"Yep."It was Terri's turn to nod. "Chris was manning the panel to release the elevator, and Vincent was showing the deliverymen where to put their carts, and the men just kept handing me clipboards and pens, then ripping off invoices and giving them to me, and there were so many of them…"She waved the papers helplessly. "We don't know which invoices go with what.»
Bastien bit his lip to keep back the smile that threatened to stretch his lips. He didn't think she'd appreciate his amusement right now. She looked absolutely frazzled. And adorable. But he didn't think she'd appreciate his telling her that, either, so kept it to himself as well.
"I don't know how we're going to eat all of this food, Bastien. There's too much."Terri peered around with distress, then glanced back to him, held up a pen, and wailed, "And I didn't mean to, but it was all so hectic that I stole a pen!»
"Two of them,"Chris said, pointing at the one dangling from her shirt collar, where she had apparently stuck it in the rush.
"Three,"Vincent corrected, walking over to pluck another from where she had absently tucked it behind her ear.
Helpful as they were trying to be, their added comments just made Terri seem that much more miserable. Moving forward, Bastien urged his cousin out of the way and tugged her into his arms to pat her reassuringly. "It's okay, baby. We'll sort this out. And we don't have to eat all the food, just taste each one. And we'll do that first-that way, the ones we don't like, we don't have to match up to their invoices.»
"But you weren't here, and I signed for them all. I have to make sure the trolleys get back to their proper owners.»
"We'll sort it out,"Bastien repeated, then urged her around and between several carts to the couch. He paused to sweep several flowers aside, frowning as he did. "How did these flowers get everywhere?"he asked as he urged her to sit.
"One of the delivery guys knocked one of the boxes off the table,"Vincent explained.
"And another picked up a box to move it out of the way, tripped, and sent them flying everywhere,"Chris finished. "Fortunately, they were all rejects. Terri had the good sense to have us move the usable flowers after the first mishap.»
Bastien nodded. "Maybe we should put the flowers away for now. We wouldn't want them ruined by food being spilled on them, or anything of that nature. Not after all the time we've put into making them.»
"I'm on it."Vincent bent to pick up the open Kleenex boxes, and started putting them away in the bags they had come in. Chris immediately started collecting the puffy flowers from the floor, and tossing them back into the boxes they'd tumbled out of. Sometimes he'd use his crutch to drag the little suckers close enough to pick up.
Bastien turned back to Terri, and found her bent double on the couch, gathering flowers from the carpet. After a moment, she gave that up and shifted onto the floor, where it was easier to reach them. Her eyes swept the room full of trolleys, and as she straightened to toss a collection of rejects into a box, dismay crossed her features. "How are we ever going to choose from all these caterers' samples, Bastien?»
"Two at a time,"he said simply. He joined her on his knees on the floor. The answer seemed logical enough to him. "We put two side by side, try a bite from each, decide which is better, and put the rejects in the hall.»
She nodded at his suggestion, then said, "But what if one dish is better from one caterer, but something else is better from another?»
He hadn't thought of that. After considering the matter for a moment, he said, "The main dish is the most important one. We'll go through the samples trying all the main dishes, two at a time. The rejects go in the entry, the rest go somewhere else. That will eliminate half of them right away. Then we start comparing the other dishes.»
"Where shall I put these to keep them out of the way for now, cousin?"Vincent held up the shopping bags with all the unused Kleenex and string.
"The office?"Bastien suggested. He immediately decided it was a good idea. "Yes. Just put it in the closet in the office for now, Vincent.»
The actor nodded and headed off. "I'll drop them in there, then I'm going out for a bite. All this talk of food is making me hungry. I won't stay out long, though. I'll make sure I'm back as quick as I can, to see if you need any help with anything else.»
"Thanks, cousin,"Bastien called after him. For all the nuisance the actor could be when he felt like causing trouble, Vincent was still a good man. He had always been there for Bastien when he was needed, and Bastien reminded himself they had been as close as brothers at one time. He regretted the loss of that closeness.
"Well, that's the last of it,"Chris said a short time later as the last flower landed in a box. "Are we moving the rejects out of the room, too?»
