“We enjoy our playground at sea,” Anne said with an airy wave of her hand. A stack of gold and diamond bracelets clinked as she did. “This way to the galley.”
As she stepped inside the galley kitchen, Marina took in great, modern swaths of stainless appliances, counters, and glass cabinets. Sunlight poured through windows lining the side of the kitchen.
“Where are the supplies for the party?” Marina asked.
“Provisions are in the walk-in refrigerator and freezer units,” Charles said, motioning to twin doors at the end of the galley. “You’ll find everything you need.” Eyes twinkling, he lowered his voice. “We’re well-stocked for fast getaways.”
“In the middle of the night, I’ll bet,” Kai said, joining in the fun.
“Spot on,” Charles said, grinning.
That phrases reminded her of Ginger. “Have you ever lived in England?”
Charles seemed surprised. “The occasional vacation. Funny you ask.”
Marina brought the conversation back to business. “And the menu and recipes?”
A blank look filled Anne’s face. “Chef Jean-Luc handles that. I’ve never seen him write anything down. He simply tells me what he has planned.”
“It’s lobster night,” Charles added.
“Can you be a little more specific?” Marina’s nerves were sizzling, a clear signal of imminent danger. She shot a look at Kai, who seemed blissfully unaware of the dilemma. “How do you prefer your lobster prepared? Maybe you have a favorite recipe.”
Charles chuckled. “Anne swears she’s never made a meal in her life. But she’s adventurous, and she’ll try anything.”
“It’s true. I like surprises.” Anne gave another twirl of her hand. “Jean-Luc knows what we like, so simply use whatever he ordered. We’re fairly relaxed on board.”
“May I contact him to see what he had planned?” Marina’s pulse raced. She didn’t consider herself a chef; she wasn’t even a restaurateur yet. At best, a solid cook.
“We wouldn’t want to bother him while he’s at his mother’s bedside,” Anne said. “I’m sure you’ll be fine with Jean-Luc’s supplies. Simply put them together.” As Charles had done, Anne made a sweeping motion with her hands as if she were scooping together ingredients before finishing with a flourish. Clearly, this was all the direction they deemed necessary. Marina thought maybe that’s the way it was done on board a yacht such as this.
Anne beamed as if she’d been helpful. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have to get ready for our guests.”
After the couple left, Marina leaned against a cool stainless counter and swept a hand over her face. Without a menu to guide her, or even a lifeline from the elusive chef, Marina felt overwhelmed. “What have we gotten ourselves into?”
Kai’s eyebrows shot up. “What do you mean? Look at this place. Should be a piece of cake for you.”
“It’s not the cake I’m worried about.” Marina drew her apron from her bag, fidgeting with the tangled ties. “Kai, I’m not really a chef. I’m a home cook with aspirations. We have to prepare and plate thirty fairly complicated dinners at once.”
“Then why did you agree to do this?” Kai sounded perplexed. “Don’t let this floating palace intimidate you. You’ve made lobster before, right?”
“Of course.” Marina straightened her shoulders, willing her courage to return, though her heart was hammering. What was wrong with her? In the last couple of weeks, she’d prepared several dinners for parties of eight. But she’d used the recipes she knew well, and the parties were casual. She hadn’t felt the pressure that was suddenly constricting her chest. And the drifting motion of the craft wasn’t helping. Though it was gentle, it was still enough to make her feel a little off-kilter.
Kai took her hands. “Remember how nervous you were the first time you went on air?”
“My tongue felt like cardboard.”
“Like my first time on stage,” Kai said. “I could hardly sing, let alone dance. But after a few beats, I got into it. Really, what’s the worst that could happen?”
“They dump everything and call for pizza.”
Kai grinned. “So, save them the trouble. Make lobster pizza.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I. Did I tell you about the time that Wolfgang Puck’s team catered one of our grand openings? People went wild over his seafood pizzas. The smoked salmon with caviar was to die for.”
“Maybe that’s not a bad idea.” Marina managed a nervous laugh. “They did say they were casual on board.” She gestured toward an open brick oven. “They do have a pizza oven.”
Kai turned around. “And a rotisserie. Look at all these culinary toys. Any other day you’d be in heaven. We’re not going to abandon ship.” She peered at Marina with concern in her eyes. “But I think we need to do some yoga breathing. You’re having a moment. Here, take my hand.”
Marina did; she remembered what Ginger had once told her when she was a child to alleviate the seasickness and panic she’d felt the first time they’d been at sea. Focus on the horizon. Find a point and breathe.
She turned her attention toward the horizon through the porthole. She hadn’t been seasick since, but this felt a little like that. Maybe it was an anxiety attack, though she’d faced much worse in her life. What was this really about?
Kai squeezed her hand. “These past few weeks, you’ve had a lot of sudden changes in your life. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed.”
Marina nodded. From leaving her job and her profession, moving from San Francisco to Summer Beach, starting a new business—and worrying about how these changes would impact Heather and Ethan—her brain was as full as a stuffed pepper. As she thought about it, she realized that her feelings were probably the culmination of all of that. Still, she had to forge ahead.
Kai peered at her. “Remember what Ginger says. Feel the fear and do it anyway.”
“From her friend Eleanor Roosevelt,” Marina added.
“Sometimes I wonder if there is anyone Ginger hasn’t met,” Kai said. “Grandma is pretty remarkable. And so are you. Give yourself some credit for being a single mom and a successful anchorperson. You made it look easy, but I know it wasn’t. No reason to think you can’t handle a few lobsters.”
“Thanks for the reminder, Kai,” Marina said, turning back to face her sister. “Maybe I should start joining you for Shelly’s morning yoga classes at the inn.”
Kai grinned. “That’s the spirit. Now, I’m going to wash up and check out the fridge. We should see what we’ve got to work with.”
Feeling her heart rate slowing to normal and a sense of control returning, Marina nodded. “I’m with you. Let’s do this.”
Inside the walk-in refrigerator, Marina and Shelly looked around. The delivery boxes had been placed inside, so it was easy to find the supplies for the evening.
“There’s enough in here for months,” Marina said as she took in the provisions in the refrigerator, freezer, and larder. “Guess you have to be prepared if you’re out on the high seas.”