Chapter 10: Chapter 10

I’m about ready to explode.

Give me strength….

If they don’t stop bickering soon….

Ben picks up a menu card and pulls a face. “The menu’s a bit bland, isn't it? I thought you go for something more adventurous.”

Michael, blank-faced, looks up from the table. He has dozens of small name-cards laid out, moving them around as he works out a seating plan. “Like what?”

“Well, plain roast chicken? Why not say, chicken kiev? It’s a bit more interesting.”

“I set the menu,” I say. “It's not everyone who likes garlic. And if people do want something spicier they can choose a sauce. Or anything from the standard menu for the restaurant. But I happen to know from Michael that at least a couple of the older ones in your family have delicate digestions. So, I opted for chicken, plain.”

He curls a lip. “I still think it’s a bit unadventurous.”

“It’s too late to change it now,” I snap. “All the supplies are in. I've chosen a menu that will be easy to serve to a lot of people. It's the first time the kitchen has served any amount of food and I want it to go smoothly. It’s almost the practice run for the Open Day next week.”

Ben at his most truculent is a trial I can do without. He squares up on me. “And you know something about a hotel kitchen, do you? And how to run one?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. I....”

Michael interrupts. “If you two don't at least try to be polite to each other, I swear I'm going to bang your heads together. You.…” He jabs a finger at me…. “Calm down. And you....” The finger swings on Ben.... “I'd have thought my own brother would give me a bit of support for my own wedding day instead of being deliberately obstructive.”

Then apparently embarrassed by his outburst, he stamps out.

Ah… Crap….

I offer a tentative hand to Ben. He takes it without a smile, tugging it down in a short stab of a shake, then he also marches out.

Death, divorce, moving house and weddings….

The most stressful of all life changes….

In the corner, Richard has watched all this in silence. As Ben’s footsteps retreat out of earshot, “He’s a contrary son of a bitch, isn’t he, that Ben. Nothing like his brother.”

I don’t want to say anything. Biting on my tongue, I simply shake my head.

Richard nods understanding. “I’ll go and see if I can calm things down a bit.”

*****