Just then, a young man who looked hardly older than a teenager arrived with a cardboard box. He was tall and wiry with a sun-darkened face that showed the unmistakable delineation of sunglasses. “Hi, you must be the temporary chef. I’m Len, junior deckhand here. Where do you want these lobsters?”
Marina eyed a box, which had air holes in it. A hairy antenna poked out. “They’re not frozen?”
“Chef wouldn’t allow that. These were flown in from back east for tonight. Fresh Atlantic Maine lobsters.”
“I say we release them,” Kai said. “I’m not prepping those.”
Len shifted uncomfortably. “Pardon me, ma’am, but they’ve been out of saltwater, so they’re in shock anyway, and the Pacific is a lot colder than the Atlantic. And they’d be aliens in these waters. I’m afraid the future doesn’t look good for them either way.”
Kai sighed and wagged a finger at Marina. “Last time I do this. I swear I’m finishing my change into a vegetarian.”
“I didn’t make the menu or order the supplies,” Marina said, holding up a hand.
Len glanced shyly at Kai. “I can help you, ma’am. My parents own a restaurant in Maine, and I worked in the kitchen growing up. I’ve prepared lobsters and shucked oysters for as long as I can remember.”
“All right, but only if you don’t call me ma’am,” Kai said. “I’m not much older than you are.”
Marina rolled her eyes. “Figure it out, Kai. I have to decide on a menu.”
“So why aren’t you working in the kitchen?” Kai asked Len.
“I wanted to do something different. But the chef pulls me in when he needs help. The captain sent me here to ask if you needed help.”
“You don’t have anything else to do?” Marina asked.
Len shook his head. “Not until later. Captain told me I’m to help serve tonight. We each have a job to do, but we pitch in to help others, too. We’re like a family on board.”
Marina liked that. “Have you traveled all over the world?”
“Quite a lot. But we’ve never been to such a small port. The owners usually like the usual busy places.” He nodded toward a cabinet. “The chef has bamboo steamers in there.”
Marina breathed a sigh of relief. “Welcome to the team, Len.”
While Len and Kai prepared the lobsters, Marina took inventory. Parmigiano Reggiano, mozzarella, and fontina. Fresh romaine, arugula, mushrooms, and mounds of freshly clipped basil. Rummaging in the larder, Marina located extra virgin olive oil, flour, yeast, and salt. She found individual ramekins and serving dishes and spied a bottle of Grand Marnier.
“A simple menu,” Marina announced, glancing at the clock. “Rustic lobster or mushroom pizza along with Caesar salad. We can begin with an assortment of vegetable kebobs and prosciutto-wrapped melon balls. It will be easy to adapt the pizza for those who are vegetarian, vegan, lactose intolerant, or don’t eat shellfish.”
“Sounds like you have it all covered,” Kai said. “What about dessert?”
Marina checked the time on the stove. “Tiramisu would be nice, but it should chill about six hours. That would be cutting it too close, and we have a lot of other prep work. Maybe a choice of Grand Marnier soufflé, fruit, or ice cream.”
“Fancy,” Kai said, her face lighting. “Soufflés on a boat—you’re brave. I knew you could pull this off.”
“On second thought, I’ll think of something else.” Marina slung her arm around Kai. “Thanks for being here. We make a good team.”
“So, does that make me the best sister?”
Marina laughed. “Brooke might have something to say about that. She tried to reach me this morning, but we’ve been trading calls.”
Len listened with interest. “Excuse me, ma’am. You’re sisters?”
“That’s right,” Marina said.
Kai jerked a thumb toward Marina. “She’s the older one. And definitely in charge.”
“That’s cool,” Len said. “My brother and I fought a lot, but I sure miss him now.”
“And he probably misses you,” Marina said. “Now, here’s the plan for this evening. Kai, you’ll assist me in the galley. And Len, you can serve?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Unlike Kai, Marina didn’t mind the ma’am. Or maybe she was more accustomed to it since she was older. Kai still looked much younger than she was.
“Kai, as long as things are under control here, then I’d like for you to help Len serve. That’s a lot of plates to get out there.” She thought about the table settings. “Len, do you know where they will dine and how to set the tables?”
“Yes, ma’am. We had a server, but she quit when we came to port. She showed me how to do everything.”
“Thank goodness.” Marina rubbed her hands together. “Len, if you’ll steam and crack the lobsters, Kai can help me prepare the dough.”
While Len took charge of the lobster, Marina and Kai made the pizza dough. Following that, Marina put Kai on slicing vegetables for a marinade while she made notes of ingredients and organized the work area. The evening would move fast, so everything had to be in order. If they were missing ingredients, she had to make changes now.
The afternoon flew, and soon Marina could hear the chatter and laughter of guests arriving. So far, she and her small team were running on time. Kai had prepared vegetable kebobs, Len was on lobster duty, and Marina made the Caesar salad. All she had to do was toss the romaine with her homemade dressing, and they could quickly serve that after the appetizers.
She would have reversed the order had the guests been Europeans or others who traditionally preferred salad after the main course. Marina was guessing that as Americans, Charles and Anne were accustomed to salads early in a multi-course meal.
Marina had also prepared the dough and set up each station in advance—her mise en place—with ingredients measured and standing ready there or in the walk-in refrigerator. She smiled to herself.
They had this.
Suddenly, a loudspeaker crackled overhead, causing Marina to jump. “Attention, this is your captain speaking.”
Len leapt from his stool. “Lifeboat drill.” He gestured toward a cupboard. “Life vests are in there.”
“Now?” Marina looked up and frowned in consternation. This change would throw them off schedule.
“Captain’s orders.” Len sprang into action, pulling out bright, fluorescent padded jackets.
“Surely he doesn’t mean us,” Marina said. It wasn’t as if they were leaving port.
Frowning, Len bit his lip. “If I don’t get you out on deck, I’ll be in trouble.”
“I guess Charles wasn’t kidding,” Kai said, washing her hands. “Let’s put these fashion pieces on.”
“And get it over with,” Marina added.
While the captain gave orders, Len helped Marina and Kai slide on life vests and secure the straps.
“I have to have a picture,” Kai said, laughing. “We didn’t see this coming.”
“Hurry up,” Len said. “We can’t be late.”