Chapter 51: Dinner at the Picadillo

                                                 

“Come on, Wes. Turn the frown upside down,” Jasmine said coming out of his car. “You might not believe this, but you’re doing great… really.” 

Wes glared at her. “Janet doesn’t even want to ride in the same car with me and I’m doing great?” he growled.

“Yes, at least she’s not chewing you out at every turn,” she replied.  “You just gotta give her time.” 

“How much time?” Wes asked, locking the car and pocketing his keys.

“Only Janet knows that,” Jasmine said. “Just be polite and don’t get sarcastic or nasty no matter what she says. She’ll behave tonight cuz we’re here for Mom, so you won’t have too much to deal with.”

“Good luck with that,” Troy mumbled. Jasmine elbowed him in the stomach and gave him a stern look. “Sorry.”

“Let’s just have a nice dinner, okay?” Jasmine said leading the way to the doors of the Picadillo. They had to move past several people who were standing around the entrance, but once inside they saw Janet arguing with the hostess.

“You have it all wrong. I made a reservation for seven people not four and it was for seven forty-five not seven o’clock,” Janet said impatiently.

“Well, then four of your guests have already been seated,” the hostess said.

“No, that’s not possible. We’re all here. Are you sure you’re looking under the right name, Fummel?” Janet said.

“Yes, Jeff Fummel,” the hostess replied. 

“Oh, for Pete’s sake! That’s not our party. That’s my…” Janet yelped when she was spun around and embraced by silk-draped, heavily cologned arms.

“Darling!” Alec bellowed, kissing both her cheeks twice and then hugging her again.

“Um, hello, Mr. Frank,” Janet said with what little breath remained in her lungs.

“Oh, Mr. Frank, do you remember me?” Cindy said. “It’s so nice to see you!”

“Cynthia, my love! Oh, how are you, Sweetheart?” he asked releasing Janet and turning to Cindy. He also kissed her twice on each cheek.

“I’m fine.” she replied.

“Hello, Alec. It’s been a long time,” Donny said, holding out his hand, which Alec completely ignored. Donny too got hugged and kissed, much to his surprise.

“The whole family! Donald, wonderful to have you with us and Wes, too! Oh, so good to see you all.  Janet, my lovely child,” Alec swooped down on her again with more hugs and kisses. “Come, I will seat you myself.” 

“Is that guy for real?” Steve whispered to Cindy. He gaped at Alec who was resplendent in an African-inspired ceremonial robe of silk which fluttered behind him as he walked arm in arm with Janet.

“Yeah, he’s funny and he’s famous, too. He thinks so, anyway,” Cindy said. 

“Huh?” Steve said.

“My mom wrote him into one of her books and he couldn’t have been more thrilled. Sent copies of the book to every person he knew and he knows tons of people. I don’t think any other of Mom’s books sold nearly so much as that one. He bought cases and cases of them.”

“Cool,” Steve said, impressed.

“Are you always this busy, Mr. Frank?” Janet asked.

“I have never in my life seen this place so full of happy people and it’s all Wendy’s doing. Quite the following she has!” Alec prattled on as happy as could be. 

Janet noticed that his aspect couldn’t have been more different than the last time she had seen him.  He had been almost suicidal then!

“Here, we are. The best spot in the Picadillo for my special guests. Oh, I just adore you!” he squealed taking Janet’s face into his hands and kissing her forehead and he was off before she could say another word.

Before Janet could get her wits about her, Wes had pulled out her chair. “Thank you,” she said politely, but when Wes made to take the chair beside her, she had another, more appealing thought. “Mr. Sebastian, will you sit beside me? I’d like to know more about the real estate business.”

“Uh…all right,” he replied switching seats.

“Looks like your dad’s stealing your girl, Wes,” Troy said, smirking. 

Wes, not to be out-maneuvered, went on Janet’s other side and nudged Cindy out of that chair. That meant Steve had to move one over, too. That made Cindy giggle because Jasmine had to move over one chair as well.

“It’s like musical chairs only there’s no music!” she said.

“Omigosh! Janet, take a look around,” Jasmine whispered across the large round table.”

“What am I looking at?” Janet replied, glancing to the right.

“We know everyone here. This place is full with mom’s friends,” Jasmine said, waving at a neighbor. “There’s the Jacobs over to the right and mom’s book club is behind you and...oh my gosh, Mr. Gantry is here with his family. Do you think Mom told him yet? You know, that she quit?” 

“She couldn’t have or he wouldn’t be here. Do you think we should tell him?” Janet asked.

“I think that’s for your mom to do," Donny interjected. “No one likes to hear their best employee has found a better job, but hearing it from someone other than their employee, is just bad form. Your mom should be the one to tell Mr. Gantry. I think he’ll be okay with it. He knows he can come here for good food. He appears to like to eat, but that’s just a guess.”

Janet and Jasmine laughed. Indeed, Mr. Gantry’s protruding belly and several chins were proof of that.

Janet looked anxiously around and forced a smile as she waved to several people, but she couldn’t spot the one person she searched for. Where was her father and who did he bring on a date to this particular restaurant? Did he know Wendy was now the chef here? Had he done it deliberately to screw with his soon-to-be-ex-wife?

God help him if he messes up Mom’s first day as chef, Janet thought. I’ll kill him!