Marlington Café was the most renowned café at San Francisco. It known to be the place where people dates and bought their food to eat in or take away.
And like every day, the kitchen was as busy as a bee. The one who runs the café was none other than Mr. Fred Darlington. He was the head chef and the owner of the restaurant. It was not as big and as luxurious as the five star café but it’s cheaper than those five star hotel food.
“ No…Ron. The sauce is a bit too thick. Pour some chicken stock so that it will be a lot clearer. Don’t forget, keep the fire slow. “ His sauce chef, Ronald was nodding at his boss and understand it’s a busy day.
“ Linda, I told u that the prawn have to be grilled not more than 2 minutes on each sides or it will get burnt..”
Fred pick up the burnt food and put it in the plate.
“Do over..Remember what I said earlier..” He stared at her..
“Yes. Chef..” She nodded and went back to her work..
Fred went to the back to check on the lists of newly frozen food and baking supplies that just came in this afternoon..
He was going through the checklists when his phone rang. He tuck his hand inside his pocket and pull out his phone. He smiles as he recognizes the caller ID..
“ What up?” He said..
“Fine.. How are ya?”
“Fine here too. How’s ur marriage life been going on?” Fred walks over a batch of salmon beside the prawn batch.
“Great.. Say.. Sophia and I will be having a party this weekend to celebrate our coming baby..”
“This weekend,eh? Let see…”
Fred went inside his office after passing by the hectic kitchen. He opened his diary and looked at his planner.
“Neh… I am free this weekend..I be there.”
“Great..See you Saturday..”
“Okay…” Joe hang up the phone..
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“ Is this good?” Sophia asked her best friend, Belle about her dish.
“Honey, you know I only good on making dresses, not cooking..” Belle said when she heard Sophia was asking from the kitchen.
“But at least you are not a terrible cook, unlike me..”
Belle smiled and stands up from her seat and making her way in the kitchen.
When she entered her kitchen, she saw bell peppers on the floor, in traffic light colours, melted chocolate on the kitchen counter and chicken wings on the sink..
“What happen here? I thought you were cooking?” Belle was shocked by what she sees..
“I told you I was a bad cook..” Sophia sniffs. She was having a mood swings..
Typical for pregnant women.
“Sophie.. Sophie.. calm down. Don’t cry.. We’ll clean this up.. “
Belle quickly pick up the toilet paper and started to clean up the traffic colours bell peppers on the floor..
“I am a terrible cook. I don’t know why Joe wants to marry me in the first place. I am not a good
wife.. wahh!”
She cried, making Belle stopped her moves..
“Sophie… Calm down.. Crying is not good for the baby.. You love the baby, right?”
Sophie nodded..
“Then, calm down and remember the calming exercise we’ve been working on with Dr Simmons…”
Sophia calmed down and not crying anymore..
“Everything’s gonna be okay..Why don’t you go upstairs and clean yourself up,okay?”
Sophie nodded and walks upstairs..
“I’m home! I brought…Spaghett…ti?”
Joe said when he saw his kitchen was in a hell of a mess..
“Sophie have a breakdown.. about.. the.. food..”
Belle was trying to wipe the melted chocolate that already hardens on the floor..
“You know what? My advice..You better call a caterer if you don’t want Sophie to be in hysterical mode when people criticizing her food in this weekend party..”
“Okay… I’ll take..that.. advice.. I’m gonna go up and comfort her.. Lock the door when you leave, okay?”
“Sure…”
Joe went upstairs, leaving Belle In the kitchen scraping the hardens material food mess that Sophie created..
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Saturday…
The Party..
People were buzzing here and there while more guests come to the party. It was 3 in the evening and everyone was busy chatting and socializing.
“Hey, Fred. Glad you could make it. And thanks for the last minute catering..”
Fred entered the house. He was wearing a rather casual suit and looks dashing and so metrosexual.
“Lucky you I got a customer that cancelled out their reservation or you’ll be in hot soup…”
Fred walks in the backyard where the party was held. The scenery was great and stunning..
“Did you hire an exterior designer for your party? This place looks fantastic!”
Joe laughed and went to the buffet area..
“Yeah, you know Sophie.. Anything for her and our baby..”
“You know what? You and Sophie were the only a married couple I knew that does not broke up after 2 years of marriage. You know Stephanie and Leonard? They broke up like…6 weeks after their marriage..”
They both went to the buffet area. Fred took a bite of the butter prawn and smiled when it tasted exactly as how he would make..
“Compliment accepted.. Say, They were all married.. So when are we going to hear about your wedding?”
Fred chuckled..
“Me? Marriage?” Fred laughed..
“Come on man.. I was asking. Sophie thought you were a gay for missing all the dates with hot girls that we set you up with..”
“Sophie though I was a gay? Haha…” Fred gulped down a glass of punch and looked at Joe.
He was looking back at Fred with a serious look..
“Serious man… You’re not a gay right?” Joe was asking.
Of all their years in High school and college, he never actually saw Fred dating or even looked at a women. The only women he looks at is Mrs.Melissa and that is Joe’s pet,the cat..
“ Look man, I am as straight as I was before and always are..”
“Then, what is your problem, dude? Why turn all the dates? If you did not miss the date, you will get laid every single week with different girl,man..”
“Girls goes after you, man. You got looks, money, a house and whatever savings you had in your bank…”
“Geez, you sounded like my mother. She always bother me, saying that I should settle down with a nice girl and have a family. I mean, come on.. “
Fred and Joe sat down at the bench across a fountain. There were kids running around playing with their newly found friend.
“maybe your mom is right. Guys like you should at least have a wife and settle down a happy marriage life..” Joe sips his coffee..
“I dunno,man. Girls… they were.. all..” He pointed at a group of girls that was glaring at him from a far. They were flirting with him.
“The same.. They throw themselves at me. They were making themselves cheap and easy. “ Fred sighed.
“So.. What kind of a girl do you like.. You know, your type? Cute? Sexy?”
“I want a girl that amuse me, straightforward, voice out her opinions bravely, a bit strict and
tough… In other words, playing a REAL hard-to-get game with me.. I like a challenge..”
Now its Joe’s turn to laugh.
“You know? You are the weirdest person I have ever seen that likes a challenge in love. Mostly, they will grab anything that been ‘served’ in front of them…Like that…”
Joe was pointing at the same group of girls before who was lowering the dress to show their cleavage to them..
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“Hey, Fred…How are you?”
Sophie said at Fred when joe and her walks inside the restaurant. The restaurant close early today because most of the chefs was on leave.
“Do you guys wanna eat here? Coz all my chefs were out duty today..”
“Oh.. its okay. We were here because Joe told me that you need to find a traditional Chinese suit for Ching’s wedding..”
“Yes… But unfortunately I have to told Ching to search for another best man..”
“Oh.. but why?” Sophie looked at Fred with weird looks..
“None of the shops in San Francisco make a real traditional Chinese Suit. I will pay a high price for a real traditional handmade Chine suit..”
“Well…” Sophie looked at Joe who was holding their baby girl,Michelle.
“Sophie’s best friend is the finest tailor in New York. She could make anything from Asian dresses to African tribe dresses”
Fred’s eyes rounded..
“Really? Is she free now?”
“Maybe..Come on.. Let’s go and meet her…”
The three of the went on Joe’s car and drove to new York..
