Madam’s morning voice message chirped like an overly-caffeinated mockingbird.
“Cassie, darling … it’s the Madam calling. So sorry the book club hadn’t been by the restaurant in a few weeks … I simply haven’t had time to coordinate what with the gala just a week away and all … and that is, of course, why I’m calling … we simply must nail down a menu … now, we’re expecting 40 people, which will be a drop in the bucket as Lindy’s boat is, of course, 78 feet long … I’m thinking $150-200 per person, just a guess, but it has to be first rate so we can coerce them to open their pockets … oh well, anyway … see what you think and call me. Let’s nail it down today. Cheers!”
I had been expecting to hear from her. Lindy and Mercury had become Riverside regulars, dropping by for wine and an appetizer every night since taking up residence on the boat.
“We don’t cook,” Mercury had said.
“We are cooked for,” Lindy emphasized.
Spoken like a spoiled royal kid.
“So,” I said, reaching for a subject change while filling each of their glasses. “What’s it like living on the water? That’s gotta be cool.”
Lindy raised his glass. “Yes, very. What do you think, Miss Universe?”
Mercury rolled her eyes and raised her glass. “Can we please come up with a new nickname? Miss Universe is a little too on the nose.” She sipped her wine and turned to me. “It’s a nice and needed break from Mother, for sure.”
I had been trying to figure out a way to ask why her mother hadn’t been in for a while. (I ask myself now “why” but I digress.)
“That’s right … how is she?” I inquired. I had started to count on Mrs. McMurtry and her merry, messy, boozy book club to fill the dreaded afternoon lulls, but she hadn’t been in for more than a month.
Mercury nodded. “She said to send you her regards and she was sorry she hadn’t seen you in a while.”
She paused and glanced toward Lindy. “She … well, let’s give this a try. You know we’re planning this fund raiser … ” She waived her hands in front of her. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea, I don’t know …”
“What?” I asked.
“Well, Mother was hoping the Riverside might be able to cater the event … thing is it’s next Friday … I know it’s short notice.” Mercury sighed. “And I know it’s all about Mick and all … I mean, I get it if you don’t want to do it … I heard that you guys used to be, well, together.”
Oh God, I thought, they’re actually going through with this.
I make it a point not to believe everything I hear in this town, so when I heard from Wanda that Mayor Granger was putting her influence behind the fund-raising efforts for Mick’s memorial statue, I took it with a grain of salt. Wanda, in general, is not the most reliable source for information but also she has her own power-seeking agenda, and on that particular night, she’d run up a pretty hefty happy hour bill, which added to my skepticism.
Mercury shook her head back and forth widly. “This was a mistake. I should not have asked you. We can get someone from the culinary college to come down … it’s not a big deal, I mean …”
“No,” I said. “I’ll do it.”
I didn’t know what I was saying. It was as if my mouth had disconnected from my brain. Simplistic as my bookkeeping efforts tend to be, the math for the past two months didn’t lie. Margins in the restaurant business can be, as they say, paper thin. Mine lacked the molecular structure of paper.
Lindy stood up and clapped. “YES! Brilliant!”
Mercury ran around the end of the bar and threw her arms around me. “Oh Cass, this is so exciting! I’m sure Mother will be thrilled. She said if you agreed, she’d reach out to you in the morning to get things going.”
I was already working when I found the message. We were expecting a group of 25 retired teachers for lunch, so tables had to be moved and menus sorted. I had given Cecil permission to hire two freelance cooks to ease the burden of the day and, though I knew it would cut into the day’s receipts, we had to be sure of our coverage. Following their arrival, I figured it was time to call the Madam back.
“Cassie!!”
“How’d you know?”
“I have the Riverside in my phone, of course I do dear! Listen, I have Mercury and my Max on the other line … Max is visiting the boat and promises to line up all of his golf friends and fraternity brothers … he wants them to meet Lindy and see this extraordinary vessel! This will be a fabulous promotion for you, doll, I just know it!”
She stopped and took a breath. “Well, now, do you have some time this afternoon? I’d like to stop by and go over the menu, budget, look and feel of the party, how we’ll brand it, etc. I know Mercury had that dreadful gossip woman post an invitation but at no time did I approve what went out …”
“Well … ” I hesitated. “We do have a large group coming in for lunch. Cecil won’t be available until 3 or 4 this afternoon, I’m afraid.”
“Three? Three o’clock it is then. I’ll be by then … and I will see about bringing Charlotte, though her days are full, I’m sure. She should really have a look-see before anything happens though … Oh wonderful, I can’t wait … and oh how I’ve missed your whiskey sours. Have one with me later while we plan? She’ll be on the clock, but no matter. I’m far more creative after a pop or two, you know!”
“Sure,” I said. What else could I say? Clearly I wasn’t in charge here.
“Fabulous! T-T-Y-L, as the kids say! Ta!”
Dear God in heaven, give me strength.