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Suzie looked puzzled. “Croquet sounds French to me. What is it?”
Yvonne smiled. “Oh, believe me, it’s very Dutch, and we also make them in a smaller version calledbitterballen.” At their stunned expressions, she chuckled. “Yeah, I know it doesn’t sound good, but it tastes great! Basically, it’s a deep-fried roll filled with meat, shellfish, fish, cheese, mashed potatoes or vegetables, mixed with béchamel or brown sauce, and shaped into a cylinder, disk, or oval covered in breadcrumbs—bitterbalis the snack variety.”
Sonja looked doubtful, but Suzie became more excited. She loved trying new foods. “Let’s try to make them and have a tasting at Club Indigo tonight.” Suzie seemed to beunable to sit still and her voice rose in volume. “We could also make two of the pastries.”
Yvonne hoped she wouldn’t screw it up and took a fortifying breath. “I’d like that, but I have to callTanteWilma. I hope she can manage today without me.” Yvonne excused herself to make her call.
After an afternoon of experimenting in the café kitchen, Yvonne and Suzie decided on bite-sized beefbitterballen. Their first attempt had been an utter disaster when the balls disintegrated in the deep fryer. Yvonne had been ready to abandon the idea, but Suzie laughed it away and told her, “Shit happens.” They also made a batch with cheese filling, which was Sonja’s favorite, and Dutch hazelnut meringue cream cakes, calledhazelinos.
Now, Yvonne proudly made a round through Club Indigo’s main room with a plate full of golden-brown balls the diameter of a quarter. She halted at James and Laura’s table. Laura looked stunning in her purple corset, and Yvonne admired how well the woman wore her age with grey-streaked hair and a few lines that gave her face character. “These have beef in them, but we have a vegetarian version, too.”
James smiled at her and his gaze collided with hers. “I’m impressed you remembered my preferences, pet. I’d love to try those.” He stroked Laura’s neck along her collar, and she turned her head to give him more access. Heat gathered in Yvonne’s belly as she witnessed the sensual play between the couple. She envied their connection and hoped to reach the same level of intimacy with Kate and Chris one day, too.
“We also brought a sweet treat,” Yvonne said politely, “and I’ll be right back with the cheesebitterballen.”
“I love it when you talk dirty!”
Two strong arms snaked around her from behind, and Chris chuckled in her ear as he steadied the plate. She tried to turn, but he halted her movement with the pressure of his arms.
“What have you brought us, and why aren’t you serving us topless?”
Yvonne turned her head to make eye contact and gave him a smile as sweet as thehazelinosthey had also made. “These are Dutch specialties. We’re doing a tryout for The Sweet and Savory Table.” She twisted out of his grip and pushed the plate between them. “If you want to see my breasts, you can always negotiate a scene with me.”
Behind her, Laura chuckled then groaned. Yvonne had to concentrate not to look behind her to see what James was doing. At this rate, her thong would be soaked before she even got to a scene. She fixed her gaze on Chris, who wore a grin on his lips and mirth in his eyes. He lifted a treat from her plate and popped it into his mouth.
He chewed, closed his eyes, and groaned. As soon as he swallowed, his eyes popped open, and he scooped two others from her plate. “Delicious.” He winked. “Find me and Kate when you’ve finished your rounds.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
The sign on the door read Ellis and Associates, Attorneys-At-Law, but the noises coming from inside reminded Yvonne of an out-of-control children’s party. “Are you sure this is the right place?” she whispered to Chris.
“Sign says so, but maybe he’s running a daycare center on the side?” Chris winked at her. “I don’t know about the noise, but everyone sounds happy, so I take that as a good sign.”
He opened the door and ushered her in. The noise level increased markedly. There must have been twenty under the age of five or six and several older children who seemed to be in charge. She only saw three adults besides themselves and the receptionist.
The young woman seated at the desk facing her seemed oblivious to the racket. Without looking at them, she said, “Buenos días,” followed by a string of rapid Spanish as she handed them a clipboard which Yvonne took.
“This makes no sense!” Yvonne handed the clipboard to Chris. “What language is this? Latin?”
“No, angel, it’s in Spanish.” He turned to the receptionist. “Excuse me, miss; we don’t speak Spanish. I think you’ve given us the wrong form.”
The woman looked up at them, lingered on their blond hair, and dropped her gaze to her desk. She glanced at the stack of clipboards and selected a different one. “Please take a seat and fill this out. Mr. Ellis will be with you shortly.” She turned back to her computer, clearly dismissing them once more from her mind.
Yvonne looked around the room for empty chairs. It wasn’t a large area, but every surface seemed to be covered with children or toys. A woman who appeared to be in her fifties looked up and waved them over, moving a child and toys off two chairs for them.
They picked their way through the other children and toys without incident and joined the woman.
“Buenos días,” Chris said.
The woman responded in kind and continued in Spanish. Chris made the universal gesture of surrender. “No hablo Español, señora. ¿Habla usted Inglés?”
“Un poco. Me llamoMaria.” She tapped her chest. “¿Y tú?” She indicated him.
“Me llamoChris.Se llamaYvonne.” He turned to Yvonne. “I have now used up my high school Spanish. Everything else I know I learned from the day laborers we take on occasionally, and most of that isn’t polite.” He turned back to Maria. “Lo siento, Maria. I’m sorry I don’t speak any more.”
“Is okay.” She lifted her hands with the palms up. “You”—Maria pointed at them both—“you married?”
“Not yet.” Chris folded his long legs under the plastic chair. “We’re engaged. Yvonne is Dutch. From the Netherlands. We need immigration help.”
