Stef Ann Holm by Lucy Back (books to read in your 30s TXT) 📗

own twist on the dishes. Lucy especially favored hole-in-the-wall cafés with cooks who looked a little disreputable. The food served there was usually handed down through generations, and owners were almost always willing to brag and share.

Her parents loved her cooking, and whenever they were in the same city together, Lucy did all the meals. In awe of her talent, her mother asked Lucy how she could do what she did for a living. Lucy always smiled and said because she’d learned it from Grandma. Most of the basic recipes she had in her folder were family-related, passed down from her grandmother and great-grandmother before that.

She showed the Greenbaums her entrée catalog, explained how her services worked, what they would be required to do, and she showed them the fact questionnaire they’d need to fill out.

Ted and Shirley Greenbaum gave praise to the creativity of her nut-crusted turkey breasts, basmati rice pilaf and the spring salad. In case they had special dietary needs, she made sure they were aware she could prepare Atkins and vegetarian options.

“I’m all for it,” Ted said, nodding his head.

Lucy had learned he was an avid golfer and liked to bring Shirley onto the greens with him. He was a retired stockbroker, living on investments. The couple had been married thirty-four years, their children both living in Los Angeles. Their fifth grandchild would be arriving soon.

Shirley smiled. “I will say you’re more subdued than Raul.”

Reining in her frown, Lucy kept her expression pleasant. “I’ve heard Raul’s roulades of beef is fabulous, but mine’s great, too.”

She had to land this account.

“Your menu looks delicious, Lucy. Raul favors heavier flavors, some with almost too much of a Basque flare.” Shirley gazed at her husband for his opinion.

“Shirley, I’ve never liked Raul and I only tolerated him for you. I think he’s too splashy and the man wears a cologne that spices up our house every time he’s come over.” Ted looked to Lucy. “I’ve been telling Shirley for years I was ready to give Raul the boot.”

“Yes, but there’s never been anybody else remotely as good as him in town.” Shirley shrugged. “A few personal chefs have come and gone, but I think Raul runs them out. He’s a little eccentric like that.”

Lucy maintained a personable air, listening to the couple talk about her rival. It was rather enlightening.

“Well,” Ted exclaimed, rubbing his hands together. “I guess we have ourselves a new cook!”

“Thank you so much,” Lucy responded, grateful beyond words and just thrilled.

After the paperwork had been filled out, Lucy received her deposit check and a date to begin. She felt much better about her future. So much so that she glanced out the home’s massive multiwindow front to see if she could catch a glimpse of Drew’s place.

There was a house, but it was recessed too far for her to make out more than the chalet-style roofline.

Drew had definitely been generous in inviting her and the boys over. Perhaps she could put her opinion of him aside. After all, she didn’t know him well and was only going on gut instinct—which was like cooking a recipe for the first time. Until she put the ingredients together and sampled them for herself, she wasn’t sure if she’d like the blend of flavors or not.

In that regard, Drew could be a good influence on Jason. She had seen him around her sons and he did seem to care. Matt thought he was the greatest thing since his Roger Clemens card. Perhaps Drew could be a positive roll model for Jason, a man he could look up to. Unlike his absentee father.

Lucy decided to go “fishing”—and not in Drew’s creek.

“I was talking to Drew Tolman on the way in,” she said in a manner she hoped sounded casual as she put away her notebook. “He’s my son’s baseball coach and he mentioned living across the street.”

“Tolman is a hell of a good guy,” Ted said, resting his arm on Shirley’s shoulder. She was wearing a cardigan sweater, a string of pearls around her neck. Both husband and wife had matching silver hair, groomed neatly, and both were dressed with style and chic.

Shirley touched her pearls. “I like him, too. Although, Ted, I’m not too fond of that girlfriend of his. Sometimes I see her drive by late at night.”

Lucy’s interest piqued.

Ted chuckled. “That woman is a pistol. He needs someone who’ll appreciate him for more than his looks.”

Lucy couldn’t argue about Drew Tolman’s looks, and any woman who had a pulse would notice that about him first.

She stood. “I’m sure Drew was quite the player in his day.”

“Oh, he’s still a player.” Shirley laughed at the offhand comment. Lucy hadn’t meant it like that.

“I mean baseball,” she clarified, although she knew the other interpretation was probably just as apt.

“He was the best. Too bad about the drugs.” Shirley’s response froze Lucy to the spot.

Before she could close her open mouth, Ted explained, “They say he shot himself up with steroids all the time, was a real big user. I don’t buy it, but then who knows? I mean, why did he quit the game when that steroid scandal broke? Makes you wonder.”

“But I still like him, Ted.” Shirley stood, her husband following, and the pair walked Lucy to the door. “People make mistakes.”

Ted guided Lucy onto the stoop and they all stared across the street to the sprawling home of the man in question. The house appeared to be bigger than the Titanic, barely seen behind the curtain of white pines and the graveled circular drive that led up to what seemed to be a massive overhanging porch.

Drew was a former drug user….

Lucy couldn’t think clearly.

Ted said, “I agree, Shirley. Tolman’s the best. I don’t care what the rumors are. He still gets aces in my book.”

Smiling halfheartedly, Lucy said her goodbyes and left the porch. She got into her car, turned over the engine and drove away without another look at Drew’s house.

And definitely without another thought of