Searching For Jenna novel Chapter 25

"We have a customer that wants to know what's good to eat," Sandy said and pointed at Mark.

"Uncle Mark!" Elliot exclaimed and went around the bar to where Mark was sitting.

Mark stood and wrapped Elliot in an affectionate hug. "Hey boy!" he said and clapped Elliot on the back. Mark leaned in close and whispered in Elliot's ear, "We need to talk."

Elliot let go of Mark and leaned down to kiss Dana on the cheek. "Hey, Aunt Dana. How are you?"

"Good," Dana said and kissed Elliot on the cheek. She pulled away rubbing her face. "You need a shave."

"Nah," Elliot said rubbing his stubble. "The girls love it. Gives me a rakish look."

Dana rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

"So what ya cookin' that's good?" Mark asked.

"Everything I cook is good," Elliot said, putting his hands on his hips and rocking on the heels of his biker boots. "What ya hungry for? Fish, chicken, bison, rabbit stew?"

Dana choked on her wine. "Rabbit stew? Really?"

"Yeah," Sandy said. "Wild game dishes are part of our distinction from other restaurants."

"I think I'll try a bison burger," Mark said, sitting down to take a drink of his beer.

"All the fixings?" Elliot asked.

"No onions," Dana said wrinkling her nose. "I have to spend another two hours in a car with him."

"Okay," Elliot grinned. "What about you, Aunt Dana?"

"A simple salad," Dana said.

"Oh come on," Elliot said. "I'll fix you a good salad. No wild animal meat, promise."

"Okay," Dana agreed.

"I'll be back in a jiff with the food, and you guys can catch me up on the family gossip," Elliot said and headed toward the kitchen.

Steven was standing in the kitchen doorway when Elliot got to the back. "Who's that?"

"My aunt and uncle," Elliot said. He went into the walk-in cooler and came out with a bison patty and chicken breast.

"They live around here?" Steven asked still standing in the doorway staring out at the couple sitting at the bar.

"No. They live in Springfield," Elliot said and started cooking the meat.

"Illinois?" Steven turned and looked at Elliot.

"Kentucky," Elliot said and went back into the cooler for vegetables.

"What they doing here?" Steven wanted to know.

"Came to see me, I guess. I didn't ask," Elliot said and started cutting vegetables.

Jason came into the kitchen. "What's up?"

"Elliot's kin is visiting," Steven announced.

Elliot had intentionally put Mark and Dana's plates on the side of the booth, so their backs were to the bar. Steven was too nosy, and Elliot was confident he would be trying to listen to their conversation.

"Where's Cara?" Dana asked. She was dying to meet her. One of Elliot's biggest fears about becoming a man was that Cara wouldn't accept him that way.

"She should be in soon," Elliot said. "So what's up?"

Mark took a bite of his bison burger and moaned. "Oh my God! That is good."

Elliot beamed at the compliment. "I'm glad you like it."

"Did you make this dressing?" Dana asked.

"You like it?" Elliot asked.

"Yes. What's in it?"

"A lot of stuff. Secret recipe. I'll make some and send it to you," Elliot said.

"We heard that the get together had been moved to August. There's a big fishing tournament going to be held at Cave Run on August eighteenth. The meeting is going to be a couple of days before," Mark said.

Elliot was watching Steven over Mark's shoulder. "I can try to come home for my birthday," Elliot said, noting that Steven was, in fact, listening to their conversation. "It's about a month away, so I should be able to get off."

"That would be good. You could come home in the middle of the week when it's not so busy," Dana said, picking up on the fact that Elliot thought their conversation was being overheard.

"That's a good idea. I'll talk to Sandy about it later," Elliot said. "So what's happening with you guys? What brings you this far over?"

Mark took a bite of his burger and tried to figure out how to tell Elliot what he needed to know without spelling it out. The Steven guy looked familiar, and Mark was going to do a background check on him as soon as he and Dana got back to the office.