With Alyssa gone, Gia left Savannah to deal with the few customers who’d trickled in and went back to relieve Cole on the grill.
He’d just finished cutting the vegetables and was covering the stainless-steel bins. He glanced over his shoulder when Gia entered. “How’s Alyssa?”
“She seems okay.” Or about as good as could be expected under the circumstances.
“Glad to hear it.”
“Could I ask you something, though?” She ripped a piece of saran wrap from the roll and handed it to Cole.
He used it to cover the last bowl, then started transferring them to the commercial sized refrigerator. “Sure thing.”
Gia held the door open for him. Watching what Alyssa was going through brought back memories of her own past, her own struggle to keep her business going after the scandal involving her ex’s death had shut her down. Having lived through a far too public divorce amid a court battle and death threats, then moving twelve hundred miles away to Boggy Creek—only to have her every move put on display again after Bradley’s murder—Gia understood all too well, the pain of having your life turned inside out for all the world to see. “What did you mean before about Carlos being possessive?”
He finished loading the bowls into the fridge and washed his hands, then dried them on a towel and perched on the edge of a stool at the center island. He gestured for her to sit across from him.
Knowing Savannah would be putting up orders any minute, she leaned against the counter instead. No sense getting too comfortable.
“I heard a rumor this morning that Alyssa was having an affair with the woman who collapsed’s fiancé.” He held up a finger. “It’s just a rumor mind you; I’m not sayin’ it’s true.”
“Of course.” But how had Cole managed to hear that when he was stuck in front of the grill all day?
He grinned, reached across the island, and tapped her temple. “I can actually see the gears spinning.”
Gia laughed. One of these days she’d learn to keep her thoughts from being displayed so clearly in her expressions.
“Earl stopped in earlier. He came back to say hello right after news of the incident at Alyssa’s broke. Seems one of his sons went to school with Alyssa, stayed friendly even after high school, until she married Carlos and he put the kibosh on any friendships she had with men.”
“Hmm…” Gia could certainly relate. Her ex-husband had been the same way, all while working his way through a long list of mistresses Gia had been blind to. Sadly, that wasn’t the worst of what he’d done. Her heart went out to Alyssa.
“Supposedly, Carlos wasn’t very supportive when Alyssa wanted to open her own catering company, didn’t like the idea. Until he decided to quit his job and go to work with her as her cook. Then, he warmed up to the idea right quick.” He shrugged. “According to Earl anyway.”
Sure, he did. Then he’d be able to keep an eye on her all day long. “What else did Earl say?”
“Just that Alyssa didn’t deserve this. Seems his son cared a little more for her than he’d let on all those years ago, but by the time he worked up the courage to admit it, she’d already gotten serious with Carlos.” Cole pushed his stool back and stood. “Oh, and he mentioned the fact that Carlos made a habit of having a chat with any men he saw as a threat to his marriage. Whether or not that threat was real or imagined apparently didn’t matter.”
Gia couldn’t help but laugh. Earl’s information this time rivaled the Bailey sisters, and it seemed he had shared every bit of dirt he had. “Thanks, Cole. Maybe I’ll give her a day to get through whatever business arrangements she needs to make with having to close down for the investigation and then reach out to see how she’s doing.”
“Earl was hoping you’d say that. He also said to tell you he’s sorry he missed you this morning. Honestly, I think that’s why he stopped back in later. Seems he’s developed a bit of a soft spot for you.”
Heat flared in Gia’s cheeks.
“Oh, not in a weird way. If it’s possible for a man to be maternal, Earl is.” A wide grin spread across his face. “As evidenced by the pack of children and grandchildren he’s always doting on. I just meant, I think he’s sort of unofficially adopted you.”
Warmth spread through her at the thought. Gia had been so young when her mother passed away, she could barely remember her. The memories she did have, she clung to for dear life. Maybe her father had been devastated by her mother’s death, or maybe he’d always been indifferent and cold as ice. She’d never know, because he barely acknowledged her throughout her childhood and had thrown her out the day she graduated high school. Their relationship never afforded an opportunity for personal questions. The thought of a father like Earl, a man who cherished his children above all else, had tears prickling the backs of her lids.
“Sorry.” Savannah rushed in and stuck three tickets above the grill. “Break’s over, lady and gent.”
