Personal chef Beau St. Clair, recently divorced from his cheating husband, returns to the small Ohio River town where he grew up to lick his wounds. Jack Rogers lives with his mother, Maisie, in that same small town, angry at and frightened by the world. Jack has a gap in his memory that hides something he dares not face, and he’s probably suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Maisie, seeking relief from her housebound and often surly son, hires Beau to cook for Jack, hoping the change might help bring Jack, once a handsome and vibrant attorney, back to his former self. But can a new face and comfort food compensate for the terror lurking in Jack’s past? Slowly the two men begin a dance of revelation and healing. Food and compassion build a bridge between Beau and Jack, a bridge that might lead to love. But will Jack’s demons allow it? His history could just as easily tear them apart as bring them together.

Dinner at Jack's

“I can bring my own. Us chefs are particular about knives, you know.”


“Whatever floats your boat.” Maisie closed the drawer, sensing my disdain. She stooped to open one of the cupboards. “Plenty of pots and pans for you to rattle.” She looked over her shoulder and smiled. “You may want to bring your own cookware too, but these aren’t bad. They’re Calphalon. Got ‘em on special up at the Beaver Valley Mall last Christmas.”


“Oh, I think they’ll do nicely.” I peered down to inspect the cookware, and it did indeed look to be in good shape.


We stood there in the harsh kitchen light facing each other again, two strangers running out of small talk.


Finally I said, “What about Jack? Is he around?”


A short, bitter burst of laughter escaped her. “Oh, he’s always around. And like always, he’s in his room.” She led me back into the dining room. I hadn’t noticed it before, but there was a short hallway off the room that led to what I assumed were two bedrooms and a bathroom.


Chapter 22