Free Secret Ingredient: Love by Teresa Southwick

instead.”
     
    A month later, Fran was still stewing about her conversation with Alex. He had never said he wouldn’t accept her resignation. Anger and frustration sifted through her as she looked at the watery, unattractive mess she’d made of the recipe he’d given her. She’d tried everything she could think of to adapt it and make it a winner. But if the cook gave it two thumbs down, what would Alex’s family say? The Carlino boys were pretty vocal when it came to food. Since it was their livelihood, she expected the Marchettis would be even more outspoken.
    “Two more months on my blasted contract,” she muttered, tossing a wooden spoon into the sink. Marinara sauce splattered the white countertop. “This is just a means to an end, a restaurant of my own. Then I call the shots. After that, I don’t have to put up with him. He’s just like all the rest.”
    “Who’s just like all the rest?” a female voice asked from behind her.
    She whirled to see Rosie Schafer leaning her elbows on the center island work area. “You startled me,” Fran blurted out, resting a palm against her pounding heart. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
    “You were too busy talking to yourself.”
    Fran grabbed a dish rag and mopped up the red streaks. “I wish you hadn’t seen that.”
    “Who did you really want to wallop with that wooden spoon?”
    “I’m not sure it would be politically correct to confide that information,” Fran said cautiously.
    Rosie nodded knowingly. “What did Alex do?”
    “What makes you think he did something?” she hedged, meeting the other woman’s gaze with the island between them.
    “I figured it had to be one of my brothers. You don’t have to answer directly to Nick, Joe or Luke. By process of elimination it has to be Alex. So what did he do?”
    “Since my present employment is precarious anyway, I suppose there’s no harm in telling my boss’s sister.” She leaned her elbows on the countertop and rested her chin in her hands, then let out a long, discouraged breath. “He insisted a certain recipe be included in the frozen food campaign. I’m having trouble with it.”
    “Hmm.”
    “I don’t like the sound of that.” Fran straightened. “What does that mean?”
    “I’ve been notified of a family tasting to try out the new frozen entrées.”
    Fran groaned. “Yeah, it’s coming up a week from today. I’ve got everything ready for the other dishes. But this one…” She shook her head. “I’m afraid my days with Marchetti’s are numbered. I’m prepared to bow out gracefully.”
    “Why would you think Alex would let you go over this?” Rosie asked. “By definition, research and de velopment means trial and error. If it doesn’t work, you go to plan B.”
    “He said if it doesn’t work he would take responsibility.”
    “Silly me. You’re right, of course. Them’s fightin’ words. That sounds like a man who plans to fire you if you burn the food. He might even lop off your head for good measure.”
    Fran realized that Rosie had no basis for understanding. She didn’t work in the restaurant business with her brothers. In fact, she’d opted to open her own bookstore instead. She couldn’t possibly comprehend the pressure and prejudice Fran constantly faced.
    “Go ahead. Joke about it. But the food service industry doesn’t look kindly on women. It’s every man for himself. And I do mean man. Maybe I should have listened to my father and become a housewife. My career path doesn’t pander to the faint of heart. This industry is survival of the fittest.”
    “And that’s different from being a wife and mother how?” Rosie asked good-naturedly.
    “Sorry. I meant no disrespect for the important job you do, in addition to running your own bookstore. It’s just… I learned early on that men in charge are only too willing to believe the worst about a woman in this business. I had a bad experience and it showed me how cutthroat this life is. Alex lulled me