CHAPTER SEVEN
Henry made no attempt to move and neither had I.
"Can I go back to the table please? I think the buffet opened" I mumble in an effort to get him to move.
I still had half a cupcake in my hand so I decided to use it as a weapon. My hand makes its way up to my mouth increasing the space between Henry and I. I take a nervous bite to which Henry laughs. I shove his right arm away and hurry towards the dining area and our table.
My cellphone is on Maggie's lap and she doesn't have a plate in front of her yet the buffet is open. I make my way to her and put my hand on her shoulder as I lower my mouth to her ear.
"Do you want something from the buffet?" I ask
"If it isn't too much trouble" she answers
"No, not at all. What would you like?"
"Anything"
"Okay, be right back"
I walk back to the buffet area but it seems like everyone at the event is in a single file waiting to eat. Henry is suddenly beside me.
"I'm going to stand in this never-ending line, do you want something?" He asks politely.
"Um, no thanks. Where's your table?" I ask him.
"I have no idea. There's no seating order here" he looks around the room and shrugs.
"You can sit with us at our table. It’s in the centre"- I point to the table where Maggie is sitting-"and I will be right back"
I turn around and head for the kitchen. The chef in charge was Benjamin, an old friend from South Africa. He would always keep food in the kitchen with him for me. I had asked him to make one of his legendary pies and keep red velvet cupcakes for me.
"Where's Benny?" I ask one of the servers when I enter.
"In the back" she responds.
I go towards the back exit when Benny walks in.
"Alyx! Long-time no smell, little lady." He pulls me in for a bear hug.
Benny is slightly shorter than I am with black hair, brown eyes and a much tanned skin.
"Been missin' you" I hug him back
"Here is your grub" he hands me a polystyrene container with a pie and chips inside.
"Got any salad?" I ask
"Your favourite?"
"Aha"
"Hold on" he reaches over a counter and grabs a wooden bowl with various greens and reds in it.
"Here you go" he hands me the bowl.
I add it to the tray with all my food on it and then remember Maggie's request.
"Hey, Benny! Got any food that isn't outside yet?" I ask as he turns around to leave.
"Yeah, what do you want?"
"No idea. Anything, it’s for a friend outside"
Benny led me to a stainless steel table that was wall-to-wall. I took a plate and placed various foods onto the plate, praying Maggie wasn't a vegetarian.
I balanced the tray with both our foods on it as I walked back to my table. I set Maggie's plate in front of her.
"That's a lot of food for me." She says
