Chapter 13 #2
“Pay is fifteen an hour and you get to keep your tips,” he repeated sternly, eyes hard. I held up my hands in surrender.
“Just seems like putting me on the books for two days work is a lot of, well, work. I really am happy to volunteer.”
Arlo smiled before he bent and opened a drawer. “It’s two forms you need to fill out and I can add it to the accounting software. Everybody who works for me gets paid a fair wage. People gotta live, you know?”
I expected nothing less from him. Arlo was an honest man. The forms were quick to fill out and Arlo set them aside to add to the system later. Then he stood and clapped his hand.
“Come on. Let me show you the POS system. It’s easy enough.
If you need help, Candice will be happy to help and I’ll be around of course.
Just don’t ask Ike. He’s a grumpy son of a bitch, but he makes excellent pub food.
” Arlo chuckled and shook his head. “Then you can pack your stuff and take it over to Harris’s.
Just be back by three-thirty. I’ll find you a shirt in the meantime. ”
With all the tourists in town, as soon as the doors of the Lantern opened, the place was hopping.
I was a little too slow for my liking, but I already knew the menu since I’d spent so much time here those first few days.
It was a happy atmosphere, and I was busy, but talking to all the customers was fun.
Most of them were just in town for the Winter Festival, and I heard more than one story about how they’d taken time off work to come during the week thinking it would be less busy, only to find out that plenty of others had had the same idea.
Barrett and Morgan came in just before the end of my shift.
I only had half an hour left to go, but I was almost sad about that.
I was really enjoying myself. Not that it wasn’t hard work, because it was.
But I had no idea I’d like this line of work.
It had never even crossed my mind. Back of the house, sure.
I’d liked learning about inventory and ordering.
But out here with all the people was something else entirely.
“Welcome to the Emerald Lantern. What can I start you off with?” I gave them both a cheeky smile and poised my pen over the little pad, making a show of it. Morgan rewarded me with a laugh, but Barrett just raised a brow.
“He really did put you to work, eh?” Barrett asked. He shook his head. “Be careful, or Arlo just might keep you.”
I doubted that, but I laughed along. They both ordered beer and the house burger, which was piled high with onion strings as well as cheese and bacon.
It was a quick few taps to the computer, now that I had the table numbers down and I didn’t have to double check all the time.
Candice caught my attention as I was ready to skirt away to check on my tables.
“That’s for Morg and Bear. I saw them come in and they always order the same thing.”
“Thanks.” I put the two pint glasses on a small tray, dodged a toddler, and served my friends with a flourish. “Burgers should be up in a few.”
Barrett was staring at my face. “You good?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“You look a little flushed.”
I waved that away. “I’m working here. Of course I’m flushed. But hey, I’m good.”
He nodded. That was all he needed to hear. I checked on the tables as I made my way back toward the kitchen, refilled some drinks, and then grabbed the food that came up and delivered that. Then it was back around again, chatting and checking, making sure every patron had what they needed.
“I’m here, I’m here,” a voice said behind me and I turned to see a college age guy with blue hair and a pub T-shirt, tying on an apron. “I snuck out early. You’ve been filling in?”
I stuck out my hand. “Yep. I’m Tyler.”
“Jake.” He shook my hand. “Okay, anything I need to know before I take over?”
“Table twenty-one sent back their app twice before they were happy with it and they’re about three beers deep at this point.” I searched the floor. “Oh, and table fourteen has a gluten allergy. They already have their food, but just in case.”
He stared at me for a second and then his lips curled into a grin. “Thanks! That’s good info. Do you know how to transfer the tables?”
I shook my head and whoa, that made me dizzy for a second. I breathed deeply and it dissipated immediately. Okay, I was good. “Show me.”
Jake motioned me over to the POS and he explained what he was doing as he touched the screen.
Now it would register me as done, and anything further would be under his name.
That was good. Not that I didn’t trust the kid, or more importantly, Arlo, but it was important everything was on the up and up.
That taken care of, I was officially off the clock. And Harris would be waiting for me at home. His house I meant. It wasn’t home. Right? Right. Okay. Maybe I should let him know I was free and I was on my way. Yeah, that sounded like a good idea.
I pulled out my phone and startled to see the alert. I hadn’t heard it. Had I silenced it? No, no. That didn’t seem like me. But my blood sugar was sixty-five and double arrows down. That was bad. But I didn’t feel low. Did I? Not shaky. Not cranky. Head foggy? Maybe?
“Candice. Hey, Candice? I need a soda.”
She glanced up. “One sec.”
I nodded and leaned on the bar. I should have put my pump into activity mode. Then it would have compensated for the exercise I was getting. I’d been on my feet, running back and forth, for the past two hours. That would have been smarter. Why didn’t I think of that?
“Candice?” I tried to call her. I really needed that soda.
“Hey, man, are you okay?”
I turned to the man sitting on the stool at the end of the bar. I stared at him, trying to remember what he asked me. I checked my phone and it was down to fifty and still falling. Was it still two arrows or was I seeing double? No, not yet. I just needed the sugar.
“I got you,” Barrett suddenly said, his voice in my ear. “Candice, honey, give me that soda please.”
“Sugar is low,” I said stupidly. Barrett held the glass in front of me, straw pointed at my mouth. It was a direct order without words, and I followed the directive.
“Yeah, I see that. Drink the whole thing. You’ll feel better in a minute.” Barrett helped me stand up straighter. “Love, get me a chair.”
Morgan was suddenly there too, and he slid a chair underneath me so I sat. I sucked air and Barrett pulled the glass away. He studied me for a few seconds.
“Need another one?”
“Let’s see what this one does.”
He nodded and stepped back. It took a couple of minutes, but I was already starting to feel better. When Arlo hurried over, I groaned.
“Ah, hell. I’m sorry man. This was my fault. I swear, I can do the job. Don’t fire me.”
Arlo barked out a laugh, then crouched down so he could see my face. “Didn’t know how much exercise you’d be getting eh?”
I laughed too, but it sounded weak. “I won’t make the mistake again.”
“I know you won’t.” Arlo patted my cheek and stood. He raised his voice so he could be heard, but it was in that moment that I realized the whole pub was quiet. “Everything’s fine. Just a small medical issue. Thanks for your patience.”
“Can you walk? Maybe it’s best if we move this to Arlo’s office.” Barrett cupped the back of my neck.
I nodded and stood, steady enough. Fortunately for me, though everyone was going back to their meals and conversations, they were still looking at me. While I didn’t like the stares, it made the walk of shame easier since everyone got out of the way.
I hadn’t had a low like that since the early days. Not one that snuck up on me so fast and hit me so hard. I’d forgotten what it felt like. I would be much more careful in the future.