Chapter Four
The restaurant was busy on Friday night, but as usual there was plenty of waitstaff to keep everything running smoothly.
Savannah liked that about Taryn, who owned the place – she always scheduled more staff than she needed.
It made life so much easier for all of them.
They could take breaks, cover for each other, and didn’t need to cut corners just to keep up.
There wasn’t the same level of stress that Savannah was used to.
It made for a great atmosphere; there was lots of laughter.
Taryn was a good boss – tough, but fair.
As Savannah stood rolling cutlery in napkins – she wasn’t used to official breaks and liked to keep busy on hers – Taryn came to stand beside her.
“How’s it going?”
“Great, thanks.” She had no reason to feel nervous, but that didn’t stop her.
Taryn chuckled. “I thought we got along. I’m not as bad as they make me out to be, you know.”
“I don’t think you’re bad at all.”
“Why are you so nervous then?”
“I don’t know. I guess just because I’m not used to having a boss.”
Taryn cocked an eyebrow.
“I mean, sure, Alan who owns the diner was my boss, but he was hardly ever around. When I was on shift, I was in charge. And I did have a boss where I worked in the city, but he… wasn’t nice.”
“I’ve never been described as nice.”
“Maybe not, but you’re fair – and you care about your staff.”
Taryn nodded. “How would you feel about running an errand for me?”
“Sure. When?”
“Right now.”
Savannah checked her watch. “My break’s almost over; I’m back on in a few minutes.”
“I know, but this is more important. We have plenty of cover tonight.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Make a delivery for me.”
Savannah smiled. The restaurant didn’t do deliveries. It was more of an upscale kind of place. But there was one person for whom Taryn made an exception. “Harvey?”
“I need someone to deliver his dinner. Dom and Sadie are out with Damon and Jo tonight, so he’s home alone. I said I’d send him his favorite salmon when we were joking about not being invited along.”
“Oh, I bet he was thrilled with that. He loves the salmon.”
“And the sticky toffee pudding,” Taryn said with a smile. “You want to take it up there for me?”
“I’d love to, thanks.”
“It works well for everyone. I know he’ll be happy to see you – and you him. Julio should have it ready to go in a few. Want to hang here with me till it’s ready?”
Savannah chuckled. “You’re the boss.”
Taryn met her gaze. “I am, but it’s not an order.”
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t—”
“It’s okay. I just thought we could have a chat. You’ve been here a while now and you’re doing a great job, but we’ve never talked much.”
“No.”
“Stop looking so nervous. It’s not an interview or an interrogation. Well, maybe I’m being nosy – and you can tell me to butt out if you like.”
Savannah’s heart was pounding. She liked Taryn, but she hated it when people were nosy – they asked about her mom and her childhood and…
Taryn touched her arm. “I can tell by the look on your face that I shouldn’t even ask. It’s just that I’m close with Damon and Dom – they both worked here for a while. They’re friends. And Jake’s a good guy.”
Some of the tension left Savannah’s shoulders.
Taryn gave her an inquiring look. “You thought I was going to ask about something else, didn’t you? I thought you were all tense because I was sticking my nose into your love life. But you’re relieved that’s all I’m asking about, right?”
Savannah nodded – there was no point in denying it.
“Are you all right? Is there something going on that you need help with?”
That took her by surprise. “No; thanks, but I’m fine.” She met Taryn’s gaze. “Honestly, I thought you were going to ask about my background, and that’s not something I enjoy talking about, that’s all. Jake is a great guy.”
“He is, and just so we’re clear, you don’t ever have to worry about that – I’ll never ask.
We all have pages in the stories of our lives that we don’t want anyone else to read.
” She gave Savannah a wry smile. “I have entire chapters, so believe me, I get it.” Her smile faded.
“But if you have any unfinished business that comes back around to bite you on the ass, just know that you’re not alone.
You haven’t been here for long, and you don’t know me that well yet, but I consider you guys my family, okay? ”
“Thanks, Taryn. I appreciate that.”
“Don’t just appreciate it – accept that it’s true and act on it if ever you need to. You strike me as someone who can do it all by herself – because you’ve always had to.”
Savannah let out a short laugh, and Taryn pointed at her.
“That laugh? That tells me everything I need to know. So remember, if you go struggling by yourself in the future, I’ll be mad at you.” She softened her words with a smile, but Savannah knew she meant them.
