Christmas at the Restaurant (The Nantucket Restaurant #2)(38)

Gina noticed a real fireplace with a roaring fire. It was two-sided so you could enjoy the fire in the kitchen and in the adjacent dining area, which also faced the ocean and had incredible views. It was a little windy out and the waves were higher than usual with frothy white tips.

“Tell me what you think of this, if you think it needs more salt.” Jared passed her a small spoon of something brown and fragrant, some kind of meat in sauce.

She swallowed the bite and wanted to swoon. “What is that? It doesn’t need anything, it’s perfect.”

Jared looked pleased to hear it. He gave his mom a taste, too, and she gave him two thumbs up.

“It’s Osso Bucco. And I’m just stirring a risotto to have with it. It’s almost ready. I figured we’d relax with some wine and cheese and crackers first.”

His mother set a cheese tray with several different kinds of cheeses and crackers on the kitchen’s island, so they could help themselves while Jared finished up. Gina poured a glass of wine for everyone, and after his mother urged her to have some cheese, she spread a familiar-looking aged goat cheese on a cracker.

“Is that Humbolt Fog?” she asked.

“It is. I remember you said you like that one.” It was her favorite cheese—firm like goat in the middle and runny like Brie on the edges. She’d mentioned it briefly to Jared a few weeks ago and was surprised that he remembered.

“How long have you lived on Nantucket, Gina?” his mother asked.

“Not that long. A little over a year.”

“How do you like it so far? Do you think you might stay? A lot of people move here, but it’s not for everyone.”

“I did question if I’d made the right decision a few times after I moved here, during the winter months when it’s so quiet. But now I love it. And after the crazy business of summer, I appreciate the peace now in the colder months.”

“I couldn’t agree more. We used to come here for summer vacations and when Jared’s father and I divorced about ten years ago, I kept the Nantucket house, but I didn’t move here right away. I didn’t think I’d want to be here year-round, but now I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

Jared set a sizzling cast-iron skillet in the middle of the island and warned them not to touch the pan. Six steaming Oysters Rockefeller sat on a bed of salt rocks. Gina wasn’t a fan of raw oysters, but she loved them prepared this way, with spinach, an anise-flavored cream sauce and a sprinkle of seasoned bread crumbs.

“Jared makes the best version of these that I’ve ever had,” his mother said. “Honey can you grab the hot sauce, please?”

A moment later Jared set a bottle of Hawthorne Hot next to the oysters and his mother added a few drops to her oyster. Gina liked hot sauce, so she did the same and took a bite. The flavors were intense and so good. She knew the liqueur used that gave the slight licorice taste was Pernod and there was the perfect amount in the oysters. She reached for a second one, added the hot sauce and took a closer look at the label. Hawthorne Hot was one of the top-selling hot sauces in the country and in fine print, she noticed that it was made in Massachusetts. She glanced at Jared.

“Are you related to the makers of this sauce?” She figured it was a long shot, but the last name wasn’t that common.

He nodded. “Dad started the business right out of college. He couldn’t find a hot sauce that he liked, so he made one and the rest is history.”

“I had no idea.” She realized that Jared’s family was wealthier than most, by far. Yet she’d had no idea. He wasn’t at all showy about it, like Alex.

“I don’t mention it, really. I think I got my love of food from my dad, though.”

His mother smiled. “He definitely did. Jared used to love to help me in the kitchen.”

Jared plated up the Osso Bucco and risotto for each of them and they ate in the dining room, with the merrily glowing fireplace and soothing views of the ocean.

“Jared, this is so good.” It was the first time she’d experienced his cooking. She knew he was talented because she’d heard people rave about the dishes he made at the restaurant. But this was better than anything she’d had there. “When you do eventually open your own restaurant, people are going to love it.”

“Thank you. I’m not in a hurry. I figure three more years or so working with Paul and then I’ll start to seriously think about doing something.”

His mother looked slightly concerned. “Will you stay on Nantucket? Or are you thinking of somewhere around Boston?”

He put her mind at ease. “Definitely Nantucket. I have no interest in going to Boston. I think what I want to do will work here.”

“I’m sure it will, and you know I’m happy to have you stay here. When you’re ready, honey, I know your restaurant will be a big success.”

“You two are good for my ego.” Jared beamed at both of them. “Save room for dessert.”

Gina helped his mother clear the plates and tidy up in the kitchen. They decided to wait a bit on dessert, have some coffee and play cards for a bit. His mother got a pen and paper and they had a blast playing the game pitch for several hours until dessert sounded like a good idea and Jared jumped up to get it. He returned a few minutes later with slices of rich chocolate cream pie in a buttery shortbread crust, with fresh whipped cream and shaved chocolate curls on top. They all cleaned their plates, then went into the living room and watched the classic Christmas movie A Christmas Story together.