Second Chances in Lavender Bay (The Lavender Bay Chronicles #3)

3. Chapter Two

Chapter Two

A ngie circled the occupied tables in the café. There were six people in line at the counter and only two vacant tables. A couple stood from their seats and waved goodbye to her. She waved back and said, “See you soon.” As soon as they were out the door, she grabbed the bottle of disinfectant, a cloth, and a bus box and headed for it. She cleared the dirty dishes and sprayed the table, wiping it down.

Erica manned the cash register. She was a dark-haired, ponytailed, middle-aged mom of six who looked perpetually tired. Another table emptied and Angie repeated her actions: clear it of the dirty dishes and wipe it down.

She carried the bus box through the butler door and back to the room behind the kitchen where all the ware was washed. Jordan Bilewski, her most recent hire, was a college student who picked up shifts on the days he didn’t have class. He nodded when he saw her and unburdened her of the box. She returned to the main area; there was no longer a line at the counter, and everything was under control. Melissa was in the kitchen, making the next round of baked goods with Iris.

She retreated to her small office at the back of the café, although she preferred to be out in the kitchen or behind the counter or walking around the tables, chatting with the customers. Usually by the end of the day, she was ready to crash into bed feeling a good tired, the kind that comes from doing hard work. At her desk, she leaned forward and glanced at the schedule to see who was working what shifts for the rest of the week. Her phone beeped with an incoming text. She glanced at it and frowned. A reminder from the radiology center about her mammogram appointment the following day. The joys of turning forty. She made a note to cancel before the day was out. She didn’t have time for that. She returned her attention to a few invoices piled on her desk, deciding she’d pay them off before she did anything else.

Her work was interrupted by the arrival of her cousin Esther.

“Knock, knock,” Esther said, rapping on the doorframe. Before Angie could even say hello, Esther parked herself in the chair across from Angie’s desk.

“Wow, you’ve cut your hair really short,” Angie said.

“Yeah.” Esther brushed her hand through her new pixie cut. Her dark hair was now liberally streaked with blond. It was a different look altogether for her, but it was becoming.

“I like it,” Angie said. Her own strawberry blonde hair fell just below her shoulders, but she always wore it in a sensible ponytail.

“It’s so much easier. Wash and wear and all that. I can’t be bothered with styling or drying. It takes up too much time.”

The thought was slightly tempting to Angie. It would definitely make life easier. She dreaded hair wash day. Her hair was thick, and it took forever to saturate it with water and then rinse all the shampoo and conditioner out of it. She looked at her cousin’s stylish pixie again. It was worth a thought. She tucked it away for future consideration.

Without preamble, Esther said, “Before I get to the point of my visit, did you know they’re going to allow food trucks down at the beach?”

Angie nodded. “I saw it. I’m on my way down there later this afternoon to fill out an application.”

“Good. With that out of the way, I’ll get to the reason for my visit. I’m in a jam, and I need a huge favor.”

“Sure, anything.”

“I’m short a bowler for Saturday night.”

Angie cringed. “Anything but that.” Her sisters Maureen and Nadine had been roped in to joining Esther’s team. Her cousin, now in her mid-forties, was the oldest of all of them and had been telling everyone what to do since they were kids.

“Do you know I even tried DeeDee?” Esther said with a laugh, referring to Angie’s younger sister who lived in Florida. “Offered to fly her round trip if she’d bowl with us on Saturday night.”

Angie’s mouth opened slightly. Esther was off the wall. “What did she say?”

“I don’t know. She hung up on me.” Esther laughed so hard her shoulders shook.

“What is it with you and bowling?”

“I love it!” Her enthusiasm for the sport was unmatched. Esther turned serious. “You know, your sisters seem to be enjoying themselves. And Nadine’s bowling has improved.”

“In only a few weeks?” Angie shook her head. “I’ve heard the stories that she was a terrible bowler in school.”

“True,” Esther agreed. “But she has improved: she’s gone from terrible to bad.”

Angie laughed. “You’re so bad.”

Esther held out her hands, grinning as if to say What can I do?

“Is there anything I can do to change your mind?” Esther asked.

Angie shook her head. She wished she could help her cousin out, but not by bowling. “Even if I were inclined to bowl—and I’m not—I’m too busy.”

“I know. It’s your anthem.”

Angie tilted her head and narrowed her eyes at her cousin.

Esther kept talking. “Work is your life.”

Angie was quick to counter that. “But it’s not work if you love it.”

Esther opened up her mouth and then abruptly closed it, finally saying, “I got nothing.”

Without even realizing she was going to say it, Angie blurted, “Melissa wants to do more creative things around here, bake her own desserts.”

Esther frowned. “And the problem is?”

“I do the baking,” Angie said, realizing as she said it that she sounded like an eight-year-old.

“Come on,” Esther said. “Let her do some of it. Make your employee happy.”

When Angie didn’t say anything, Esther said, “It’s no secret that she did some training as a pastry chef. To be honest, I’m surprised she hasn’t gone off and either worked for someone else or opened up her own business.”

Angie felt herself pale. She hadn’t thought about that. Melissa would be well able to open and run her own café.

Esther continued, ignoring Angie’s rising ire. “She has talents that are not being employed here.”

Angie pressed her lips together to avoid venting her spleen.

“I’m certainly not one to give managerial advice,” Esther said, “but wouldn’t it be best if you maximized your employees’ potential?”

Angie had thought she was a good boss, but maybe not.

As an aside, Esther added, “I could never be a boss. I’d make it mandatory that my employees join my bowling team.”

“Can I ask you a question?” Angie asked.

“Are you going to ask if you can join my bowling team?” Esther quipped.

“No, I’m not,” Angie said firmly. It was time to get her cousin off that particular subject. Esther was a remote worker, and Angie didn’t know how she did it. Out of curiosity, she asked, “Do you like working from home?”

Eyes bright, Esther said, “I love it!”

“Why?”

“Because all my stuff is there. Speaking of which, I’ve got to get back to work.” Esther hopped out of the chair, said goodbye, and was gone.

Angie stared after her cousin, shaking her head.