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A hostess greeted them when they entered Flax and Fig. “Can I show you to a table? Or would you prefer to have drinks in the lounge before dinner?” she asked sweetly. She stood behind a heavy wooden stand. There was a row of plush leather seats to her left. Beyond that, an arched doorway led to the lounge. On the right another arch led into a dimly lit room. The air teased Carly’s appetite with hints of spice, roast meat, and sweet baked goods. Her stomach rumbled. She had been getting ready to make dinner when Birch arrived.
“Hi. We have reservations under Brighton.”
“Oh, Mr. Brighton. Mr. Gamble said to expect you. Follow me.” She made a notation on her clipboard and menus in hand, led them through the arched doorway into the dimly lit eating area.
Once they passed through the arch, the room seemed brighter. The lighting was discrete, bright enough to easily see but dim enough to feel romantic. The tables boasted white tablecloths and napkins. Each was set with water and wine glasses, and glistening silverware. A small, low centerpiece with flowers and votives lit each table. The décor was wood and leather with musical accents.
Banjos, violins, and guitars hung on the wall alongside flutes and clarinets. There was a piano, though no one played it at the moment. Soft jazz filled the air. Talk about a fusion restaurant. The Flax and Fig blended fine dining, romance, and classic pub together into something that shouldn’t have worked, but came together like a dream.
Holy romantic, Batman! This place was made for seduction.
They walked past all the tables to the back. “In here.” The hostess waved them toward another arched doorway. She and Birch walked through together. The room was small, barely wide enough to fit the single table and chairs it housed. Its high ceiling gave it a spacious air. A bottle of wine was chilling in the tableside ice bucket.
Birch held out her chair and slid it forward as she sat. He took a seat across from her. The hostess explained the evening’s specials and left them alone.
“This place is incredible.” She couldn’t stop looking around. Everywhere her eyes landed, she discovered something new. A display of books in a corner curio cabinet. A violin. Framed sheet music. Autographed album covers. The room had the feel of a musician’s library.
“I’ve never been in this room. I had no idea it even existed,” Birch noted.
“You’ve been here before?” She didn’t want to think about Birch dating someone else.
“Only with my family. Mom likes to come here for her birthday every year. I’ve never brought a date here. Until tonight.” He reached across the table and cupped her hand in his. “I was saving it for the right woman.”
“Flatterer,” she teased.
“Is the flattery working?” He winked.
“Oh, absolutely. I’ve never been somewhere this fancy before. Thank you for bringing me.”
“You’re kidding right? Didn’t you and Mike go on dinner dates?”
“Certainly. But to casual places. Usually, chain restaurants. Nothing like this. It wasn’t in our budget before we moved to Elk Valley. After we got here ... things changed.” He didn’t comment, only nodded and for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what that meant, if it meant anything at all.
A tall broad-shouldered man strode into the room. He had dark hair, a thick five o’clock shadow and wore a chef’s jacket. “Good evening, Miss.” His smile was broad and welcoming. “I’m Vince Gamble. Welcome to Flax and Fig.”
“Hi. Nice to meet you. I’m Carly.” Vince’s high energy poured off him in waves.
“Carly, I’ve heard a lot about you from my friend here.”
Heat rose in her face. “Oh?” How did she even answer a statement like that?
“Birch and I grew up together. I went to culinary school, and he went to university to learn how to be a better rancher. I source all my beef and pork from his family’s ranch.”
“Wonderful. Someday you’ll have to tell me all the embarrassing stories from his childhood.”
Vince laughed. “You better believe it.”
“Come on, Vince. This is supposed to be the perfect date. Don’t go and ruin it on me. I’m trying to impress a lady.” Birch grumbled lightly.
Vince laughed again. “That’s why I’m not letting you order. I’ll feed you myself.” He turned to Carly. “Any allergies, sensitivities or dislikes?”
“I’m not a huge fan of fish, but I adore shellfish. Other than that, keep your kale away from me.” She pretended to gag. She’d eat kale and probably not hate it, if it was served, but she would never choose it. Since Birch declared this the ‘perfect date’ she wouldn’t ruin it with kale.
“I can work with that. Let me pour you some wine.” He turned to Birch. “First bottle is on me. After that, you pay for the wine, and I’ll pay for your cab home.” He uncorked the bottle with ease and poured them each a small taste.
Carly rarely drank and wouldn’t know a high-end wine from iced tea, but when Birch said it was fine, she agreed. After a moment of small talk, Vince left them alone. She sipped her wine and spun the glass between her finger and thumb.
“You look uncomfortable,” Birch said. “I don’t bite.” His smile was soft and understanding.
“It’s weird. I’m nervous. I don’t know why.”
“Thank heaven,” he exclaimed. “I’m nervous too. I’ve known you for years. But this feels like a date with a stranger. I don’t know what to say or do.”
“What if we start fresh?” She thrust out her hand. “Hi. I’m Carly. I like long walks in the forest, but not difficult hikes. I like animals and children. I prefer Star Trek to Star Wars, but baby Yoda is just about the cutest thing ever.”
He took her hand and shook it. Instead of letting go, he lowered their joined hands to the table. His thumb caressed hers making it hard to concentrate on his words.
“I’m Birch. I love kids and dogs, but my passion is horses. I don’t like movies or shows where the bad guys win. I’ll watch a chick flick if I have to. I love police procedurals and mysteries. The best Christmas movie of all time is White Christmas. I like listening to music, any kind. But what I love best is sitting outside, watching the stars and roasting marshmallows.” He paused. “Oh, my dog’s name is Francis.”
