Chapter 15
Grace
I sat staring out the front windows of the office, barely even seeing the street beyond, replaying The Kiss with Michael.
That’s how I thought of it, The Kiss, as if it were a momentous event in history or notable moment in time, because, in my life, it was.
That fact was a little sad, a little pathetic, but then again, it had been some kiss.
And Michael said he’d been waiting for it for a long time.
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that – how long was a long time? – but I was more than ready to make sure he didn’t have to wait as long for the next one.
The one I’d left him with no doubt that I wanted. My cheeks heated just thinking about it.
Not that his schedule was making it easy. It had been nine days since I’d seen him. Jamey and Kendrick had decided to go ahead and hire another cook for the pub but until they had someone in place, they were all running themselves ragged.
Mercy popped around the corner from her office and caught me daydreaming.
“I know that look,” she said, eyes gleaming. “Please tell me my favorite cousin is the cause. I promise I won’t say anything to him.”
“It’s...” I hesitated, then thought oh what the hell. Mercy was the closest thing I had to a female friend. Who else could I tell? “Yes, your favorite cousin is the cause.”
“Yes!” Mercy held her hand up for a high-five, which I gave her while shaking my head at her enthusiasm. “You two are perfect for each other.”
I laughed, still shaking my head. “Slow down, Mercy. We’re barely anything just yet.”
Michael hadn’t even mentioned The Kiss in his texts and neither had I. Maybe I’d imagined the whole thing.
Then again, no. My imagination was not that vivid.
“You’re good friends,” Mercy shot back, “and that’s a great start.”
She was right. Michael and I were good friends, good friends who kissed. And yes, that was a great start.
“Fair enough,” I conceded.
“Speaking of Michael, I have something I want to talk with you about. Not about Michael, exactly, but about the pub. Do you have time to have lunch with me?”
I was mystified. What could this be about?
“You’re the boss,” I reminded her. “If you say I have time, I have time.”
“Perfect.” Mercy headed back in the direction of her office. “I’ll grab my bag and we can go now before places get crazy crowded.”
Ten minutes and a short walk later, we were settling into a booth at Romano’s, a family-owned Italian restaurant a few blocks from the office.
Once we ordered, Mercy got right down to business.
“You know how busy they’ve been at Brothers Pub.”
I nodded, although she hadn’t phrased it as a question. “Michael says it’s been nearly nonstop for weeks.”
“Right. I was talking with Jo and Ellie the other day and they said their business from the pub is up by nearly 50%, especially for special events.”
Jo and Ellie were the girlfriends of Kendrick and his twin brother, Cal, respectively. Ellie was also the younger sister of Dante, who was Kendrick, Cal, and Jamey’s friend since childhood. Together, Jo and Ellie owned Celebration Cakes, a specialty cake shop that supplied special occasion cakes for individuals and corporate events, as well as supplying signature cake flight desserts for the pub.
Celebration Cakes leased space from Baron Properties for their production kitchen and a tasting room.
“Anyway, I’m sure Michael told you the pub is hiring another cook. It looks like Jo and Ellie will be hiring a baker, too. I’m well aware that you planned to go back to work at the pub when you moved back here before you were gracious enough to agree to help me out. I don’t want to lose you, but Jamey and Kendrick or Jo and Ellie would be ecstatic to have you. If you truly want to be in the kitchen, like I know Michael does, I don’t want to hold you back from either opportunity.”
I sat back, trying to take in everything Mercy had said. “That’s...uh...”
“I know this is out of the blue. Believe me, I’m not in any way trying to get rid of you. You’re the best assistant I’ve ever had, and I’d like to talk about making our arrangement permanent if you decide you don’t want to go back to cooking. But if that is what you want, I don’t want to keep you from it. And don’t worry about the apartment. I want you to stay there no matter what you decide.”
I blinked at Mercy, knowing I had to look like a deer in the headlights. I certainly felt like one.
“I’m not sure what to say. Like you said, I had planned to go back to the pub, and I liked working there. But I like working with you, too.” Mercy was quiet, giving me space to sort through the jumbled thoughts rolling around in my head. “Cooking is something I fell into. The work was available, and I learned how to do it and...” I shrugged, leaving the rest unsaid. “It’s hard work and it’s satisfying. But the work I’m doing with you...” I fiddled with my iced tea as I searched for the words I wanted. “I feel like I’m learning something new all the time. And like there’s so much more still to learn. I like all the detail, and learning the process, and all the terminology, and...” I stopped at the smile on Mercy’s face. “I appreciate that you’d be alright with me going to the pub or Celebration Cakes if that’s what I wanted, but I’d like to keep working with you.”
