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

“Does he have nightmares a lot?” I stirred the chili and then moved away from the stove to uncork the wine, a Shiraz I thought would go well with it.


“Yeah. ‘A lot’ is an understatement.”


I didn’t look at Maisie. I could hear her smoking behind me, the quick nervous puffing.


I sat down with her. “I have to ask. What happened to him? Is he sick?”


“Not sick. Not physically, anyway. I suppose he has what they call PTSD these days. You’ve heard of it? It stands for—”


I cut her off. “Post-traumatic stress disorder. I’ve heard of it.” I touched her hand lightly and then withdrew. “What was the trauma? Was he in the service? Can you tell me?”


She took a long drag and expelled the smoke almost angrily. “I wish I knew! I wish he knew!”


Chapter 29