One of the runners came to them with two insulated bags over his arm. “Julio said this is the delivery order.”
Taryn smiled at Savannah. “You sure you’re good to take them?”
“It’ll be my pleasure.”
When she arrived at Sadie and Dom’s place, she put her window down to tap in the code for the gate. As it swung open, she realized that anyone else would have had to press the buzzer and ask Harvey to let them in. She knew the code because she came over here so often.
Tiffany had been right when she said that Harvey, Sadie, and Josh were like family to her. Josh had stuck up for her at school when they were small, and his mom, Sadie, had gotten involved after she came to visit the house – Savannah shuddered at the memory.
Her mom had been watching one of her horror movies on TV, drunk or high on a mix of her pills and the cheap booze she always drank.
Sadie had come over, no doubt expecting to talk to just another mom from school.
She’d been concerned about what Josh had told her – about the way Savannah was being bullied.
Savannah pulled herself together and drove forward when the gate was fully open. That was the past. She didn’t need to relive it. Her mom was long gone. All that mattered now was that Sadie, Josh, and Harvey had become more like family to her than her own had ever been.
She parked in front of the garage and skirted the edge of the pool on her way to Harvey’s guest house around the back.
She’d been worried about him when he told her he was selling the nursery and garden center – that place had been his life for longer than she’d been alive.
But it had turned out to be a great move for him.
Sadie and Dom had invited him to live here with them.
And when their new house was built – down on the waterfront right next door to Damon and Jo – Harvey would move there with them, too.
He’d shown her the plans – he’d get a place of his own next to the pool again, and Dom had helped him design a greenhouse that was attached, with a door from his kitchen leading straight into it.
She loved that for him. She’d hated the idea that, after the nursery sold, he wouldn’t be able to pursue his passion anymore.
She wasn’t surprised to hear the TV blaring loudly as she approached the door. Nor was she surprised that, although there was no way he should have heard her coming, Harvey was there to greet her by the time she reached it.
“I had a feeling Taryn might send you with it.”
“I’m glad she did. I haven’t seen you in a little while. How are you doing?”
Harvey reached for the bag with a grin. “Not as good as I will be when I get that salmon.”
She handed the bags over with a laugh. “There you go. I won’t keep you – I’ll let you go enjoy your dinner.”
He reached out to grip her arm. “Aye, but we’ll catch up soon, you and me. You’re right; it’s been too long since we did. I enjoyed it when you were staying at my house.” He chuckled. “Even if I did have to throw myself down the stairs to get you there.”
“I enjoyed it too, you know that. And I miss you. But this is way better for you, isn’t it?
” She looked around. Sadie and Dom’s house was big and beautiful.
It sat up in the foothills, right at the top of the development at Four Mile Creek, with an amazing view of the lake.
It was only a rental, but the house they were building down by the water was going to be just as nice from what she could tell.
“It is. I fell on my feet here, and I don’t mind admitting it.
” His bushy eyebrows drew together. “How about you, though? You keep saying that you’re okay over there in town.
But I’ve seen that one you’re living with.
She’s a strange bird if you ask me – all them tattoos, and her hair’s a different color every time you see her.
” He shook his head. “And it’s never the color of hair. ”
“I’ve told you before, you’ll love her once you get to know her. I think the two of you might even have a lot in common – if you can get past the surface differences.”
“Maybe you’re right. But what matters is that you’re okay – are you?”
“I am, promise. I should get back to work, Harvey, and you should get your dinner while it’s still hot. How about we meet up for lunch or coffee or something soon?”
He made a face. “How about you come over here for coffee or lunch or something – that way we can have a good old chat and not worry about who’s listening.”
She laughed. “Sounds like a plan to me – I’d love that. And if you let me know what you want, I’ll pick it up from wherever on the way.”
“You’re a good ’un. And since you’re on the clock, I’ll wait till then to ask what’s going on with you and Jakey.”
Her gaze flew up to meet his, and his raspy laugh filled the air. “He hasn’t said nothing, so I’ll just have to see if I can get you to crack first.”
“What makes you think there’s anything to tell?”
“I’m old, not stupid, Savannah – you know that. And besides, Troy Landon told me how glad he was that you were there with Jake the other night.”