by Lena Gregory
“Does that mean I’m hired?”
“Absolutely.”
“Awesome.”
She took another bite. “The hash is amazing. What’s your secret?”
“I mix mashed potatoes with the corned beef instead of diced, then fry it until the edges are brown and crispy.” He grinned. “Makes all the difference in the world.”
“It certainly does,” she agreed. “We start at five tomorrow morning.”
“Well, that shouldn’t be too hard. Especially if I only have to walk down the stairs to get to work.”
“Um…” Oh, what the heck? It couldn’t hurt to have someone in the apartment. No sense letting it sit empty when she could be getting an income, especially when she had no clue if any customers would even show up the next day. At least his rent would cover a portion of the mortgage payment. Besides, someone staying upstairs might deter any more break-ins. She smiled and extended a hand. “Then you shouldn’t have any trouble making it on time.”
Chapter 12
Gia eyed the growing pile of garbage against the back door. Taking home one bag made sense, sort of, but dragging several bags, most containing food remnants, through the café and tossing them in her trunk was insanity. It was going to have to go in the dumpster. “Would you do me a favor, Mark?”
“Sure. What do you need?”
“Could you please put the garbage out?” So she was a chicken. She’d get over it. Eventually. Probably.
He studied her for a moment, an intensity in his eyes she hadn’t noticed before, then smiled. “Of course.”
Had she imagined the brief moment where she felt as if he was staring through her? Did he know about the body they’d found out there? “That will be part of your job each day, to keep up with getting the garbage out back.”
“No problem.” He opened the back door a crack and gathered the bags in both hands.
“Oh, and I will add today’s work to your pay check. You did a great job, thank you.”
His cheeks flushed. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
Careful to keep her gaze averted when he opened the back door, Gia headed toward the front of the café. She’d still have to put the last of the food away, but that wouldn’t take long. She may as well show her new tenant to his apartment and get out of there. Thor had already been alone for half an hour longer than she’d intended.
She grabbed her key ring from her bag just as Mark emerged from the back. She resisted the urge to ask if everything went okay. Wouldn’t want him to think she was completely off her rocker. “Ready?”
“Yup.”
She locked the café, rounded the side of the building, unlocked the door and held it open for Mark to precede her, then followed him up the steep stairway. “It’s not much.”
“That’s okay. I don’t need much.”
They emerged in the small living room, the sight of the threadbare couch she’d spent too many nights on bringing an instant kink to her neck. “There’s not much furniture, but you’re welcome to use what’s here if you want. If not, I can have someone put it out back before you move in.”
“That’s okay, thank you. I’ll use what’s here for now. Once I get my stuff moved in, I’ll haul this out back for you.” He walked through the kitchen and bathroom and poked his head into the tiny bedroom. Though the apartment was not roomy, it was immaculately clean. “It’s perfect. I’ll take it.”
“Great.” They agreed on an amount, and he promised to bring the first month’s rent and the security deposit the following morning when he arrived for work. “Do I need to sign a lease or anything?”
She really had no idea how it worked, so she’d have to add talking to someone about it to her growing to-do list. If she didn’t start writing more of the list down, she’d never remember any of it. Of course, she couldn’t remember where she’d put the list she had started to write. “I’ll find out, but for now, you’re welcome to stay until I do.”
Maybe it was better not to have a lease. Then, if he didn’t work out, she could just ask him to leave.
“Sounds great. Thank you.”
“Sure.” She unhooked a key from her ring and handed it to him. “That’s the key to the apartment door.”
“What about the café? Won’t I need a key to open?”
The apartment held nothing of value. At worst, she could just change the locks. No way was she handing the café key over to a stranger. She and Savannah were the only two people who held keys, and Gia intended to keep it that way. “I don’t have a spare key to the shop, but I’ll be there to open.”
“No worries.” He smiled. “You’ll learn to trust me. Just give it time.”
She smiled back but didn’t acknowledge the comment. Whether or not she’d ever learn to trust anyone other than Savannah was questionable. “I’m going to go down and finish up, but you’re welcome to look around if you want. Just lock up when you leave. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bright and early. Thank you, again, for everything.”
