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There was a long pause on the other end. “Okay, if that’s what you want.” The resignation in his voice came through loud and clear.
I filled the void with action plans and hurried words. “We’re meeting again first thing in the morning. I need to go over procedures, make sure everything’s by the book. I’m heading back to Orchid to work some more.”
“Stella—”
“Sorry, I have to go.” I cut him off, my focus narrowing on the battle ahead. “We’ll talk soon, okay?” I didn’t give him, or myself, the chance to say more before ending the call.
My reflection in the dresser mirror held a woman whose eyes burned with determination, even as the rest of her world wavered at the edges. The expanse of ocean outside whispered promises of romance and adventure, but within the walls of my restaurant, only challenge and self-doubt awaited me.
“I can do this,” I whispered, trying to convince myself. “I have to.”
After one last glance at my phone and Aiden’s promise of support, I turned away. Shutting the door behind me, I set off to steer this ship off the rocks.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Stella
It had been one holy hell of a week, with tension knotted in every corner of Orchid after Marjorie’s visit. But now I clutched the new inspection report to my chest like a winning lottery ticket, its clean white edges crinkling under my grip. The kitchen hummed around me, stainless-steel surfaces gleaming in the afternoon sun that peeked through the window. Marjorie had given us one week to rectify all her findings. And now, after days of scrubbing and training and double-checking every inch of this space, we’d emerged triumphant—or rather, spotless.
“Folks, we are officially a top-notch kitchen!” I called, unable to keep the elation from spilling into my voice as I waved the paper at Rea, busy arranging desserts in the display case.
“Back and better than ever,” she called back, her smile a mirror to my own relief.
I should have been basking in our success. But instead, a single nagging thought tugged at the corners of my mind—how had I let this happen?
When I’d delved into the cause of the scare, it turned out to be a simple, silly mistake—an employee’s misguided attempt at being thorough in the dishwasher area. Innocent intentions with potentially disastrous consequences. She’d used the wrong kind of cleaner, one not approved for food surfaces, and it had left the germ-attracting residue that Marjorie discovered. The same employee hadn’t realized how often she needed to clean the area, another training error. She’d been in tears after her mistakes came to light, and I’d taken her under my wing to make sure she felt valued.
I’d even worked personally with the prep staff, who were there hours before the main dinner shift showed up. I had a soft spot for Matt, who listened closely and took all my suggestions to heart. All were an indispensable part of Orchid’s success, and I needed to make sure they understood that.
This afternoon, Marjorie had come back for her reinspection and hadn’t been able to find a single infraction. She’d even given me a begrudging compliment on my thorough follow-up.
Now I leaned against the cool metal of the prep table as everyone returned to their tasks. “I should have caught it sooner.” Frustration simmered in my chest, a slow burn of disappointment in myself. How could I have missed something so fundamental?
“Hey, you can’t see everything,” Luis chimed in, his hands never stopping as he chopped a fresh batch of herbs.
I shook my head, a strand of hair escaping my ponytail. “But that’s just it, isn’t it? I’m supposed to catch these things before they become issues.”
“Stella, you trained us well. This was a fluke. Besides, look at this place now.” He gestured expansively with his free hand. “You couldn’t eat off the floor because it’s so damn shiny, you’d slide right off.”
A laugh escaped me despite the residual annoyance, and I glanced around the kitchen. He wasn’t wrong. The place was practically gleaming, a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone here.
“Okay, point taken,” I conceded, allowing a smile to break through. “Just don’t actually eat off the floor, please.”
“Well, there goes my break.” Luis’s eyes twinkled as he winked at me.
The victory was sweet, yet incomplete, overshadowed by the gnawing guilt of having neglected everything—and everyone—else during this fiasco. Including Aiden. I hadn’t meant to shut him out. It was just… when crisis mode had hit, my world narrowed to the four walls of Orchid and the challenge at hand.
I slipped out the back door, pulling my phone from the pocket of my chef’s coat. Aiden’s name sat at the top of my missed calls list—a glaring reminder of conversations deferred and connections missed. My thumb hovered over the call button, and I hesitated. After a week of self-imposed isolation, reaching out felt like taking a risk all over again. But Aiden had always been so understanding. Hopefully, we could pick up right where we left off. My heart thudded a rapid beat against my ribs.
“Hey, it’s me,” I said as soon as he picked up, my words tumbling out in a rush. “I’m sorry for going dark these past few days. We’ve been working on the inspection issues all week, and I’ve been?—”
“Busy. I know,” he interrupted. His voice was tight and low, a sharp contrast to his usual warmth.
“The good news is we passed our reinspection. Things are settling down, and I promise I’ll make it up to you, okay? Maybe I’ll make you dinner. Cajun seafood pasta?”
He heaved a long sigh. “Not tonight. I’ve had a long, rough day. You’re not the only one with work issues, you know. I had to tell one of my grade-school teachers she’s probably got cancer today.”
My good mood evaporated as I recognized the yawning divide opening between us. “Oh, God, Aiden. I’m sorry. Want me to come over after work? Give you a backrub?”
