What Would Oprah Do by Erin Emerson Read Free Book Online

for y’all. Go ahead, there’s plenty. Besides, those are the ones with minor imperfections and I want everything to look just right!”
    “You don’t have to tell me twice,” Kay said before popping an olive into her mouth. Lainey walked over and ate one too.
    “Oh my God, these are delicious! Kay said they were good, but this is like a little piece of heaven. Where’s Jill? She better get in here before we eat all of the olives.”
    “Jill doesn’t like blue cheese.” I said. “She only likes her cheese yellow and individually wrapped in plastic.”
    “What do I like wrapped in plastic?” Jill asked as she emerged from the bathroom.
    “Big dicks.” Kay answered as she dipped one of the sweet potato wedges in blue cheese dressing.
    “Oh please, the biggest benefit when I get married someday will be saying sayonara to condoms. Seriously, what are you talking about?”
    “I was telling Kay and Lainey that you’re not a fan of blue cheese just that processed pasteurized crap.”
    “Yum, grilled cheese sandwiches. So what if I order off the kid’s menu? Chicken fingers, peanut butter and jelly, that’s my palate.”
    “It’s not like it matters anyway.” I said. “Jill hardly eats, so she’s not exactly my target audience.”
    “What? I eat plenty. When I get busy, it’s not that high on my priority list.”
    “Cate, you want in on this?” Lainey asked, holding up the last olive.
    “I’m too nervous to eat, so that’s all you.”
    Lainey shook her head. “Cate, there’s no reason to be nervous. Everybody who’s going to be here tonight will be here to support you.”
    “I don’t even know some of these people. I sent the invite out to every chef I could find on a directory listing.”
    Kay handed me a glass of wine and said, “Cate, it’s going to be great. A little pinot noir should help you relax.”
    Like clockwork, there was a knock on the door at eight and people streamed in for the next fifteen minutes. I couldn’t believe how big the turnout was. There were at least 60 people. Kay and Lainey got the cold platters circulating, and Jill steered people to the table with the warm trays and the wedge salads. In no time, wine glasses were filled and people were putting my creations onto their plates. It was brilliant! I mingled and tried to contain my enthusiasm as people told me how delicious everything was.
    Jill introduced me to Thomas, her restaurateur neighbor, who was very complimentary. He admitted with the kind of caution you would expect if he was confessing that he robbed a bank, that he used premixed salad dressings at his restaurant. He said that he had planned on making a change and that he would love to use my dressing! I was so amazed, I hugged him. He said he’d love to try more and asked if I was going to make vinaigrettes too. Before I could answer, someone tapped me on the shoulder. As I turned, my grin quickly faded. It was Barbara.
    “Caa-aate, how are you?” She gave me the kind of hug where you hardly touch the other person except to pat them on the back. The irony of her patting me on the back was not lost on me as I wondered if there was now a knife protruding from mine. I have never been more grateful to have Jill standing beside me.
    “I’m great!” I said as I made every effort not to clench my teeth. Thomas excused himself to get more wine. “Barbara, this is my friend Jill, who was kind enough to host this party.”
    “You have such a lovely home.” Barbara eyed Jill up and down, and it was all I could do not to bust out laughing when Jill did it right back to her without saying a word.
    “I’m surprised to see you here.” I said, wondering if I was the one making the diaper face now.
    “My son is the chef at Alouette. When he told me about this little get together, I couldn’t believe the coincidence. I figured I’d tag along and see how you’re holding up.”
    I stood there speechless, unable to believe the bitch was still getting under my