Chapter 38
CHAPTER 38
F lick’s words rolled around and around in Gemma’s mind. Considering the chat had just been a quick exchange in the kitchen while they topped up the drinks, there was a lot for her to unpack, although she was fairly sure she wanted to keep it zipped up, sealed tight, and with no possibility of spilling out.
No, the business wasn’t technically hers, but it was as good as. And as for the possibility of her losing it without any warning, that just wouldn’t happen. Oscar wouldn’t do that to her. Then again, she’d never thought Oscar would employ someone else as an executive manager and would not even bother to tell her. He was undoubtedly getting old, and perhaps that could change things a little, but the cafe wasn’t the reason she was still single. Was it? No. Absolutely not. Flick knew nothing about Gemma’s past relationships. The reason she was still single was because she understood her worth now, and she wouldn’t let some man try to take that from her. The blind date had been all the reassurance she needed; she was better off on her own. And she was happy that way. She didn’t need a man to complete her. Not when she had her friends and her job.
Still, as much as she wanted to push the thoughts away, Gemma was still thinking about Flick’s comments as she opened up the shop a week later. They kept doing that, jumping into her head at unsuspecting moments, but she was trying her hardest not to pay attention to them.
Especially today.
To most people, it was likely nothing more than a normal Wednesday. That mid-week hump that so many nine-to-fivers were desperate to get over. But for Gemma, it was more than that. Today her countdown had reached day forty. That was it. Forty days to go, and she would inform Oscar that the working relationship was over and Kent would need to find a new place to stride into each morning. It might not have been going down as quickly as she’d hoped, but it was going down, and that was what counted.
Gone were the days when she would pop into the kitchen for a ten-minute chat with George while he made her breakfast. She had taken to having a croissant instead, and when they came out of the oven, she stacked them in trays. That limited the time she had to spend with Kent. Although they weren’t nearly as filling as a sausage sandwich and sometimes she had two. As a lovely morning bonus, Kent had already baked the croissants and other pastries and put them out front for her, meaning she didn’t even need to see him to set up.
Less than two minutes after turning the sign on the door from closed to open, the first customers of the day walked in, although unusually, it wasn’t any of their locals. Instead, it was a family of four.
“Just take a seat, and I’ll bring the menus over to you,” Gemma said, moving to the end of the bench where they kept the stack of menus, only to stop. They were gone.
Sophie had locked up the day before, Gemma realised. She had wanted to run to the bank before it closed, and Sophie had been happy to stay and tidy up, particularly since Graham was there with her. Perhaps he was the one who had put the menus somewhere strange.
Gemma scoured behind the counter, where they kept the coffee cups and plates. Even in the boxes where they kept the napkins.
“Where are you?” she said, looking around her.
Five minutes in, and it was getting ridiculous. Adding to the issue, Mr Jordan had already taken his seat, too, and wanted his drink any minute.
Deciding that honesty was the best policy, Gemma headed over to the family
“Sorry, I’m having an issue locating the menus at the moment. I’m sure they’ll be in the kitchen. I’ll go find them now, but before I do, can I take any drink orders for you?”
The mother tilted her head to the side slightly.
“Sorry, I don’t understand. We’ve already ordered our drinks.”
“Gemma?”
Across the cafe, Mr Jordan waved at Gemma, trying to get her attention.
“Sorry?” Gemma said.
She was utterly confused. She had been behind the counter the entire time and definitely hadn’t taken their orders. Sophie wasn’t due in for another half an hour. Unless Kent had come out of the kitchen to take their order, she didn’t see how that could be possible without her noticing. Then again, maybe she had had her head in a box looking for the menus.
“You’ve already ordered your drinks?” she said.
“Yes, and our food.”
“Gemma?” Mr Jordan’s voice came again. “Sorry, when you get two minutes, could you help me, please, love?”
“Yes, coffee, of course,” Gemma said automatically, with a slight wave at Mr Jordan while still focusing on the new customers.
“I’m sorry, who took your order?” she said.
The woman’s frown deepened.
“Well, no one,” she said.
“No one?” Gemma was lost. They were batty. They had to be. Nothing they were saying made any sense at all.
“No,” the man said before tapping the table and a black and white square that appeared to be stuck to it. “We ordered on the app. The way it says to do here.”