Triton's Destiny

Part Twenty-Nine

Tristan had gone to the bakery first, knowing that Maki would appreciate anything he picked up there for dessert. Emilie suggested her famously decadent chocolate cake, so he bought a small one to share with his lover. Though Tristan honestly couldn't tell the difference between any of the beautifully decorated cakes, Emilie insisted upon picking out the one she deemed 'perfect' enough to serve to Maki. Indulging her with a smirk, Tristan had waited patiently for her to select it and box it up. Then he asked for her advice on what he should make for the entrée.

And, oh, did she have a raft full of ideas for that. Tristan wanted to keep the meal relatively light and avoid fish and meat, so that limited their options a bit, but Emilie still came up with a list of recipes which would make impressive meals. Asking one of her assistants to take over the counter, she led Tristan to a vacant table so they could pick something together.

Opening her recipe book on the table between them, she pointed to a few possibilities. "Pasta primavera?"

He shook his head. "I made him pasta and vegetables already."

"Vegetable Wellington?" Her blond eyebrows lifted in question.

"Ooh..." He winced and wrinkled his nose. "Puff pastry and I do not get along."

"Gods, Tristan..." She rolled her eyes. "You're so hopeless. How many times do I have to show you how to properly handle pastry dough?"

He glanced to the ceiling in exasperation. "I'd much rather let you handle it properly so I can come in here and buy it from you. You do pastry so much better than I ever could."

"All right. Well... I am not making your dinner for you, so the Wellington is out." She turned the page and suddenly lit up with a grin, bouncing in her chair and pointing excitedly at the picture in the book. "Oh! This! Spiral vegetable tart!"

He had to admit that the photo made it look impressive. But impressive usually meant complicated. "Again with the pastry, Emilie. I'm not a pastry chef."

"No, no! I have a solution for that!"

He eyed her warily. "I'm listening."

Giggling softly, she clapped her hands. "The girls and I blind bake pie shells for our custard pies to save time. I have a stash of them always ready to go. I can give you one for this vegetable tart so all you have to do is fill it up and bake it for a bit. Easy!"

"That does sound better."

"Yay!" She clapped her hands again, clearly pleased with herself. "Then take this..." She slipped the recipe card out of its slot in the book. "...and I'll box up a pie shell for you."

"How much for it?"

She shook her head with a smile. "No charge, Tristan. It's for a good cause."

Smiling back, he nodded. "Thanks."

"You have to let me know how he likes it."

"I will." He took the recipe card and got up. "Guess I need to go shopping, then."

"Hey, let me hold onto the cake and pastry for you while you do that. So you don't have to worry about it getting ruined." She stood and tucked her recipe book under her arm. "Actually... I'll have the boxes delivered to the lighthouse. That's even better." Returning to the counter, she moved Tristan's chocolate cake to the delivery shelf, adding a note with instructions to it. "When will you be back home?"

"No later than midday."

"Lunchtime it is," she said with a nod. "You'll have the boxes by then."

"Thank you, Emilie." His cheeks warmed as he smiled. "You've been a great help today."