8. Chapter 8
Chapter eight
“It’s a real possibility.”
Wes tossed the pizza dough into the air, causing a dusting of flour to filter down onto his arms. He caught it, spun it, then tossed it again. Abe came up beside him. “Don’t look now, because you’ll probably drop the dough on the floor, but the wicked ex is keeping a close eye on you tonight.”
Wes dropped the dough onto a pan, pressed the warm, stretchy dough to the edges, then slid it toward Abe. “Perhaps she’s just interested in the art of tossing dough.”
“Yeah, that’s probably it.”
“And…don’t call her that.”
“Got it.”
The restaurant was completely full, with more people waiting outside for takeout orders. Gentry picked up three large pizza boxes. “A little less talking and a little more filling orders.”
Abe saluted. “Yes, sir, boss.” He nudged Wes. “Our brother turns into a drill sergeant when it gets busy like this.” He wiped his forehead with a towel. “I’m ready to switch jobs. I’m about to melt into a puddle of…I don’t know. Something unpleasant.”
Wes looked out at the crowd. “Has it ever been busy like this?”
“Hmm. I guess not.” He checked the bins on the prep counter. “I need to refill the pepperoni. Keep that dough coming.”
“The walk-in will cool you off a little.”
Abe headed for the walk-in, and Cassandra came up to the counter in front of Wes. “You’ve obviously worked here before.”
“On and off. When they get desperate, they call me.”
“The students are sure enjoying seeing you back there.”
“It was your idea.”
“I have a good one once in a while.”
The room was buzzing with the sounds of various conversations, and Wes had to speak loudly to be heard over them. “You seem to be holding your own out there.”
“I’m having fun. Hectic, a little confusing, but fun. I haven’t dropped, spilled, or delivered the wrong pizza.”
Maggie came up with two orders. “Two more with pepperoni.” She handed Wes the order tickets. “I’m so glad we limited it to two kinds of pizza.”
Wes glanced at Cassandra. “Yeah. It saved us.” He looked at the customers again. “But I never expected this kind of turnout.”
“It’s crazy.”
Cassandra smiled. “I guess I’ll get back to it.”
Bailey was sitting at one of the tables with some friends. Wes hadn’t had any more meetings with her, and he hadn’t spoken with Cassandra again about her daughter’s college choices. But Bailey was smiling and talking with her mother, so all must be well in the Jordan household.
Wes picked up another ball of dough and flattened it, then began stretching it. Three of the varsity football players came up to the counter. “Hey, Mr. B. Looking good back there.”
“Good evening, boys. Have you ordered a pizza yet?”
“No, sir. But we’re about to. We’re going to squeeze in over there with the cheerleaders.”
“Are they aware of that plan?”
“Yes, sir. They invited us.”
“You better get over there before they change their minds. A couple of basketball players just walked in.”
“Oh, damn.” He nudged his friend. “Can we see you throw the dough up in the air?”
Wes smiled. “Here we go.” He tossed the dough, and they cheered.
“Do it again.”
Wes tossed the dough again. “Go on now and order your pizza before we run out.”
“Are you going to run out?”
“It’s highly possible.”
They rushed off to sit at the table with six cheerleaders. The girls all doubled up on three chairs to make room for them.
Cassandra came over to Wes again. “That looks like trouble.”
“They claim they were invited.”
She watched the girls laughing. “They seem pretty happy with the situation.”
Gentry came up to them. “Where the hell is Abe?”
“He’s in the walk-in.”
“Will you go check the oven while I go drag his ass out of there?”
“Sure.” He looked at Cassandra. “Oven duty.”
“Don’t melt.”
“It’s a real possibility.”
The fundraiser was set to run from 4:00 to 8:00, and by 7:30, Wes, Abe, and Gentry were ready for it to be over. It seemed Maggie, Theresa, and Cassandra felt the same way. They were taking orders with a smile, but Wes could tell they were ready for the night to end as well.
Abe had taken over with the dough, and Wes was manning the oven. After rearranging the pizzas, he went to Abe.
