Tina smiled, rubbing Lara’s arms, “Lara, you will.  Just give it time.  You’re a great girl.  And a fabulous cook!  Tell me, who can turn that package down?!”

“And…thank you so much for everything you’re doing today.  The food has been so good…really excellent,” Tina continued, as she gave their chef-friend a warm hug.

“Oh, please, Tina.  You know that I enjoy cooking here.  When I first cooked for you, I told Bette I would come over to cook for you girls anytime.  It started on that Valentine’s Day that turned into an engagement party, remember?,” Lara asked.  “Since then, and today, too, I’ve gotten so many private dining contracts from various people in your parties that I think I may have to reduce my restaurant work, actually.”

It was true.  Cooking for Bette and Tina’s parties had led to other engagements for those who had tasted her cooking.  These led, in turn, to even more engagements. Her chef friends were envious of Lara’s quickly expanding clientele list, mainly derivative of engagements that had grown out of contacts she’d made through Bette and Tina, some of whom were loyal enough to patronize and recommend the restaurant Lara worked in.

“Well I am …we are… so thankful you still come over to cook here, Lara, despite the high demand for you,” Tina responded.  “Especially today.  I can only imagine how many other engagements you probably had to turn down to cook here today.”

Lara was murmuring it had been her pleasure to do so, as Tina continued, “I was really anxious when the list of people began to grow, but Bette was pretty calm, saying that she had already called you, almost as soon as we got back from the Maldives.”

Lara nodded.  Even if she first expected a small gathering, when Bette initially contacted her, she knew Bette and Tina well, and was experienced with how quickly they could pull a must-come event together.  Her instincts were confirmed when Logan had called her to consult about the turkey.  She knew then the party would be huge, based on what Logan described, and had begun to prepare accordingly.

Lara knew people simply liked coming over, as did she: rarely did anyone turn down an invite from Bette and Tina.  She was surprised that the couple was surprised at the large number of people who turned up.  And were continuing to turn up.