Chapter 4 #2
“Yes, Boss!” came the reply from a squeaky voice inside the kitchen.
Jack looked back at me and smiled warmly. “Cheer up, dear. You know what they say.” He smiled wider. “When a door closes, another opens.”
I smiled half-heartedly.
I wanted to believe him. I really did. But right then, all I could feel was the sting of the one that had just slammed into my face.
While waiting for the food, I wondered about this restaurant.
There were several restaurants along the waterfront, and they seemed to be doing quite well.
Except for this one.
The last time I came here, I had not seen anyone.
The same was true now.
The restaurant's location was fantastic, set right by the water. The food prices were reasonable, and the food was quite delicious.
The restaurant itself, however, needed a significant boost.
The tired old establishment had dark furniture and lighting that could blind someone.
It was a large space with an indoor and outdoor area and a fully stocked bar.
Two pool tables stood in one corner at the back.
The bones were there, but everything about the place felt neglected, as though it had once been cared for and then simply… left behind.
“Here you go, dear.” Jack laid the food in front of me. “Eat up!”
Thanking him, I realized how famished I actually was.
I took the first bite of the seabass.
I was in heaven.
The sauce was delectable, and the flavours and spices tickled my taste buds.
It was rich, balanced, and comforting. The mashed potatoes were creamy, the vegetables perfectly cooked, and the whole plate tasted like something that should have had a waiting list attached to it.
I ate every last bite and sighed with pleasure.
After finishing, I asked Jack if I could speak to the chef.
A young man in his mid-twenties came bouncing out of the kitchen.
“This is William,” Jack said. “William, this is Jiya.”
“Jiya Flores,” I said, realizing that I had never told him my full name before. “Nice to meet you.” I shook William’s hand. “The seabass was scrumptious. The sauce was different and complemented the mashed potatoes and vegetables. You are an amazing chef.”
William turned red. “Thanks!” His blue eyes twinkled. “If only we had more customers.” He sighed and ran his hand through his black hair. “I created the menu when I got this job. Unfortunately, we don’t get many people who taste it.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said, nodding slightly.
I truly was. A talent going to waste with no one to appreciate it.
The one-page menu he had created had attention-grabbing titles like Wasabi Prawns, Drums of Heaven, Creamed Spinach Stuffed Salmon, Death by Chocolate, and Italian Dance.
I found myself wondering how this restaurant survived.
Were there only two people working here? Jack and William? What about the other servers? Or a bartender? Was Jack all three combined—server, bartender, and ma?tre d’?
After thanking them again, I paid the bill and walked out of the restaurant.
Along the waterfront down the road, I strolled toward my favourite place that I had discovered shortly after moving to the village. The rhythmic sound of water lapped against the docks, calming some of the turmoil swirling inside me.
When I reached the end, I stepped onto the dock.
It was a solitary place tucked away from the noise of the village.
I had brought Lucas here on several occasions to watch the boats along the harbour and admire the colours of the sunset that were never the same twice.
Each evening, the sky painted something different across the horizon, and Lucas had loved pointing out the shapes in the clouds and the reflections dancing on the water.
The place had quickly become one of our favourite spots.
Standing there now, I wrapped my arms around myself and looked out at the harbour.
This place reminded me a little of the spot where Caleb had taken me in Vancouver when we went to feed the geese for the first time. The memory surfaced so suddenly that it made a knot twist beneath my ribs.
The stillness of the water and the scenic landscape beyond brought vivid memories rushing back.
Memories of the two of us together.
It felt like another lifetime.
Every time I came here, those precious moments resurfaced, and no matter how much I tried to bury them, they clung stubbornly to the edges of my heart.
I blinked rapidly, forcing the tears back before they could fall.
I had cried enough over Caleb and everything that had happened between us.
I refused to let those memories weaken me now.
A breeze rippled through my hair, carrying the scent of salt from the sea.
Seagulls screeched overhead, circling lazily in the sky.
In the distance, several fishing boats sat quietly in the harbour, waiting for the evening tide before heading out to collect a fresh supply of seafood for the restaurants along the waterfront.
I watched them carefully.
Something stirred in the back of my mind.
My thoughts drifted back to the restaurant.
The empty tables. The incredible food. William’s disappointed expression when he said they barely had customers.
My heart began beating faster as the pieces slowly started to connect.
That restaurant had potential. A lot of it.
The more I thought about it, the clearer the idea became.
I could see it. I could fix it. My years of experience in hospitality surged forward like a spark being lit.
Marketing strategies, operational restructuring, menu presentation, customer experience, staffing, branding—the possibilities began flooding my mind faster than I could organize them.
Suddenly, the crushing weight of being fired no longer felt like the end of the world.
Instead, it felt like something else entirely.
A chance.
Energy rushed through me so quickly that I bounced slightly from foot to foot, unable to stay still.
Jack was right.
When a door closes… another definitely opens.
And maybe, just maybe… this one had been waiting for me all along.