Read Online All the President’s Menus by Julie Hyzy - Free Book Online Page A

House. Where am I?”
    “You’re an essential member of the White House kitchen team. You’re well-respected and you’ve got amazing talent.”
    “But where, exactly, is my career going?”
    She had blue contacts in today, and when she stared across the high table at me, I could see behind them into the depths of her eyes.
    I put my fork down. “This conversation hasn’t come up solely because of the sequester, has it?”
    She shook her head.
    “You’ve been thinking about this for some time, haven’t you?”
    Nodding, she put her fork down, too. “I look at you, Ollie. You have it all. You’re at the top of your career, you have the love of your life, you’re content and settled and strong. I’m still struggling to find my place in the world.”
    “And that place isn’t the White House kitchen?”
    She wrinkled her nose. “I need to broaden my horizons. This job takes everything from us. Our time, our lives, our hearts. I don’t know that I have any more to give.”
    I started to say something, but she reached across and patted my hand, stopping me.
    “Not you, Ollie. You’re always generous with compliments and you do, truly, make those of us working for you feel valued. Best of all, I know you believe what you’re saying. But maybe I don’t believe it. Maybe I need to prove to myself that I’m capable of more.”
    My heart sank with every word out of her mouth, but I had to admit I understood. Perhaps that’s why it cut me to hear it. Cyan was leaving us.
    “How soon?” I asked.
    “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about this for quite some time,” she said with a tiny smile. “I’ve only finally found the nerve. But because I want to take my time and find the right fit, probably not very soon. Don’t tell anyone, okay?”
    “What about Bucky? Does he know?”
    Cyan gave a breathy laugh. “Yeah.”
    “I figured. You two have become pretty tight over the years.”
    “We all have,” she said.
    “That’s absolutely true.” Though her decision made me profoundly sad, I would do whatever I could to help. “We will miss you, Cyan. More than you can ever know. Take all the time you need, okay?”
    The bottoms of her eyes had gone red. “Thanks for understanding.”
    *   *   *
    Marcel had several friends visiting when we arrived, so Cyan and I didn’t get a lot of time to talk with him alone. His surgery had gone well and his arm was expected to heal even though they’d had to insert metal pins for stability.
    We’d brought him some chocolate from a local shop. When Marcel opened the wrappings and saw the store name, he turned up his nose. “I make confections far superior to these,” he said.
    Cyan and I shared a grin.
    “Looks like you’re back to normal,” I said.
    His distaste for the store-bought chocolates didn’t stop him from sampling one. He popped it into his mouth, then snagged a second piece before offering the box to his guests to share.
    “What happened?” I asked Marcel as his friends talked among themselves. “Do the doctors have any idea why you passed out?”
    Still enjoying the first chocolate, with great mouth movements and an appreciative eye roll, he shook his head. “Thank you so much, my Olivia and Cyan. You are both too kind to come visit. Yes,” he said, with a sheepish look, “we know why I lost consciousness.”
    Cyan and I waited.
    Again, a flash of embarrassment. “I have not made a habit of sharing medical information.”
    “I don’t mean to pry,” I said.
    “No, of course not. What I mean to say is that I had not yet informed you, nor the White House doctors, that I have recently been prescribed a medication for high blood pressure. Unfortunately, I miscalculated the dosage.” He gave an elegant shrug, considering he had one arm jammed into his chest. “I must stay here until they ensure that my vitals remain stable.” He took a deep sniff, then popped the second chocolate into his mouth. “Dark chocolate. My favorite.”
    “It