Chapter 93: A Spy
Rain woke up early, determined to keep her promise to Alexander. She went to the kitchen and found Chef Philip, the quiet, middle-aged head chef, already hard at work.
"Good morning, Chef Philip," she greeted him with a smile. He gave a curt nod, not saying much, as was his habit. Without hesitation, she added, "I’ll just be making a beef stew for my husband—no peanuts this time—so please continue with your work."
Chef Philip glanced at her and nodded again. A few minutes later, as Rain began prepping ingredients, he surprised her by asking, "Do you need help?"
She smiled warmly. "I’m fine for now, but I might need your expert taste later. I’m not the best at balancing flavours."
"Alright, just let me know," he replied in his usual calm tone.
As Rain worked, she bit her lip thoughtfully before saying, "I’m sorry you’ve been left to manage everything alone. I hope Uncle Ben finds someone soon to replace Chef Sarah."
For the first time, Chef Philip smiled. "It’s honestly no trouble. To be honest, I was the only chef here before Sarah arrived. I’ve always managed just fine."
Rain looked at him in surprise. "Really? So how long have you been working with the Lancasters?"
"Almost twenty-five years now," he answered with a kind smile.