Her counters overflowed with food. Bowls of saskatoons and blueberries, washed and hulled. Jars of spices kept piles of potatoes and green onions from rolling onto the floor. Four racks filled with perfectly cooked and browned tart shells sat cooling under the vent fan. Sadly, none of it was for her. Emma Gray’s baby shower the next day was going to be a spectacular event, though, and then she and Patricia would have their kitchen back.
When it came to food for herself, the cupboards were bare. Jackie and Patricia had eaten the last of the toaster waffles for supper the night before. Even the cereal boxes were empty. Thankfully, it was a Friday, and Ruth’s Place had an early bird special big enough that the leftovers would do double duty as lunch: a two-egg omelet, hash browns, and two slices of both bacon and toast.
Jackie would rather have the double-berry tarts in her kitchen for breakfast, but it would do in a pinch.
Doug joined her as she slid the remains of the breakfast into a to-go container. “It’s official. I’m never going to be a morning person unless I stay up all night,” he told her after he took his first hit of coffee. After his second, he said, “Good morning. You look gorgeous today.”
She was wearing a new, short-sleeved blouse. Bright orange buttons set off the sunrise colours in the paisley design. It had been a birthday present from Patricia. “Thanks, and good morning to you too.” Jackie waited for Alice to refill his coffee cup before she sprang her news.
“Are you free next weekend? Friday night and Saturday morning?” she asked.
“I am. Why?”
“I’m planning a date night.”
“And you need both Friday night and Saturday morning?”
“I will.” The date she was planning was that big. But she wasn’t giving him the details yet. It was too good of a surprise. Even she’d been shocked at the opportunity which had jumped into her lap, but that didn’t mean she was going to pass it up.
“How about a clue?” he wheedled.
“No!”
“How about a hint about a clue?”
“You are incorrigible. Also, still no.”
“I’m going to need more coffee.”
When Alice didn’t drop off a check, Jackie flagged her down. “I’ve got to go. What do I owe you?”
“Nothing, the bill’s been paid, along with a generous tip.”
She looked at Doug. “It wasn’t me.”
A woman in her thirties appeared at the end of their table. Her tight black curls were held off her face by a purple scarf, and she wore lipstick of the same colour. Freckles dotted her cheeks. Jackie couldn’t place her.
“It was me. It’s a bribe.”
“For?” Jackie asked. She looked really familiar.
“My name is Wendy Abrams. I own Emerald Catering in Winnipeg, and I’ve wanted to meet you since you catered my aunt’s wedding anniversary in July.”
She kept talking, but Jackie didn’t hear it. Emerald Catering was the premiere special events caterer in the province. Wendy Abrams’s photo was attached to all the articles written about her company every time she won an award. And she won a lot of them. “Are you sure you mean me?”
“You’re the one who made…” Wendy paused and lowered her voice, “The weiner schnitzel for my aunt’s anniversary party, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” That was her. Her schnitzel was not on her regular menu. It was special, only offered to parties of ten or less, and only if she really liked the person. Jackie appreciated Wendy’s discretion in bringing it up.
“Then it’s you I want to talk to. It was divine. That same weekend I had a cupcake at the Diamond Willow Festival, and I set my aunt on a mission to track down the chef so I could steal her away to work for me.”
“Me? Work for you?” When Jackie said a lot of awards, she meant all of them. Wendy Abrams and her team had been the ones to beat for the last five years in every contest they entered, and nobody else had come close to the top spot. Jackie couldn’t believe they wanted her.
“I know you have your own business, but I’m starting a new team to expand my reach, and I think you’d be a great fit. I’d love to talk to you about it. But you’re obviously on your way to work.” Wendy pulled a business card from her wallet. “Please call me to discuss what it would take to bring you on board. You’re exceptionally talented. I think we would work well together.”
The black-haired tornado tore out of the restaurant as suddenly as she’d appeared at their table, leaving Jackie breathless in her wake. Wendy Abrams liked her schnitzel.
“Who was that?”
“That is the best caterer in the prairies. And she wants me!”
It was possible that Doug’s grin was bigger than hers. “I heard. It couldn’t have been easy for her to track you down. She came all the way out to Hopewell to talk to you.” He spun the card on the table so he could study the emblem on it. “I recognize the name now. She did the Governor General’s dinner the last time they were in Winnipeg. One of the partners at my former clinic went to it and raved about the meal. We had to hear about it for days when he tried to hire her to do his wife’s birthday party and she turned him down.”
Doug finished his coffee and declined with thanks when Alice offered him yet another refill. “This is very flattering. Are you going to call her?”
“She’s in Winnipeg.”
“That’s where all the business is. This is an incredible chance for you.”
It really was. Sure, Jackie had her own business, but it was small potatoes compared to Emerald. If she were to join the larger company, she’d be part of the best of the best.
But it wouldn’t be hers. Dunn Home Cooking was small, but it was all Jackie, in a place where she wanted to be. She didn’t have a huge clientele, but the people of Hopewell turned to her first. On the other hand, Wendy offered the chance for a lot more people to enjoy her food, and a lot more money to go with it.
“One more thing,” Doug said.
“What?”
“How come I haven’t tried your schnitzel?”
Jackie laughed. “We’ll work on that.”