Simmer Down

flattop grill. When Eliot jumped in to explain the differences between professional and home stoves, Josh took the opportunity to step back and continue our previous conversation.
    “See, I told you it wasn’t Naomi. She’s a lust-driven social worker, just like you!” He nudged me and gave an exaggerated wink. “I’m kidding! But seriously, I’m pretty sure Gavin was the one who killed Oliver.”
    “Why do you think that? He got the location from the Full Moon Group. He had no reason.”
    “As I’ve learned over the past couple of weeks, Gavin thinks God meant him to have this location. Chloe, you’ve probably heard him. He keeps saying that getting this place was meant to be. Like it’s fated or some bullshit like that.”
    “Now that you mention it, Gavin said that tonight, when Doug and I got here. And something about thanking God.”
    “And I don’t think he was talking about God in a true religious sense, since as far as I can tell, he’s not particularly devout in any other sense of the word. He’s more caught up in the idea of some vague higher power,” Josh explained, gesturing wildly into the air. “As nice a guy as Gavin seems, he’s a nut job, if you ask me. I bet he killed off Oliver because Oliver was the Full Moon partner with the most clout, and that group had tried to interfere with Gavin’s so-called destiny.”
    To me, Gavin had seemed so normal. Perhaps I wasn’t paying enough attention at school; clearly, my diagnostic skills were weak. “When I talked to Isabelle today,” I said, “she tried to tell me that Gavin was talking about God, but I guess I wasn’t really listening. I’m going to be a crappy social worker,” I moaned.
    “You’re going to be great. I didn’t say anything to you about Gavin having this weird side to him because I didn’t want you to worry. And selfishly, I thought Simmer could be a great restaurant, and good executive chef jobs are hard to come by. I really don’t want to get involved in this, and I don’t exactly have any proof that Gavin is a killer, so I’m just trying to stay out of this whole mess. I don’t want this to be happening,” Josh confessed.
    I couldn’t fault him for feeling that way. Half of all restaurants close within the first six months. If Josh had found a professional home for himself, a place that could not only survive but become highly successful, he wouldn’t want to lose it.
    “The thing I don’t understand,” I said, “is, why kill Oliver? Yeah, he seemed to be the leader of the Full Moon Group, but Barry is the one who’s been making jokes about buying Simmer from Gavin. Barry is the one who really appreciates great food and is nuts about the whole culinary industry. Oh, whatever.” I shrugged my shoulders. “We can’t figure this out. And as long as it’s not Naomi and as long as Hannah leaves you alone, I don’t want to be in this mess. So for now, since we know Eliot is no longer in any danger of losing his life at the hands of my supervisor, and since Hannah is otherwise engaged with Sean, do you want to come sit down with us for dessert?” If there was no reason to miss out on my Bananas Three Way, my stomach still had room.
    Josh laughed. “Food always comes first with you. One of the many things I love about you.” He put both hands on my cheeks and turned my face up to his for a soft, slow kiss.
    Was that Josh saying he loved me? We hadn’t actually said “I love you” to each other, although it was clear that’s how we felt. For some reason, we were both being cautious about saying it out loud, and it wasn’t something I needed to hear to be happy with Josh. Still, I couldn’t help thinking that it would be nice when it happened.
    Eliot and Naomi had wandered off and were exploring the other side of the kitchen, where the vegetables and sauces sat lined up in stainless steel containers at the back of a long counter.
    “Come on.” Josh took my hand. We were turning to leave the kitchen when Snacker hurried through the door from the dining room.
    “Happy New Year everyone!” he shouted to no one in particular.
    “Where have you been?” Josh looked exasperated. “Dude, stick around once in a while, will ya?”
    “Sorry, sorry, sorry. I’m all yours again. What do you need?”
    “Just make sure all the desserts go out, okay? Things are going fine, and I don’t want that to change. Then head up the cleanup. Good thing Gavin only wanted one seating since you’ve been MIA