With the popularity of Elliott’s restaurant, Aztec, and the über-popular Ipanema—thanks in part to the handsome publicity hog Gabriel—I was the culinary “it” girl. I didn’t even have to know how to make toast to earn the honor. The photo shoot was done in Elliott’s restaurant, but it also featured pictures from all the other venues, including some of the college cafeterias I was most proud of. Talk about free advertising.

It was just like my dream all those years ago when I was walking around Daddy’s restaurant answering questions. My dream had come true. Except instead of Griffin, Elliott stood on the sidelines beaming and mouthing, “I love you.” In many ways, this was far better than my daydream. Griffin would never be caught dead saying that for a magazine. Because even in my daydream, he wore a bemused expression. The only thing Griffin might mouth was “come home.” But now I was on a roll.

There was brief mention of my culinary lineage and the Color-Wheel Boys and my background in working with the illustrious Julian Palmer, but for the most part, it was just about me and my unique aesthetic. The prepositional phrases and commas weren’t in relation to anyone but me.

Afterward, Elliott retired to rest his back. I was alone when I toasted myself with Perrier-Jouët. Old habits die hard. I wanted to call Griffin to tell him about my day and to hear him say, “Bae, I’m so proud.” But I had to protect my heart. It was in that moment I realized even when our dearest dreams come true, they are often accompanied by the slightest hint of sadness and regret.

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-One

My misgivings about formally moving in with Elliott were misplaced. Besides the fact I’d be getting a tony address, the man I had fallen in love with returned with renewed ardor. He always made breakfast early before he left for the market, and when I entered the restaurant, he would greet and kiss me as if we had been separated for days. Whatever malady and wicked mood had befallen him in the summer had left him as suddenly as it had taken up residence.

There was a time Henry could not pass up a scotch bottle without emptying its contents into his stomach. He made bad decisions, slept with the wrong women, racked up a ton of legal bills, and put the onus of running three restaurants on Griffin. But out of that had come Hank and a new maturity. Geniuses like Henry and Elliott battled demons that the rest of us couldn’t even imagine. I was proud of Elliott’s rebound. There was talk about expansion of the restaurant and even a second. Honors and awards found him as easily as return patrons.