“Holy shit.”
“Right? Crazy, man.”
“I think any kid that wants to go to senior camp is going to be able to go.”
“I think you’re right. We probably did alright, too. Even though we were prepared to just break even.”
“Thanks for doing this.”
“Anytime, brother. Or, you know, once a year.”
“Got it.”
Gentry came up to them. “I think we all earned a beer or two after we get this place shut down.”
Abe smiled. “Or three or four.” When Wes raised an eyebrow, Abe laughed. “Just kidding. I don’t do that anymore.”
The final customers left by 8:30, and Maggie locked the door, then leaned against it, and they all took a moment to appreciate the quiet. “We made it.”
Cassandra laughed. “I was beginning to wonder if we would.” She looked at Wes. “You look exhausted.”
“Right back at you, Doctor.” He swiped the back of his hand across his damp forehead. “I think I’ll go stand in the walk-in for a moment.”
Gentry rubbed his hands together. “Let’s get this place cleaned up, then the beer is on Rocco’s.”
Abe shook his head. “The beer is always on Rocco’s.”
“Go make us a giant order of breadsticks, then scrape down the oven.”
“Oh boy, my favorite thing to do.”
Gentry called after Wes as he headed for the walk-in. “Can you clean up the prep station?”
“I’m on it. Just give me a minute.”
Cassandra, Maggie, and Theresa began cleaning the dining area. As Cassandra was wiping down a table, Maggie came up to her. “Seems like you and Wes have come to an understanding.”
“If you mean we’re getting along, then yes. I guess we have. He’s still not happy with the thought of me going to camp, though.”
“Maybe. It seems like a good opportunity to me.”
Cassandra smiled. “For what?”
“It will either make you closer or ruin your ability to work together.”
“Wow.”
“Sorry. I don’t know Wes as well as I know Gentry and Abe, but I’ve spent a fair amount of time with him. He’s a good guy. A fair guy. And the kids at school love him.”
“I know all of that.”
“I don’t suppose you want to fill me in on the details of your sordid past? Abe was too young to really notice what was happening.”
“I really don’t. But you have tamed the wild Buchanan brother. How did that happen?”
“I’m not sure tame is the word to describe Abe. And I also can’t really take credit for it. Kai is the reason Abe has settled down a bit and is making better life choices.”
“His son?”
“Yes.”
“He seems happy.”
“He is. My extremely sexy, happy soon-to-be husband.”
“When’s that happening?”
“The beginning of November. Our house is almost done, and we want to get married there with just the family and a few close friends.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
“I think you should come.”
“Hmm. I’m not family or a close friend.”
“It’s my wedding. I get to decide who is a friend and who isn’t.”
“I don’t want to ruin it for Wes.”
Maggie put a hand on her arm. “Just keep it in mind. In the meantime, maybe you and I can become better friends.”
Cassandra shook her head. “Then I’ll be obligated to come to the wedding.”
“Exactly.”
By the time the men came out of the kitchen, Maggie, Cassandra, and Theresa had swept and mopped the floors, wiped the tables, and filled the shakers and napkin holders. The smell of cooking pizza had been replaced by the lemon scent of the floor cleaner.
Wes looked around the clean restaurant. “You’d never know there were a few hundred people through here over the last several hours.”
Gentry went to the beer cooler. “Who wants a beer?”
Theresa held up a hand. “I appreciate the offer, and I’m tempted, but I’ve got three kids at home waiting to be tucked in.”
Abe nudged Gentry. “So does he, but he’s having one.”
“I can’t, really. But thank you so much for making this happen. I don’t know how much we raised tonight, but it was a lot.”
“Glad to help.” Gentry walked her to the door and unlocked it.
Cassandra looked at Wes. “Um…”
“You’re welcome to stay.”
“Then I’ll stay. But one is my limit. I’ve got a child at home, too.”
Abe and Wes pulled the chairs off one of the large tables, and they all sat down as Gentry brought a six-pack and the breadsticks to the table.