Cole gave Gia’s arm a squeeze and dropped a kiss on her head. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Sure thing, thanks, Cole.”
“Uh, huh.”
“Hey, Savannah, wait,” Gia called before Savannah could sprint back out the door. “Anything going on out there?”
“Nah, nothing. But we’re starting to pick up a bit, so maybe we’ll have a nice dinner rush.”
If that was the case, Gia hoped it was the great food and cozy atmosphere attracting the crowd.
With Savannah manning the dining room, doing what she loved and did best, interacting with people, Gia looked over the three tickets. Breakfast pies, easy enough. They were already pre-made, so she sliced two meat lover pies and popped them in the microwave. She pulled enough vegetables for two southwestern omelets, sliced several pieces of pre-cooked sausage from the bin on the back of the grill, and tossed it all into a small drizzle of oil to the far side of the grill.
With that warming, she ladled batter into the waffle iron, grabbed the berries from the fridge and the confectioners’ sugar from the shelf above the counter. As she worked, comforted by the familiar routine, the scents of home surrounding her, her mind drifted back to Alyssa. Surely, Hunt and Leo would complete the investigation quickly, especially if Robyn made a full recovery and it turned out whatever had happened to her had been nothing more than a force of nature. As much as Gia liked Alyssa and felt bad for her, fact was, Savannah was getting married in just over a week. The rehearsal dinner, which they planned to have Alyssa cater as well, was a week from right this minute. If Hunt and Leo didn’t clear her soon, they were going to have to get someone else.
“Earth to Gia.”
“Oh.” She flinched, startled by Savannah’s voice right behind her. “Sorry.”
Savannah laughed and grabbed the breakfast pie slices from the microwave. “You seem like you’re a million miles away.”
She shook off her concerns. “Sorry, I guess my thoughts wandered.”
Savannah’s grin lit her eyes as she slid the slices onto plates and left with them.
Gia would keep her thoughts to herself, for now, at least. She didn’t want to say anything to dull Savannah’s good spirits. There’d be plenty of time to panic later if things didn’t work out and they had to find a caterer at the last minute. At worst, Gia would do it herself. She had no doubt Cole would pitch in, as would Earl and his kids. Trevor, too. Although, she realized she didn’t have a clue if he could cook. No matter; she could always give him things to do.
The knot in her stomach began to uncoil. Though the idea didn’t always come to her right away, it eventually did occur to her that she wasn’t on her own any more. She had a family now. And together, they could work through anything.
She finished the southwestern omelets, ladled homemade salsa over the top, added home fries to both plates and set them on the cut-out to the dining room so Savannah could get them without having to come back to the kitchen.
Then, she turned her attention to the waffles. She loaded a pile onto each of three plates, sprinkled confectioners’ sugar over them, and poured a generous serving of mixed berries over the top. After adding a cup of cream to each plate, she put all three on the cut-out and rang the bell.
Though several more tables had been seated, Savannah was nowhere to be seen.
Most customers were looking over their menus, though a few started to look around, their menus closed on the table in front of them. Since no orders were up, and the omelets were still sitting on the cut-out, Gia grabbed a tray and loaded the omelets and waffles onto it. She’d serve them up quick, then take orders if Savannah needed a hand.
She lifted the tray and turned.
Savannah stood in the doorway, her eyes red, tears shimmering.
Gia stopped short and lowered the tray onto the island. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
Savannah nodded and lowered her gaze to the phone clutched in her hands. “Leo just called.”
Uh oh.
“Robyn Hackman didn’t make it.”
“Oh, Savannah, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
“He and Hunt are on their way. They need us to take a few minutes to answer their questions. I figured you could work the grill while they question you, but I called Willow and asked her to come back so I could talk.” She sniffed. “She’s on her way.”
Gia just nodded. “Did he say what happened?”
She blew out a breath but didn’t look up. “They think she was poisoned.”
“Poisoned?”
Her gaze finally met Gia’s. “Something in the cake.”
The same cake Savannah had eaten a full slice of. Gia forced her heart back down her throat into her chest. “That’s not possible. You ate the cake, and you’re fine. You do feel okay, right?”
Gia only took a small bite, but Savannah ate a whole piece. Surely, she would have had some kind of reaction by now if she’d been poisoned. No?
“To tell you the truth, I feel a little queasy at the moment.”