She knew her way around a kitchen and lots of herbs and spices and ways to modify recipes. Surely that could be helpful in a restaurant. Okay, maybe it could be helpful in a restaurant.
“I cook with a lot of meat,” Cora warned.
Paige nodded. “I understand. I won’t lecture the customers.” She smiled. “Much. Maybe family. People who haven’t eaten meatless dishes don’t realize how good they can be. Maybe I can convince them to try a few things.”
Cora laughed. “I will enjoy watching you try.”
Paige grinned as she took her empty plate to the sink to wash. “Well, maybe I can help with dishes at least or something.” She dunked her plate into the soapy water. And immediately felt a sharp sting. “Ouch!” She jerked her hand back.
Blood was already running from the cut on her index finger.
“Oh, fuck.” Cora hurried to her side. “I have knives in there. I’m sorry.”
Paige shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”
Cora took her hand and headed to another sink. It was a sink that you’d find in a home bathroom rather than the huge stainless-steel restaurant kitchen sink. Cora ran her finger under the water and soaped it. Then she handed Paige a clean towel. “Here, press on it. I’ll be right back.”
Paige grimaced as she pressed against the cut.
Cora crossed the kitchen to a tall free-standing pantry with glass doors. It had several shelves that were full of little bottles and jars. She looked them over and selected one from a higher shelf, then also grabbed a box of bandages. She came back to Paige, unscrewing the top of the jar.
The salve inside was yellow. Cora dipped some out on her finger. “Let me see it.”
Paige peeled the towel back. The cut was only lightly oozing now. It was about two inches long and ran down the outside of her index finger.
Cora made a little clucking noise and then touched the salve to the wound. It smelled lemony. “Rub that in.
Paige did as Cora unwrapped a bandage.
“What’s the salve?” Paige asked.
“Oh, one of my homemade concoctions.” Cora held the jar up.
The label read SHIT, THAT HURTS!
Paige grinned. “You made it?”
Cora nodded as she applied the bandage. “Calendula flower infused oil with beeswax and lemon essential oil. The mixture acts as a—”
“Natural antiseptic and will keep the skin soft as it heals,” Paige filled in with a smile. “I love it.”
Cora then surprised Paige by kissing the tip of her finger and pressing it to the top of the bandage too. Paige smiled. That was something her own grandmother would have done.
Things weren’t that different here in Autre after all.
“You know essential oils?” Cora asked, returning to her cabinet to store the jar and bandages.
“I do. And calendulas. I make a similar salve. I use helichrysum oil though.”
Cora now looked impressed. “I’ve used that as well.”
“Where do you get your calendula flowers?” Paige asked. If there was a place nearby that sold flowers and herbs that could be used in some of her favorite “concoctions,” as Cora called them, she’d have to check it out. Maybe she and Mitch could make it one of their Saturday dates.
But Cora grinned and crossed to another door off the kitchen, motioning Paige with her. She opened the door at the back of the restaurant. It opened into a little greenhouse.
Actually, it wasn’t all that little. It was the size of the kitchen and was filled with plants. They sat on shelves made of concrete blocks and wooden planks and hung in planters overhead.
“You grow all your own stuff?” Paige asked.
“Most of it.”
“Wow.” Paige stepped out into the greenhouse. “This is…” She just paused and took a deep breath, drawing in the multiple scents and feelings. Yes, she got feelings from being amongst the plants and herbs.
“Mitch helps me take care of it all.”
Paige turned back. “Really?”
“He’s got a wonderful green thumb.”
“I noticed a lot of plants on his porch.”
Cora nodded. “He’s always loved plants. He’s really enjoying the landscaping around the new enclosure for the otters.”
Paige gave a soft laugh. “There’s no shortage of interesting things going on around here.”
Cora chuckled. “That is a very nice—and accurate—way to put it. Never a dull day.”
Paige lifted her finger and wiggled it. “Thank you for this.”
“My pleasure. And please, feel free to come in here and help yourself to anything. I’d love to compare notes and share recipes. I’d love to have someone I can talk natural healing with.”
“I’ve never really had anyone who appreciated it the way I do. They love my salves and lotions, of course,” she said with a smile. “But no one really gets into it.”
Cora nodded. “I’m here. Let’s play.”
Paige felt that swell of warmth in her chest again. This was already turning out to be a really great day. In spite of some of her earlier realizations about her approach to work and relationships.
Then her day got even better.
“Paige? Are you in here?”
She knew that voice instantly. She stepped back into the kitchen, already
smiling. “Hey!” She met Tori Kramer-soon-to-be-Landry in the middle of the kitchen in a big hug. “How did you know I was in here?”
“I went down to the office to find you, and Sawyer said he saw you heading up here with Cora.”
Paige hadn’t met any of the Boys of the Bayou yet. They only had late afternoon tours today, so Sawyer had been out checking some fishing lines, Owen had been in New Orleans picking up some supplies, and Josh had been helping Tori with some things on their farm that morning.
“Yeah, Cora got me lunch.” Paige shot the older woman a grin.
Cora was already back to stirring and mixing, but she was smiling.
“I can’t believe you’re here!” Tori said. “This is so great!”
“Yeah, I just… got in the car,” Paige said. “Needed some warmer weather.”
Tori gave her an uh-huh look. “I’m thrilled to see you, of course.”
“Thanks.” Paige believed her. Tori was one of the sweetest, most genuine people Paige had ever met. But she knew that her friend must think this was odd. “I—”
“Got proposed to again,” Tori filled in. “At least, that’s the story I heard.”
Paige sighed and nodded. “Yeah. What the hell is that?”
Tori laughed. “I can’t talk. I knew I wanted to marry Josh in about a week. But you’re a catch.”
Paige shook her head, but she was smiling. Tori had never seemed like the love-at-first-sight type to Paige, but her and Josh’s love story was pretty charming.
But she wasn’t really anti-romance. She wasn’t completely against falling in love. She was against getting married because it was the next “obvious” step. And she was against marrying a guy who didn’t know her.
She wasn’t so sure about the “you’re a catch” part. That wasn’t self-deprecating. It was just that half of the men who’d proposed didn’t really know her. They were basing her “catch” status on things like finding her attractive and her being single. Those really shouldn’t be the only two checkboxes on the list of Things I’m Looking For In A Life Partner.