Chapter Five
Thursday was Faith’s first training shift at The Dock.
She would have been happy to have started the day before, but Hal had insisted she take one more day and rest up.
He’d also told her to bring Taco along. He and his wife, Samantha, lived above the bar, and there was a private yard that Taco could use.
She was glad for the extra day because, truthfully, she felt almost as good as new.
“You got those salt and pepper shakers done?” Cassidy, a tall, voluptuous woman with silky blonde hair, tanned golden skin, and big blue eyes, looked like she’d just stepped off a beach in California.
In fact, she was a townie home for the summer after graduating from Columbia with a degree in engineering.
She was open and friendly and had made Faith’s first shift much easier than she’d expected.
“Just finished.”
“Perfect. You can drop them on all the tables, inside and out.” Cassidy checked her watch.
“We’ll be getting hit in about thirty minutes with our second rush.
” She rolled her eyes. “The golf course boys, the cottage families, and the out of towners looking for a cold beer and cheap burgers.” She sighed and made a face.
“Dani called in sick, so you might have to work some of those tables on your own.”
A nervous flutter made Faith’s stomach roll.
It must have been reflected on her face because Cassidy grinned.
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on you, and I think Hal managed to get one of the other servers to come in on his day off.
We’ll be fine.” She winked. “You’ll be fine, and you’ll be happy with your tips.
” She glanced over Faith’s shoulder. “Okay. Here come a group of four locals fresh off the greens. They’re nice guys so I’ll seat them in your section and drop off some menus while you set out the shakers and away we go! ”
It was nearly four in the afternoon, and as she dropped the small glass shakers on each table, she noted several more groups of people show up.
She now had two tables in her section. She could panic.
Or have a meltdown. But neither of those was an option.
Quite simply, she needed to work to make money so she could eat. So, Taco could eat.
Okay, she thought, pasting a smile to her face. I can do this.
The first table of men was easy. In their mid-to-late fifties, they’d enjoyed a family-free day on the golf course; three out of the four had played exceptionally well, one of whom had scored the coveted hole-in-one on the thirteenth.
The tab was on him. They were happy and more focused on discussing golf than paying any attention to Faith other than putting in their food and booze order.
“And a round of tequila shots,” hole-in-one man said as she moved away.
With a nod, Faith looked at her notes and, after three attempts, managed to input the order on the computer screen. After dropping drinks with her golf guys, she headed to the family of six. Before she knew it, the time was closing in on eight o’clock, and she was tired, famished, and wired.
There’d been a few bumps. She’d dropped a tray of drinks, but that was on account of a large man who’d turned without looking and nearly took Faith out as well.
It was slowing down food-wise, but the bar appeared lively. Aware that her neighbor, Gus, had been sitting at the far end for a few hours, she debated on whether she should say hello or not. Would it be weird if she ignored him? Would it be weird if she didn’t?
The man made her nervous, and she had no idea why. In fact, other than that first day when he’d brought her the goulash, she’d barely seen him.
“He’s yummy, isn’t he?” Cassidy was off the clock and undid her ponytail, then shook out the silken mane like she was the star of a damn shampoo commercial.
“He’s handsome.” It was the truth, no way around it.
“Handsome?” Cassidy giggled. “He’s more than handsome.
He’s so hot my lady parts have been singing halleluiah since he walked into the bar.
” She pretended to fan herself. “Seriously. Those eyes? That body and those tattoos? God, I love me a bad boy.” She winked at Faith.
“I think tonight’s the night to shoot my shot.
” She applied some gloss to her lips and made a beeline for the bar.
“Cassidy is too young for Gus. Too bright and shiny.” Samantha appeared from the kitchen.
“I don’t think she cares about that.”
“No,” Samantha replied, shaking her head. “You’re probably right.” She motioned toward the kitchen. “We’ll be turning off the grill soon. How does a burger sound?”
“Like heaven.”
“Clock out. Take a seat and order a drink. Taco is fine. Hal’s with him. I’ll be back with the best burger you’ve ever had.”
Faith freshened up, grabbed a soda from Dale, the bartender, then sat at a small table inside rather than out on the deck. It was quiet, and after a day that had nearly seen her run off of her feet, she needed the calm.
She traced her fingers across the condensation on the glass and sat back, eyes on the television above the inside bar.