Abe opened his beer and held it up. “To a very successful night.”
Cassandra tapped his bottle. “Thank you all.” She turned to Wes and tapped his bottle. “Senior camp, here we come.”
He took a drink. “Shared showers and all.” He realized what he had said, and choked on the beer as it went down. “Um…bathroom. Shared bathroom.”
Abe laughed. “Okay, brother. We’re going to want to hear all about camp when you get back.”
“Shut up.”
Maggie smiled at Cassandra. “Sounds like a fun week.”
“Yes. Wes, myself, Coach Porter, and four former students, who will get college credit for helping us out.”
“How many students?”
“If the whole class goes, then forty-seven.”
“That’s a pretty good ratio.”
Wes took a sip of beer. “They are a good group of kids. It’s going to be great.”
Abe put a hand on Wes’ shoulder. “Better you than me, brother. I have my hands full with one two-year-old.”
Wes looked at Maggie. “You may not know this, but Abe was the only student in the twenty-two-year history of senior camp to get sent home.”
Maggie turned to Abe. “Really. I’d like to hear that story.”
Abe shook his head. “No, you don’t.”
“Oh, but I do.”
Wes laughed. “Dad was busy, and I had to go pick him up.”
Cassandra looked at Abe. “What did you do to get sent home?”
“Wes is enjoying this. Let him tell the story.”
“Abe thought it would be hilarious to screw the door to the girls’ shower closed while it was occupied.”
Maggie shoved Abe. “You didn’t.”
“I’m afraid I did. There were only six girls in there.”
“The rest of the camp was in the mess hall eating, so no one heard them banging on the door. Fortunately, their friends noticed they were missing from breakfast, and an hour later I was driving to camp to pick him up.”
Abe leaned back in his chair. “I shouldn’t have been sent home for that. It was no big deal.”
Cassandra laughed. “It was probably a big deal to those girls.”
He grinned. “Roxie still won’t talk to me. Whenever I go to the hardware store, she gets someone else to help me at the register.”
Maggie shook her head. “No wonder she looks at me weird when I go in there. She’s probably wondering what the hell I’m doing with you.”
Abe put his arm around her. “It’s because you love me.”
“You’re right, I do.”
“So Roxie can just—”
Gentry held up a hand. “Okay. It was thirteen years ago.”
“She’s the one holding a grudge.”
Maggie kissed him. “Finish your beer, my love. We need to go pick up Kai, so your mom can go to bed.”
Abe drained his bottle. “I’m ready.” They both stood. “Goodnight, Wes and Cassandra.” He turned to Gentry. “Have a good day off tomorrow. Maggie, Lucia, and I have things covered.”
“It should be slow. Everyone in town had pizza tonight.”
“That’s fine. I like slow.” They headed for the door. “Do you want to come lock this behind us?”
Gentry stood. “No. I’m going home, too. I want to see the boys before they go to bed.” He turned to Wes. “Stay as late as you want, just lock the door behind you when you leave.”
“Will do.” Gentry left, and Wes picked up the last breadstick. “Do you want this?”
“No, go ahead.”
“I’ll share it.”
“It’s fine. I’ve had enough.” Cassandra took a sip of beer. They were quiet for a few minutes. Then she looked at him. “Okay, this is awkward.”
“Slightly.”
“Should we leave?”
“After I finish my breadstick.”
She pushed her unfinished beer aside. “If you really don’t want me to go to camp, I won’t.”
“It’s fine.” He chewed a bite of breadstick. “I’ve gotten used to the idea.”
“I think it’s going to be fun, right?”
“Yeah. It’s a lot of work, but always fun.”
“I think you’re starting to get used to having me around.”
Wes wiped his mouth with a napkin, then tossed it onto the empty pizza pan. “You could be right.”
“That probably pisses you off.”
Wes laughed. “A little bit, yeah.”
“Are you ever going to be able to forgive me?”
“Hmm. I’m not sure. Forgive, maybe. Trust…that’s a whole other thing.”