hadn’t noticed all of the Christmas decorations. There was a giant tree in the corner, gifts beneath and ornaments all over. It gave off a strong smell of pine, inviting guests into the room with its natural scent. There were dozens of strands of white lights flowing around the tree and adorning the edges of the room. There were no overhead lights on, the Christmas lights lit the room perfectly.
Sydney was impressed with not only the Durans’ decorations, but the way Grace had set out the food. She chided herself for having it all work out by dumb luck, not her planning, but the presentation was key. Each bouquet, next to each tray, had plenty of babys breath and ferns mixed in with red roses. The colors were perfect for the season. And the babys breath even looked like snow sprinkled on the other flowers. The table cloths had been an impulse buy just days before the job had started. They’d been on sale and she’d had no idea if they’d use them or not. Now, they couldn’t be more perfect. They were dark red and green, letting the flowers accentuate their darkness and the silver of the trays shine brightly on top.
“No, that must have been Julia,” Sydney said, taking everything in. And Grace , she thought.
Ryan led her gently to the bar, Marcus and another woman were getting refills of their mixed drinks from Drew who was smiling away. He looked like he either belonged in this world of wealth or was hoping to work his way into it. Sydney couldn’t help but notice Marcus’ hand on the small of the woman’s back.
“Stacey, this is Sydney. She’s the one who made all of the food,” Ryan said, introducing her to the woman with Marcus. “Sydney, this is my wife Stacey.”
“Nice to meet you,” Stacey said, sticking her hand out to shake Sydney’s.
Sydney stashed the empty trays under one arm and shook Stacey’s offered hand. “Nice to meet you too. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the food.”
“It’s incredible. I hear you’re giving out business cards.”
“Sure.” Sydney fumbled in her apron to find another card. She might have to make another trip to her room to get more if this continued.
“We have a Super Bowl party every year, and I’d love to talk to you about you catering that.”
“Give me a call after the new year, and I’d love to setup a meeting!” Sydney couldn’t keep the excitement out of her voice. She knew she’d eventually have to hire another employee, but maybe it’d be sooner rather than later.
Ryan excused himself and Sydney was left with Marcus and Stacey, but nothing to talk about. Marcus’ hand hadn’t left Stacey’s back through the whole conversation.
“Stacey is also a member of our board,” Marcus said, continuing the conversation that Sydney didn’t really want to have. “She’s been a huge asset with her networking and connections.”
“That’s great. I really have to get back to the kitchen,” Sydney said by way of explanation for her quick departure. She turned and returned to her safe haven.
“Anything?” Grace whispered, making good progress on the eggnog.
“Something. The woman you saw, Stacey, was hanging onto Marcus and is the wife of Ryan, the man who showed up yesterday looking for Julia and bringing flowers. He actually introduced me to her! And he was the most grief stricken of anyone I’ve seen all evening.”
“Maybe they were both sleeping with the others’ spouses,” Grace hypothesized. “Ryan did show up yesterday with flowers and then asked you not to say anything.”
“But if they’d both known, or even if one of them had, they must have been okay with it. I’d think they’d just let it go, or get divorces and be with who they really wanted.”
“Maybe they didn’t know and Maria was planting clues. Maybe that’s what that lingerie was—just a clue from Maria about Marcus’ affair.”
“Why would she want to rat out her
Sydney was impressed with not only the Durans’ decorations, but the way Grace had set out the food. She chided herself for having it all work out by dumb luck, not her planning, but the presentation was key. Each bouquet, next to each tray, had plenty of babys breath and ferns mixed in with red roses. The colors were perfect for the season. And the babys breath even looked like snow sprinkled on the other flowers. The table cloths had been an impulse buy just days before the job had started. They’d been on sale and she’d had no idea if they’d use them or not. Now, they couldn’t be more perfect. They were dark red and green, letting the flowers accentuate their darkness and the silver of the trays shine brightly on top.
“No, that must have been Julia,” Sydney said, taking everything in. And Grace , she thought.
Ryan led her gently to the bar, Marcus and another woman were getting refills of their mixed drinks from Drew who was smiling away. He looked like he either belonged in this world of wealth or was hoping to work his way into it. Sydney couldn’t help but notice Marcus’ hand on the small of the woman’s back.
“Stacey, this is Sydney. She’s the one who made all of the food,” Ryan said, introducing her to the woman with Marcus. “Sydney, this is my wife Stacey.”
“Nice to meet you,” Stacey said, sticking her hand out to shake Sydney’s.
Sydney stashed the empty trays under one arm and shook Stacey’s offered hand. “Nice to meet you too. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the food.”
“It’s incredible. I hear you’re giving out business cards.”
“Sure.” Sydney fumbled in her apron to find another card. She might have to make another trip to her room to get more if this continued.
“We have a Super Bowl party every year, and I’d love to talk to you about you catering that.”
“Give me a call after the new year, and I’d love to setup a meeting!” Sydney couldn’t keep the excitement out of her voice. She knew she’d eventually have to hire another employee, but maybe it’d be sooner rather than later.
Ryan excused himself and Sydney was left with Marcus and Stacey, but nothing to talk about. Marcus’ hand hadn’t left Stacey’s back through the whole conversation.
“Stacey is also a member of our board,” Marcus said, continuing the conversation that Sydney didn’t really want to have. “She’s been a huge asset with her networking and connections.”
“That’s great. I really have to get back to the kitchen,” Sydney said by way of explanation for her quick departure. She turned and returned to her safe haven.
“Anything?” Grace whispered, making good progress on the eggnog.
“Something. The woman you saw, Stacey, was hanging onto Marcus and is the wife of Ryan, the man who showed up yesterday looking for Julia and bringing flowers. He actually introduced me to her! And he was the most grief stricken of anyone I’ve seen all evening.”
“Maybe they were both sleeping with the others’ spouses,” Grace hypothesized. “Ryan did show up yesterday with flowers and then asked you not to say anything.”
“But if they’d both known, or even if one of them had, they must have been okay with it. I’d think they’d just let it go, or get divorces and be with who they really wanted.”
“Maybe they didn’t know and Maria was planting clues. Maybe that’s what that lingerie was—just a clue from Maria about Marcus’ affair.”
“Why would she want to rat out her
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