Mercy held up her hand for another high-five as she had earlier.
“Twice in one day you’ve given me the answer I wanted to hear. I’d probably have cried if you said you wanted to leave so thanks for sparing us both that embarrassment.”
I had to laugh. It was hard for me to picture Mercy Baron crying over anything, much less me taking another job. Still, I played along.
“Just remember this at performance evaluation time.”
Mercy nodded as the server arrived with our food. “Duly noted.”
We chatted about other things as we ate. It was as we were walking back to the office that I remembered an errand I’d intended to run at lunch.
“Oh, shoot. Oh, well.” I could do it tomorrow.
“Want to share?” Mercy questioned.
“I just remembered I was going to run to the DMV today. I need to renew my driver’s license. My birthday’s coming up and it’s going to expire.”
“When’s your birthday?”
“In about a week and half.” I told her the date, which was a couple of Mondays away.
“Go ahead and go. There’s nothing urgent that needs to be done today, right?”
I thought over my to do list for the day. “No, it can all wait.”
“That works fine, then. I’ll be out of the office most of this afternoon, anyway. You go get that taken care of and I’ll lock the office up when I leave.”
Happy to be able to get it over with, I agreed. When we got to the corner by my apartment, I split off one way and Mercy split off the other.
I stopped up in my apartment for the car keys, then headed for the DMV office. I took care of what I needed to there, leaving with a brand-new license sporting the typically awful photo of me, then made a stop at the grocery since I was out anyway.
I was scanning over the loose apples, looking for a few to add to my basket, when I caught myself humming.
In the middle of the produce section. Humming.
I glanced around hoping no one had heard me. What the heck?
Then it occurred to me.
I was happy. Truly happy, for the first time in, well...a long time.
In the back of my mind was the fact that Ellis had somehow tracked me down in Bluelake Springs. It wasn’t that I’d forgotten or was ignoring it. I just felt strong enough and safe enough to face him down if he showed up here.
Like I’d promised Michael, I wasn’t going anywhere. I had a great apartment, a great job with a great boss, and a great guy friend who was an even better kisser.
And we hadn’t even gotten down to serious kissing business yet.
I fought the urge to fan myself as I thought about what “serious kissing business” with Michael might be like.
Then laughed at myself for thinking dirty thoughts amongst the apples and avocadoes and strawberries.
When I got back to my apartment, I put away the groceries, started a load of laundry in the stackable washer/dryer that was one of my favorite things about the apartment, then checked the time.
It wasn’t quite happy hour rush yet. I plopped in my chair and did one of my favorite things – texted Michael.
Me: How’s your day?
I put down my phone and picked up my book knowing he probably wouldn’t be able to text back right away. A few minutes later my phone buzzed, and fizzy bubbles exploded in my chest knowing it was Michael.
Michael: Better now. You?
Me: Good. Mercy let me take off early to go to the DMV, then I stopped at the grocery store.
Michael: Wow, you know how to have a good time.
I grinned as I tapped out my response.
Me: It’s true. Some of us have all the fun.
Michael: I’ll say. Everybody knows a trip to the DMV is a laugh a minute.
Me: Not sure about that but it wasn’t as bad as I remembered. Is the pub busy?
My text went unanswered for several minutes, which was an answer in itself.
Michael: Sorry. Yeah, it’s getting there. The apps buffet we’re trying out during happy hour is saving our asses right now, but I swear these people eat like locusts. If I never see another stuffed mushroom or spring roll again it will be too soon.
I laughed, then felt bad.
Me: When I was working at Barney’s it was the funnel cakes. What diner serves funnel cakes as a dessert? Barney’s does. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat a funnel cake again.
Michael: And that is tragic. Can I call you later if I get a few minutes? It might be late.
Like I’d say no to that?
Me: Of course. Late is okay.
Michael: Hopefully I get a chance. Thanks for texting me.
Me: You’re welcome. Talk to you later.
Michael sent back a “fingers crossed” emoji. As I set my phone aside and picked up my book again, I revised my thought from earlier. Any contact with Michael was my favorite but talking to him won out over texting him and being with him was the best of all.
There didn’t seem to be any hope for that in my immediate future, so I’d be happy with whatever I could get.