"I'll take them down to the office,"Bastien decided, then glanced at Terri. "Honey, why don't you go collect some plates and silverware?»
Her eyes went as round as saucers, and she stood staring at him. He felt uncertainty claim him. "What is it?»
"Nothing,"she squeaked, and rushed off in the direction, of the kitchen.
"What can I do to help?"Chris asked.
Bastien just about said, "In your condition? Nothing."But he caught the words back. The editor was in rough shape but had still done his best to help out, both in making the flowers and cleaning up the mess just now. Considering the streak of bad luck he had suffered-what with his apartment being ruined, a toilet falling on top of him and breaking his leg, and his face being turned into a sideshow attraction thanks to the life-threatening bee sting-C.K. had behaved pretty well, even managing to be chipper. Bastien was starting to think he might have underestimated the guy, and he was actually starting to warm up to him.
"Just relax for a minute, Chris,"he said. "We could use your help tasting the meals too, if you don't mind.»
"No, I don't mind,"the editor assured him, and after a hesitation made his way to a chair and sat.
Bastien had caught the look of surprise on the younger man's face at the almost friendly tone he'd used, and from that realized his irritation and lack of concern for C.K. had shown from the start. He felt bad for a moment, then shrugged it aside. It wasn't like he'd been outright mean. He'd just not given the man a chance, really. Now he was giving him one. He wasn't going to kick himself over the past. Besides, he had other things to worry about. Foremost in his mind was why Terri had gaped at him when he'd asked her to grab some cutlery and plates. That had him mystified.
In the kitchen, Terri was muttering to herself as she dragged plates out of the cupboard. "He called me honey."A grin was tugging at her lips. Honey. And she thought Bastien might have called her baby earlier, but she'd been so upset at the time, she couldn't be sure. Honey and baby. Baby and honey. Terms of endearment. Did he mean them? It was hard to say. Some people used those sorts of affectionate terms on everyone from their dog to the cashier at the corner store.
She didn't think Bastien was one of those people.
"Honey."Terri savored the word as she collected cutlery, then placed the utensils on plates, and picked them up to rush back out to the living room. She hurried, because she didn't want to miss anything.
"It's Sylvia's Cuisine, then?"Terri glanced from Chris to Bastien, and each man nodded. Vincent had returned earlier, but, unable to eat or really help out because of that, he had found himself bored just sitting about watching them. He'd retired halfway through the selection process.
"I'd say so,"Bastien said.
"Me too,"Chris agreed. "They had the best overall. Though, I still say that Bella-whatever's had the nicest casserole thingy.»
"I didn't like that at all. And it's not even on the menu,"Terri pointed out. "Heck, it isn't even on their invoice. I'm thinking they put it on the tray by accident.»
"Yeah. They must have,"Bastien agreed. "I didn't care for it myself. There was something in it that I just didn't take to.»
"Well, I like it."Chris moved over to Bella's trolley and peered down at the food. "So, if neither of you do, can I have the rest?»
Terri dropped onto the couch with a laugh. "Be my guest.»
Bastien grinned. "Yeah. Go on. Eat it. You earned it after helping with all this nonsense.»
"Well, Vincent couldn't help. Besides, this was more fun than the flowers,"C.K. pointed out, taking the whole dish of casserole off the trolley. He grabbed a spoon and scooped out a bite, murmuring with pleasure as he ate.
"Ugh. How can you eat that? It was awful. I can't even watch you."Terri made a face of disgust, and covered her eyes with the notepad she had been using to keep track of which trolley had the best-tasting dishes.
"I'll take it to my room so you don't have to,"Chris said. "My leg is bothering me anyway. I'll go lie down and watch television while I eat. Good night.»
"Good night,"Bastien and Terri said in unison.
A moment passed, then Bastien lifted a corner of the notepad Terri still had over her face. "He's gone. It's safe to come out now.»
Smiling, she lowered the notepad and sighed. "Well, at least that's done.»
"Yeah."He settled back on the couch beside her, then turned his head to the side and said, "Do me a favor?»