Chapter 7: What Richard Had to Say
My father called at two o'clock.
I let it ring.
He called again at two-fifteen.
I was washing down the prep counter and Eddie took the phone from my hand.
"She'll call you back," he told my father, and hung up.
"Eddie."
"You're not ready yet.
Finish the counter."
I finished the counter.
I called my father back at three, from the office at the back of the kitchen, sitting in the same chair I had sat in for fifteen years to do the ordering.
"Nora." His voice was careful in the way it got when he knew he was wrong and hadn't decided yet how wrong to admit to.
"I heard you ran the Long Table."
"Yes."
"Gerald called me."
"I know."
A pause.
"I didn't know about the deed.
I want you to understand that.
I signed the transfer when your grandmother asked me to, but I didn't — I forgot, Nora.
Or I told myself it was a formality.
I don't know which."
"You forgot that you signed over ownership of your mother's restaurant to your daughter."
He didn't answer immediately.
"What did Vanessa tell you?" I asked.
"She said you were a contractor.
That the arrangement had always been informal.
That the Aster deal was the best thing for the family and you were being sentimental."
"And you believed her."
"I wanted to believe her." His voice cracked slightly on the last word.
"She's my daughter too, Nora.
I know that's not an excuse.
I know what it sounds like."
I looked at the wall where the order pad still sat in the clay pot.
Grandma had written the Long Table menu on the top sheet, years ago, and I had never torn it off.
"The consulting fees," I said.
"Two hundred thousand dollars over three years.
Did you know?"
Silence.
"Dad."
"She said it was a management fee.
That it was standard for a business preparing for acquisition."
"Did you ask anyone to verify that?"
"No."
I closed my eyes for a moment.
"She's been taking money out of this kitchen for three years.
There were weeks I couldn't afford to buy enough bread for the Long Table and I covered it myself.
Did you know that?"
"No.
I didn't know that."
"I need you to do something," I said.
"I need you to write down everything you remember about the Aster conversations.
Every meeting, every document Vanessa showed you, every instruction she gave you about what to tell the investors.
I need it in writing, and I need it today."
"Are you going to use it against her?"
"I'm going to use it to protect myself.
What it does to her depends on what she decides to do next."
Another long pause.
"Nora.
I'm sorry.
I know that's not enough."
"It's a start," I said.
"Write it down."
I hung up.
Eddie was leaning in the doorway.
"How bad?" he asked.
"He knew enough and chose not to look.
That's its own kind of answer."
"What happens now?"
I stood up.
"Gerald files the injunction at four.
Aster gets the letter today.
After that—" I looked at the prep counter, clean and ready.
"We find out who Vanessa really is when she doesn't get what she wants."
My phone lit up.
A number I didn't recognize.
I answered it.
"Ms.
Mercer?" A woman's voice, clipped and professional.
May you like
"This is Claire Weller.
I think we need to meet."
