Day Five
Irina couldn't get her car started the following morning, so Thomas drove both the women home. Cherie and Irina had fallen asleep in the back seat of the car, which Thomas was kind-of glad about. He didn't know if he'd know exactly what to say in the first place.
Cherie had turned his world upside-down in such a very short time, but he decided to throw his typical British stuffiness out the window and go with the flow. She made him smile and over the Holiday season, he needed to smile, very much so. It hurt so much less when he smiled.
He dropped Cherie and Irina off at the Pear Tree and Mike told him he'd just missed the "Turtledoves", still raving about the wonderful job he'd done. That also made Mike smile, he remembered well how it felt to be young and in love. He got back in his car, glad he'd left it running -- there was a definite bite in the air this morning.
His next stop was to the Le Claire's winery, to wish the sisters a Happy Holiday. As always, the three French women were glad to see him, clucking and fussing over him. He was part of their extended family, he knew, and it warmed him even more. He promised to visit them after Christmas and share a traditional French meal, they threatened him with angry-but-loving words if he didn't.
When he got to the restaurant, he wasn't surprised to find everything was just as he'd left it, in complete order. Le Petite Chou mattered almost as much to Brandi as it did to him, she took great pride in her work. He mulled over asking her to stay on after she got her papers, she could help co-manage the place. Perhaps Caroline and Marcus would be willing to work more hours as well?
Brandi greeted him with a hug, nosily wanting to know about his trip. He remained tight-lipped, which Thomas knew would drive her buggy. She'd started preparations for lunch, so he went to his office and she brought him homemade Cream of Asparagus soup, his favorite, while he went over some paperwork. Things were in perfect order, as he had expected and they were making some nice money.
As he ate his soup and munched a Croissant, his Cell Phone rang. It was his Mum, Aunt, sister and cousin.
"Well?" his mother asked.
"Well, what?"
"Oooh Tommy, you'll drive me to the drink, you git!" his mother chided him.
"Yeah Tommy, don't be such a wanker!" his sister Kate scolded. He gritted his teeth, Kate always could push his buttons.
"It's far too early to say anything,!" he responded, knowing all four were listening.
"Tommy, you're a stuffy ponce, just like your Dad!" his Mum continued. "I had to be the romantic one in the family, left up to him, I'd have been an old maid and you and Kate wouldn't be here. You like this girl, you go after here, you hear me?"
"I hear you, Mum!" he responded. The four women spoke to him briefly and hung up, it was nearly suppertime in England. Thomas got up to take his dishes to the kitchen when the Cell rang again. He wondered what the four of them had forgotten.
"Hullo?"
"Hello yourself, sexy!" Cherie's lively voice came over the phone, warming him immediately. "Can I still take you up on that invitation to have a meal in your restaurant?"
"Certainly, but aren't you working today?"
"Mmm-hmm, but I thought I could come for the last seating -- around 9 or 10?"
"That'd be fine. All right Cherie, I'll look forward to seeing you then."
"Me too, darling." It always made him warm when Cherie called him darling. Only Patti had ever had that effect on him.
In that instant, Thomas knew he had to make a special meal for Cherie. He was going to make his specialty, Boeuf Bourguignon. Oh -- for dessert -- one of his favorites.
"Brandi, do we have any fresh Pineapple?"
"Sure do bossman, what's up?"
"I'm going to make my Pineapple Upside-Down cake!"
"The one with 5 Rings of Fresh Pineapple that is so rich and delicious and ... "
"That's the one."
"Oooh, someone's trying to impress someone!"
"Someone's going to be on dish duty if she doesn't behave!"
Duly chastised, Brandi worked on dinner preparations, leaving Thomas to prepare everything else himself. When Thomas was in the "zone" in this manner, preparing a meal for a special customer, Brandi knew what to do. She made sure the staff was neat and tidy, all the other customers were taken care of, vegetables and salads were chopped and at the ready. Customers cane and went, but Thomas barely noticed. Thomas let Brandi handle things, he wanted everything to be "just so".
The restaurant was busy, almost packed, but for Thomas, it seemed like an eternity until 9:30 came. He'd instructed Brandi not to seat anyone after 8, so when Cherie entered the Petite Chou, the last customer was paying their bill and leaving. Cherie went to Thomas and gave him a warm hug while Brandi grinned from the sidelines.
"Are you going to introduce me?" Brandi smiled.
"Do I HAVE to?" Thomas sighed. "Brandi, Cherie -- Cherie, Brandi -- who is DONE for the evening." Brandi took the none-too-subtle hint, got her coat and left, leaving only Thomas and Cherie in the place, the rest of the staff having left an hour earlier.
"She seems nice" Cherie intoned.
Thomas smiled. "She's a treasure -- MOST of the time -- and I couldn't run things without her. Wow, you look great."
Cherie looked spectacular really, Thomas knew. Tonight, she was wearing her hair up and long, dangly silver earrings hung from her ears. She had on the subtlest makeup and her lips were red, full and inviting. She bore a faint scent of a perfume that made Thomas weak-kneed and dizzy. He looked at her, clad in a full-length calfskin coat that must have been very expensive, but it hugged her like a second skin. She was in black heels and it looked like black stockings as well. He was almost impatient to see the dress she was wearing underneath the coat, he imagined it would look wonderful on her body. Practically everything she'd worn so far did.
"May I take your coat, Cherie?" he offered.
