Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Aria
I sla had really saved the day. Ava and Layla joined us after the lunch hour, and the four of us sat down to a big plate of fries and iced tea. It was always such a bonus to have my sisters nearby when I was feeling down. I’d convinced myself that a busy breakfast and lunch rush would wipe away the pain I was feeling from this morning. All of it still weighed heavy on my mind. I still felt it through my entire body.
My sisters were good not to bring up the subject.
Layla dipped a fry in ketchup. “Ella said there were some scary men down on the beach last night. So creepy.” She turned to me. “What were they looking for?”
“I’m not sure it’s my place to say.”
Layla sat up straighter and gave me a head tilt. “Seriously? You don’t live in the cottage, remember? What if they wander up the path and start knocking on the glass door?” She shivered once. “Remember that time we thought there was a murderer down on the beach?”
Ava laughed. “That was on you, Layla. You told everyone you saw a man with an ax propped on his shoulder.”
“How was I to know it was only a beach umbrella? The light hit it just right, and he was kind of hunched and grizzled looking. Like that troll you used to tell us was living down in the basement.”
Isla turned to me. “Some of that was on you—you and your troll friend. What was his name?”
I laughed. “Jasper, and he had a penchant for Oreo cookies.” I thought back to those stormy nights, usually when I was particularly fed up with my four younger sisters, and I convinced them a grizzled, old troll lived in our cellar. They’d huddle together and stand in front of the cellar door with Nonna’s wooden spoons and ladles. Nonna would frown at me, but she’d let me continue with the stories, I think because she knew sometimes being the oldest was hard.
“Right, Jasper.” Layla shivered again. “Well, I’m not sure if our wooden spoons will do the trick if those guys find their way to the cottage.”
“Hopefully, they’ve exhausted the search down on the beach,” I said. “Still, maybe I should come sleep on the couch for a few nights.”
“There’s no way to sleep on that couch,” Layla said. “I’ve tried many times whenever El is burning the midnight oil working on her book. We’ll be fine. Ava’s home now.”
“Well, then I guess you don’t need your big sister after all.”
Isla poured herself another glass of tea from the pitcher. “Luke is going out of town for business, so I’ll be home, too.” Isla covered a yawn. “Oh my gosh, I hadn’t expected to work today. I’ve been up since three in the morning. I’m going home to sleep.”
“I appreciate it so much, Isla.” I hugged her. “I don’t think I could have done it without you today.”
“Ava and I walked here, so we’re going to ride home with you, Isla. It’s getting cold and cloudy out, and I only wore a sweatshirt.”
Layla was right. The day had started with a thin fog that cleared the way for a bright blue sky. A heavy layer of rain clouds had settled over the town. It almost looked dark outside the café windows.
“You better hurry home, too,” Isla said to me. “Looks like a downpour is on the way.”
“Just have some things to finish, then I’ll head out.”
Isla took hold of my hand and gave it a sisterly squeeze. “Terrible couch or not, maybe you should come spend the night. We could make popcorn and watch Friends for the millionth time.”
“Thanks, La, but I think I’ll head home after work, curl up on the couch and get lost in a book. I wouldn’t be great company tonight.”
My sisters walked out as I returned to the kitchen. There were still a few things to finish before I could go home for the night. I filled a bucket with sanitizing solution so I could wipe down the work counter and appliances. I heard the front door open and close. I’d forgotten to lock up after my sisters.
I put down the bucket. “I’m sorry. We’re closed for the day.” My words trailed off and ended with a gasp. It was the two men who’d scared me back up to the cottage the night before. They were easy to recognize with their swaggering movements and sneering grins.
The big one wore a leather coat and had a deep scar on his jaw. His friend was slighter in stature, but his small eyes were set deep beneath a mean scowl.
“Well, look here, Jack, the mermaid owns the café.”
Jack’s nostrils flared as he looked me up and down. “We’re hungry.”
“I’m sorry. It’s after hours. There are a few restaurants a couple miles up the highway. You can’t miss them.” I spoke lightly as if these were just regular ole customers who walked in too late to be served. But there was nothing regular about them. And they ignored everything I said.
“The door was open.” The big one walked to a table, yanked the chair out, sat down and stretched out his long legs. His big, heavy boots looked like they could kick someone’s head clear off their shoulders. Jack circled around and pulled out a chair.
“I didn’t get a chance to lock it. The stove and oven have been shut down.” I tried to sound sure of myself, but my insides were churning like a smoothie in a blender.
The big one stared up at me with a look that sent a chill through me. “Then start ‘em back up. And bring us some menus.” I worked hard to keep my posture upright and confident. The last thing I wanted was for them to think I was afraid. I walked behind the counter where I’d left my phone. They were watching every step I made, so I had to be quick. I sent off a brief text that said, “need u,” slipped the phone into my pocket and grabbed two menus. I dropped them in front of the men.
“We’ll take some cola on ice,” the big one said. “Jack, follow her to the kitchen to make sure she doesn’t pull any funny business.”
Jack unfolded his long, lanky frame from the chair. He had a long, sharp nose that jutted out over a thin mouth. Strands of long, greasy hair hung down over his forehead. The panels of his leather jacket parted, exposing a knife tucked into a leather sheath on his belt. “Let’s go,” he said.
It was hard to steady my hands as I filled two glasses with ice and cola. “Two double cheeseburgers and fries,” the big one said as he tossed the menus at me.
“The fryer is shut down, and the oil is cool. It’ll take thirty minutes to heat it.”
He looked out the window. The rain was starting to fall. “We’ve got time to wait. The weather isn’t cooperating anymore today.”
I walked to the kitchen, and Jack’s boots smacked the floor behind me. He stopped in the doorway to the kitchen and started looking at his phone, all the while keeping one of his beady eyes on me. I pulled four burger patties out of the bin in the refrigerator and carried them out to the stove.
“I like mine rare and Isaac likes ‘em medium. Got that?” he asked angrily.
I turned on the grill and started up the fryer. It felt as if my legs were moving through tar, and it was hard to catch a decent breath. I opened the bread box, and two rolls fell out and dropped to the floor. If creepy Jack hadn’t been standing right there, I would have dragged those rolls around the floor a few times before putting them on plates. But he watched with his ugly sneer to make sure I pulled new ones from the box.
“I don’t want sesame seeds,” he said.
“That’s all I’ve got.”
“Then scrape them off. I don’t like ‘em.”
I felt nauseous as I dropped the meat on the grill. I had a rack of sharp knives, but I couldn’t see any scenario where I pulled one free to protect myself against two men who were also armed with knives. My best bet was to prepare their meal and hope they ate fast and left without a problem.
“Hey, Ice, you gonna want pickles?” Jack’s loud voice startled me, and I dropped the spatula.
His lip lifted on one side. “You sure are clumsy.”
I walked to the drawer and got a new spatula.
“We both want pickles and onion. You know what? Make that grilled onions.”
With each new request, my resolve to stay strong dissolved. I pulled out the onions I’d cut for tomorrow and dropped some onto the hot grill.
“What about the fries?” he asked.
“I told you the oil has to heat.”
“Well, if those burgers get done before the fries, then you’ll have to start ‘em again.”
I’d tried to remain stoic and strong, but I could feel myself falling apart with each of their demands. I blinked back tears as I lowered the heat on the grill and raised the heat on the deep fryer. I had no idea how this would turn out.
I would never forgive myself for not locking the door after my sisters left.