Back from Chicago and resuming a normal schedule. v

Chapter 23

The ringing of Elena’s cell phone woke her. She sat up, startled and wondering why she had fallen asleep on the couch. She stretched stiffly and reached for the phone. Beside her Andre stirred and she recalled their attempt to outwait Jonathan. Elena shook her head and answered her cell phone.

“Hello,” She said as Andre began his own stretching routine. Consuelo’s oddly measured speech greeted her.

“Elena, Good. At what time will you be bringing to me the ingredients for tomorrow?” Elena rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock.

“I can have the ingredients there by ten,” she said.

“This will be good. I will be ready.” Consuelo clicked off and Elena realized that conversational niceties were not really one of the chef’s priorities.

‘Still she agreed to make some extra trays for Nibbles as well as the wine shop so we can augment the cheese and bread displays.’ Actually that had been less of an offer and more of a commandment Elena had not been allowed to refute. She shook her head. Today would be full of all the details necessary for tomorrows opening. Everything from dropping off supplies to Consuelo to picking up flowers to giving a pre opening interview to one of the reporters from the free regional magazine would be done today. The reporter wanted to get a few photos without people and then add the ones for tomorrow with folks at the opening. She turned around to see Andre peering through the Judas hole and into the hallway.

“He is still out there,” he told Elena turning away from the door. “He is sitting on the steps, and leaning against the railing. Completely asleep. I bet we could sneak past without waking him up.” Elena looked back up at the clock. It was earlier then she normally left for the store and earlier than most of her neighbors left for work. She figured her sweater and jeans would do for running errands. Besides, she wasn’t all that comfortable changing clothes with Andre there. She settled her hair with her hands and did some mental scheduling. If all went according to plan she could make it back her to shower and change before the interview.

“Works for me,” Elena said. She tucked her cell phone in her purse and both she and Andre shrugged into their coats. Feeling like teenagers sneaking in after being out past curfew they tiptoed past Jonathan and made their way down the stairs. Elena had to fight the urge to giggle. They made it out the front door before Elena gave into the impulse and both she and Andre stood on the early morning sidewalk laughing like crazy people.

“Want a ride?” Andre asked, walking around to the driver’s side of the car.

“Sure,” Elena said. They drove the few blocks to the stores where Andre pulled his car behind the building and tucked it into the small lot there. She unlocked the back door to Nibbles and Andre went upstairs while she headed to the stockroom to prepare Consuelo’s box of ingredients. While she worked she mentally reviewed her list of errands. Most of them had been split between her and Roger with both of them participating in the interview later that afternoon. She was nearly finished filling the box when Roger let himself in.

“Morning,” he said. The word was nearly sung and Elena smiled at him.

“You seem cheery today,” She commented.

“The excitement is about to begin,” He told her. “We get the food, the flowers, the press all adding up to the crescendo of tomorrows opening when we get the people.” Elena had to laugh. Apparently Roger did not share her nerves.

‘Of course,’ she thought. ‘He doesn’t know half of the details and is not worried about grounded pilots outing themselves in front of Smith.’ Not for the first time she wondered if Smith and Jonathan would put in an appearance at the opening. She shrugged it off as yet one more element she could not control. Unfortunately the shrug did not fool the tangled tension knot in her belly. She hoped that the day’s constant activity would at least keep her mind off the tension so it wouldn’t grow.

‘I wonder if it is too late to just get on the Storm Chaser and sail back out?’ she thought as she put in the last of the items for Consuelo.

“So how does everything look?” She asked Roger.

“So far we are fairly good,” he replied. “There is some concern with the florist. Apparently they are running short of red lilies and we are going to use some of the white ones. We will be changing out the vases. I spoke with Susan about the change yesterday and made the adjustments.” Elena nodded, pleased that she had managers she could rely on. It would make her job easier once she and Mateo started working sky side more. She only regretted that instead of making the runs out for goods she would have to work through a broker at the Docking Facility while they were working on the new channel. It meant she had probably seen the last of the raiders for the season, which pleased Mateo and oddly enough disappointed her.

‘Who would have thought I’d miss the Matrovean?’ Elena and Roger discussed the few changes to the day’s schedule and then moved on about their separate tasks. Their paths would cross numerous times throughout the day so changes would be easily passed on but they each ad their own to do list. There was a knock on the backdoor.

“Let the day begin,” she told Roger with a laugh as she went to answer the door. Alexandro and Peter were both standing on the other side. She invited them in and noticed with amusement that even though they had come from the same hotel they had elected to drive over separately. In the parking lot were two identical black sedans and Thomas and Marcus were eyeing each other as if each was trying to gage the other’s skill. She wondered what Roger would make of the two and then wickedly thought about what would happen should she ask Benjamin Valentine to play bodyguard for a day. The thought almost mad her giggle. Instead she introduced the two men to Roger.

“This is my grandfather Alexandro Calabrese and this is Peter Baranov, both partners for Nibbles. Gentlemen, This is Roger DeAngelo our manager.” The men shook hands.

“Actually we would more accurately be called investors, I believe,” Peter said with a smile.

“Well whatever you call yourselves I’m sure you will be happy. Nibbles is primed for success. It was a pleasure meeting you and I hope to have a longer visit later but for the moment there are many things that need to be done.”

“Of course, of course,” Alexandro commented with a wave. “Do not let us keep you.” Roger opened the back door and Elena saw him momentarily freeze as he caught sight of the two body guards in the parking lot. As he turned to close the door he looked at Elena with concern. She realized he was hesitant to leave her alone with two men who needed body guards. She smiled and nodded that it was alright for him to go.

“We will be meeting with Andre upstairs before I head out to Consuelo’s if you need anything call,” she told him. He nodded and Elena had the feeling she would be getting a phone call about the time he knew she was leaving for Consuelo’s just to make sure she was safe. She smiled as he closed the door. Alexandro and Peter had kept straight faces throughout but once the door was closed they allowed their amusement to show. Elena frowned at them.

“Normal businessmen do not travel to meetings with body guards,” she told them.

“Drivers,” both men said in unison. She snorted and turned to lead them upstairs to look at the ad designs Andre had come up with.