Wildfire was wreaking havoc with a wealthy neighborhood in California, and things looked pretty grim.
Invested in the story, Faith leaned forward, an elbow on the table, chin resting in the palm of her hand.
It was heartbreaking to watch entire neighborhoods destroyed — families left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, some unable to get their pets to safety.
She was so engrossed that, at first, she didn’t notice the highlight running across the bottom of the screen. When she did, Faith could do nothing but stare at the words stupidly while they scrolled past.
“It’s just terrible, isn’t it?” Samantha set down a plate of food, and Faith forced herself to look away from the television and up at her new boss.
“Awful,” she managed. Her stomach had sunk to the floor.
“You okay? You don’t look so well. I hope your flu isn’t coming back for a second bite.”
“I’m fine.” Faith smiled, an automatic sort of thing, and reached for a fry. “Thank you.”
“All right then. Eat up and then we’ll get you cashed out.”
Mouth full of sawdust, Faith barely chewed the fry, afraid to look up at the screen. But she couldn’t ignore what she’d read and slowly lifted her gaze.
Breaking News. Michael Brooks has been assaulted in prison with undetermined injuries. The former CEO is awaiting trial in federal prison. This story is breaking. Check back for updates.
And there it was. Her family’s black mark was out there for the world to see.
Her sadness and shame were heavy, and she had to force that knot in her throat away.
Force thoughts of Michael and her mother away.
Two people she’d tried so hard to love. Two people who didn’t deserve it because, God, the crimes they committed had not only ruined lives but had resulted in two suicides.
Her stepfather, Michael Brooks, golden boy of the Bay Area and former chair of Inteli Corp, was awaiting trial for embezzlement, fraud, and other charges related to a scheme that saw thousands of employees lose their pensions and life savings.
Her mother was facing similar charges; from what she’d been told the woman had been complicit. They both deserved harsh sentences.
Slowly, Faith exhaled and tried her best to push away the dark thoughts. It did no good to dwell on the past because she couldn’t change anything.
The good thing about being hungry is that it opened up a hole that needed to be filled. So even though food was the last thing on her mind, Faith slowly ate everything on the plate because she had to. She needed to stay healthy. Her old life was officially over.
She finished the last of her soda, grabbed her glass, plate, and dirty utensils, then deposited them in the kitchen. Mike, the head cook was cleaning his grill and told her that Samantha was outside, where Faith found her behind the bar, chatting with Gus. Cassidy was nowhere in sight.
“You all full up?” Samantha asked when she spied Faith.
She nodded.
“Okay. I’ve just got to do this one thing and then we can head back to the office.
” Samantha walked back inside, leaving Faith alone with Gus.
He was nursing a beer and didn’t look like he wanted company, so she remained silent, feeling more than a little awkward standing in front of him.
She took a step back, her intention to leave, when he surprised her.
“I hear you did good on your first shift. It takes a lot to impress Samantha.” He tipped the bottle back and took a pull. “Hal on the other hand isn’t as picky.”
“Cassidy was great.”
“She’s something all right.” It didn’t exactly sound like a compliment.
“She’s a pretty girl.”
“No doubt about that.” Gus finished his beer, and for the first time, Faith thought that maybe he’d had too much to drink. She frowned. He’d been at the bar for hours now. Was that what he did? Spend his nights here drinking? It somehow didn’t fit.
“She’s going to give some man a lot of trouble one day. Just not me.”
Don’t ask. You don’t care.
“Why’s that exactly?”
Jesus, Faith. Keep your mouth shut.
He looked at her, those dark eyes of his soft in the low lights. Then he leaned over the bar. So close she could smell the woodsy scent that only he had. Count his thick eyelashes if she had the time.
Which she didn’t.
“She’s easy to read. Her wants and needs are written all over her face. Aside from the fact that she’s barely out of diapers I need more of a challenge.”
Faith didn’t know what to say to that, so she kept quiet.
“You okay?” he asked, studying her closely.
“Why is everyone asking me that?” The words shot out like bullets, and she took a moment, embarrassed. “I’m fine.” Cheeks burning, she glanced away. What the hell was wrong with her?
Samantha tapped her on the shoulder. “Let’s cash out.” Then nodded to Gus. “Why don’t you head upstairs and get Taco.”
Clearly confused, Gus frowned.