was full as he walked around the restaurant, giving most of the customers a personalized experience.

It was just getting dark outside, and the low-hanging lamps gave off a romantic appeal.

The rustic brick finish added a nice country feel to the place, and he observed the floral white centerpieces amid glistening silver accessories on each table.

Lot 28 was written on the far walls in cursive black and red lettering, and he felt pride in his accomplishment as he returned to the kitchen.

They were in full swing for dinner, sending out one order after another. Several times, he had to enter the dining room to greet another customer who heard he was on duty, but that was no surprise to Paul.

It was on one of those visits to the dining room that he ran into his daughter.

“Dad, what are you doing here?” she hissed as she leaned closer to him.

“How did you know I was here?” he asked. “Debbi,” he replied as he looked around for the server. She could at least have given him a heads-up.

“Yes, Debbi,” Sarah snapped.

Paul looked across at Aaron. “It’s good to see you.”

Aaron nodded and smiled at him. “Should you be here at all?”

“I heard he’s been here all day,” Sarah said angrily. “Dad, what are you thinking? You know what the doctor said.”

“Honey, now is not the time for this,” Paul said as he looked around and hoped no one had overheard their conversation.

It was no news to the frequent customers that he had to take a medical leave a few years back, but he had always been around for a few hours most days even though he had mainly been supervising things.

“There shouldn’t be a conversation about this,” Sarah snapped.

“Boss,” Lexi said as she came up to him. “You’re needed in the kitchen.”

“Thanks, Lexi,” Paul said and looked at Sarah. “I know you’re worried, but I’m not back here full time. It’s just for a few days.”

“Dad, you can’t handle the daily stress, even for one day,” Sarah whined.

“I can’t say I disagree,” Aaron chimed in. “It was pretty bad that time.”

“Ugh!” Sarah groaned. “I can’t,” she said, slapping her napkin onto the table. “I need some air.”

“Sarah,” Paul called after her.

Aaron sprang from his chair. “I’ll calm her down. Go do what you have to.”

Paul’s spirit sank as he walked back to the kitchen. He was not his usual happy-go-lucky self after the confrontation with Sarah. He had hoped she wouldn’t have found out about it.

“Sorry, boss,” Debbi said as she walked up to him. “I didn’t know she didn’t know you’re back. It slipped.”

“It’s okay, Debbi,” Paul told her. “Let’s get back to work. We’re filling up over here.”

Ironically, even though Sarah was mad at him for being back at work, and he hated that he had disappointed her, cooking relaxed him the most. In seconds, as he pounded steak and ground lamb into sausages, he’d forgotten his earlier fight.

Debbi informed him that Sarah had returned to her table, and he had no doubt she was still fuming. When things settled down, he returned to her.

“Come here,” he told her, and the three walked to the back patio.

He could see that she had been crying. Her mascara had smudged under her eyes, and she pulled away when he tried to hug her.

“No,” she whimpered. “Dad, I remember it like it was yesterday,” she said and tapped her chest. “You could have died, and now you’re back here like it doesn’t even matter.”

“Sweetheart, it wasn’t planned,” he explained. “Ken got the flu, and it was too late to find anyone, so I had to come in. How professional would it be if I didn’t?”

“I don’t care,” Sarah cried. “You’re the only parent I have. What if you experienced another heart attack?”

“But I didn’t,” Paul said in his defense. “I know the warning signs now, and you have no idea how good it feels to be back. Even for a couple of days.”

“Dad, you didn’t see it coming the last time,” Sarah cried.

“The heart attack wasn’t life-threatening, honey. Aaron, help me out here,” Paul pleaded with the man.

Aaron shrugged. “I agree with her. The first time isn’t usually the one to worry about. It can get worse.”

Paul groaned.

“He’s right,” Sarah chimed in. “The next time, you could die! Is that what you want? To die and make me an orphan?” she asked as tears rolled down her cheeks, and she brushed them away. “I already lost Mom. I can’t lose you, too.”

Paul’s chest tightened as he watched his baby girl crying over him. He would do anything to protect her, but he felt like his hands were bound. He reached for her, and that time, she allowed him to pull her into a firm embrace.

She sobbed against his chest, dampening his chef whites with her tears. Her body rocked in his arms and broke his heart.

“It’s alright,” he whispered against her head.

“I’m still here, and I’m not going anywhere, so you can quit worrying, okay.

It’s just for a few days. The last time, I was here all the time and stressed over a lot of things.

It’s not the same this time around. I know better now, and like I said, it’s only until Ken gets better. ”

“Are you sure?” she asked as she pulled away. “I don’t want you to sit at home and be miserable all the time. That’s not what I’m saying, but I was surprised when I came in and realized you were here.”

“I know you mean well, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but it happened so fast.”

“Would you have told me anyway?” She stared into his face.

He grinned at her. “Probably not, but that’s only because I know you would worry about me. I don’t want you to worry. I want you to go out and have fun and think about the wedding.”

“I know you have a lot more to do at the Nestled Inn now that Trish is in the hospital. I just don’t want you overdoing it.”

“Nikki’s doing a great job at the inn, so it’s not as hard as you think, and I promise not to overdo it. Now, can I go back inside and do what I love?”

Sarah smiled at him. “Fine. But I’ll be watching you.”

“I consider myself warned,” Paul said as he kissed her forehead, patted Aaron on the shoulder, and walked back inside the Lot 28 restaurant.

He was beginning to feel like his old self again.