“I didn’t know you had a dog. When did you get him? Tell me all about him.”
“Her. Francis is a her. She’s a Heinz 57. A bit of everything. A full on mongrel, rescue dog. So far, she’s scared of my horses, but she’s a great watch dog for the house. She loves kids. She’s still a puppy. Eight months, so she can be exuberant.”
“Oh, let me see a picture. I know you have a picture.” He pulled out his phone and flipped to a picture of his pup. Francis was long-legged and shaggy. She looked like a golden retriever collie cross and was quite small. “She’s adorable. Why did you call her Francis?”
“Francis because I was going to buy a pure-bred cattle dog, and I probably still will. The other day, passing through Valleyview to deliver a horse, the town’s rescue center was having a meet and greet. I found Francis; she was free. So, a bargain.”
“A Bargain for Francis!” she exclaimed. “I loved that book as a kid.”
“Me too. Mom used to read it to me every night. She read different things to my siblings. They’re a couple years younger than me. My sister is twenty-five, my twin brothers are twenty-three. Just for informational purposes,” he grinned, “I’m thirty-six.”
“That’s a big age gap. I guess I didn’t really think about it before tonight.” She was curious why the gap but it wasn’t something she’d ever ask about.
“Mom lost a couple babies in between us. I’m not sure why. We don’t discuss it because it makes her sad.”
“I could see that. Thanks for telling me.
Vince came into the room with a tray. “We’ll start tonight with ham and cheese puff pastries with a cordon blue sauce for dipping.
They nibbled and chatted until the flakey pastries vanished. She couldn’t help but lick the last bit off her fingers. Heat suffused her face when he stared at her lips.
Dinner conversation flowed easily. It had the vibe of old friends connecting after a long period apart. It also felt like two people getting to know each other. Birch was a great conversationalist. He asked interesting questions and paid attention to her answers.
“What made you get into horses? Was it your grandfather?” she asked.
“It was. Grampa had a great sense of humor. I loved being with him and hearing his jokes. I went through a rough patch when I was twelve. Testosterone and tangling with a bully. Helping Grampa on the ranch pulled me through all that. It was back before Dad took over the ranch. He was working in the oil patch, and we still lived in town.”
“I didn’t know you lived in town. I assumed you were born on the ranch, maybe in the barn,” she teased.
“Funny.” His face turned melancholy. “Part of my punishment for the repeated fights was extra chores. Specifically cleaning stalls. Grampa would come out to supervise. We’d end up talking while we worked. As punishments go, it was pretty lenient. One weekend, Grampa dragged me to an auction. He bought two young horses. A stallion and a mare. He said they had ‘potential’. Whatever that meant. Long story short, he bred them. In less than a year, he had a thriving horse business. First for riding, then for racing. Shortly before he passed, he sold all but the top six horses.”
“That’s incredible.”
“I worked alongside him until the day he died.” He blinked several times and scraped his hands through his hair. “He left the main ranch, cattle and equipment to Mom and Dad, to be passed on Sage and Asher. He left a chunk of money for Tanya. It’s in trust until she’s thirty. I got the horses, the second parcel of land we bought together, and the money he made from selling the rest of the herd.”
“What an incredible gift.” She couldn’t imagine the funds involved or the luck to have them drop into your lap. His parents were wealthy already according to Tanya. Something about investing in oil and the stock market. Now Helen did the office work for the ranch and Buck was the rancher. It wasn’t a huge operation, but Carly knew it was very profitable.
“It was a gift. One that I don’t waste. I’ve bred more horses and they’re starting to win important races. We’re not talking the Kentucky derby, but they do generate a good income for me.”
“But you still work with your dad?”
“I do. With the twins still at university, Dad can’t do it alone. Sure, he’s got a couple hands, I do too, but I like pitching in. Their ranch is my history. Mine will be my legacy. For my own children.”
Legacy. What a great thing to be able to leave your kids. At this point, all she had to give Layla was a legacy of love and acceptance. She was proud of how she was raising her child. Showing her love and the value of hard work. “I’d like to see your operation someday,” she said. “Your house is amazing.”
“I’d like that.” He smiled proudly. “There’s a lot to see.” He didn’t sound like he was bragging, more like he was stating a fact.
They talked all through dinner. “If you could go anywhere or do anything, what would it be?”
The abrupt change of topic stumped her for a second. “I guess I’d love to take Layla to the Vancouver Aquarium. She loves fish. Okay, she loves all animals but this week, it’s fish. We’d fly out and stay in a hotel and visit all the sights.” She smiled and then sighed. “But that’s not in the budget.”
“That’s a great idea. But what about you? Travel? Open a shop? Fly to Paris for dinner? Take a train ride through the mountains of Alberta and BC? Take a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon? Think big. Bucket list items.”
She tried to think on a grand scale, but her needs and desires were small. “I don’t have a bucket list. But I guess any or all of those would be okay. They seem expensive. But really, I just want Layla to have a good life with everything she needs. Nothing excessive but not scrambling to meet her needs either.”
Birch nodded as if he agreed, but he looked puzzled.
She squirmed in her seat, uncomfortable now that he’d reminded her of their disparate incomes. Tanya might be her friend, but Birch was way out of her league. Someone from a modest background like hers would be foolish to pin her hopes on someone as wealthy as Birch.
“I guess I should go,” she said. “It’s late and tomorrow is a workday. Dinner was amazing.”
