“Gaspard, I get it. It’s annoying. I would be annoyed too. But there is literally nothing that can be done about it now. The cheesecakes are coming. Friday afternoon. They’ll have to be refrigerated overnight, then served at the reception on Saturday. Since this is going to be my very first wedding at the Winding Way Inn and I’m trying desperately to seem like I know what I’m doing and like I wasn’t just dropped into the middle of a crazy situation with no one to train me and piles of responsibilities I’m somehow supposed to know about all on my own, I’m asking for a favor.” I finally took a breath. “Please. I really need you to be okay with this.”

He still wore a scowl, but I could see acceptance in his eyes. “Fine. But only because this is a mess you didn’t make and it wouldn’t be fair for me to make you accountable.”

Uh, no, it was a mess of Ida’s making, surly chef dude. And she’s the big boss lady now. I was pretty sure if Ida had been the one speaking to him about this, he wouldn’t have responded like he did with me. Still, he’d agreed, and I’d spared Ida a little bit of drama. That was all that mattered in the end.

I opened the to-go box he’d brought and pulled out half of the sandwich inside. “This looks great, Gaspard. Thank you.”

He grunted. Again. Guess good communication wasn’t necessarily a requirement for good food. He turned and headed for the door.

“Oh, hey, Gaspard?” He turned around slowly, his patience wearing visibly thin. “You know what?” I said. “Never mind. I just had one more question, but I can ask April.”

“It has nothing to do with enemy cheesecake?”

I rolled my eyes. “No.”

“Fine,” he said with another grunt. “What’s your question?”

I almost wanted to ask him something else about the cheesecake just to spite the guy. I’d never met anyone who remained in such a perpetual bad mood. But even if I needed reminders, I was a grown-up. I put my sandwich down. “I was just wondering if you know who is over facilities. I need to review the room set for the rehearsal dinner and reception. And also figure out why Glenda wrote a note about checking on the tent.”

He scratched his chin. “Carlos is over facilities. Do not ask me if I know how to reach him. I don’t.”

Carlos. I immediately wondered if it was the same Carlos I’d met on the soccer field but quickly dismissed the thought. It wasn’t that uncommon of a name. “That’s fine. I’m sure April knows. I’ll ask her.” I popped open the Coke and motioned to the food. “Thanks again for this. I really do appreciate it.”