“You’re very welcome.” She left him standing in the apartment and headed back to the café. Everything had already been cleaned up, so all she had to do was put away the food they’d finished last. She set aside one breakfast pie to bring home for her dinner, then wrapped the rest and put them in the refrigerator.
Remembering her promise to Harley, she cut a large piece of pie, slid it into a foam tray, then put it in a paper bag with plastic utensils and napkins. She wrote Harley’s name across the bag with a thick black marker, filled a large foam cup with sweet tea and set it on the counter beside the bag. Then she stared at the back door. If she was going to fulfill her promise, she’d have to open the back door. Okay. She could do this.
She unlocked the door, grabbed Harley’s dinner, and started to push the door open. If she just cracked it a bit, she could shove the food out there without ever looking in the direction of the dumpster. But she’d left Harley’s bag on the ground last time, and it didn’t sit well with her. And he hadn’t taken it.
She stared at the storage closet. She’d already been in and out of it several times that day, but Mark had been there. Somehow, it seemed a bit less intimidating when she wasn’t alone. She reached in and turned on the light, then scanned the room from the doorway. When her gaze fell on the folded card table they’d used as a makeshift desk shoved into the farthest corner of the walk-in closet, she cringed. Of course, it was as far into the suddenly enormous closet as it could get.
Resigned, she strode straight to it without looking at anything else, dragged it out of its corner, and high tailed it out of there. She extended the table’s legs and, without so much as a glance in the direction of the dumpster, she opened the back door, held it open with her foot, and maneuvered the table through. She quickly added a folding chair, then set the food and tea in the center of the table and let the door fall shut with a loud crack. Done. She could only hope Harley remembered she’d said she’d leave him dinner. She grabbed the bag holding her dinner and headed for the door. Time to go home to her puppy. Things were definitely looking up.
* * * *
True to his promise, Earl stood outside on the sidewalk gazing at the last remnants of the sunrise when Gia opened for business at six the next morning.
“Good morning, Earl.” She held the door for him and led him to what she hoped would become his usual seat at the counter. She’d put his order slip up for Mark to start as soon as she’d seen him waiting outside, so she poured him a cup of coffee. “I’m glad you came back this morning.”
When she set the coffee mug down in front of him, he patted her hand. “Of course, dear. I form my opinions about people from their actions not idle gossip. And I don’t see a mean bone in your body.”
“You’re such a sweetheart. Thank you.”
“Any time, dear, any time.”
Bradley’s murd
er and the subsequent investigation were the last things she wanted to talk about, so she changed the subject. “So, how’s Heddie?”
Earl stared into his mug without answering.
Had she gotten his wife’s name wrong? She was sure he’d said Heddie, and she’d concentrated on remembering small details about Earl, hoping he’d become a regular customer. She’d developed a knack for picking out regulars when she’d worked at the deli, those who would come in every morning, linger, and have a conversation, even if only about the weather.
Earl cleared his throat, and when he finally spoke, his voice had turned huskier. “My Heddie… She’s been gone near on five years now.”
“Oh, Earl, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize…”
“I know. It’s okay, dear. Heddie spent most of our marriage complaining about how I ate. Only breakfast, mind you. I don’t eat lunch, and I eat a healthy dinner. That was my concession when she got upset over my breakfast.” His smile held only sadness. “When we were first married, Heddie used to enjoy a nice big breakfast with me. Then, when we had our first child, she stopped. Said she wanted to live to see her baby grow up. By the time he and our other children grew up, she wanted to live to see her grandbabies.”
He paused and ran a finger around the rim of his mug.
Gia leaned her elbows on the counter and waited, giving him time to collect himself.
“Funny, don’t ya think, that a heart attack took her.” He shook his head, staring hard into his mug. “Anyway, when she first passed, I tried to eat breakfast at home, but I couldn’t enjoy it. I would envision her…hear her voice in my head. It just seemed so unfair that I was still here. You know?”
Gia nodded.
“So, I returned to my normal routine of going out each morning. It felt better that way. More normal.”
“Did Heddie get to see her grandchildren?”
Earl sat up straighter, and this time his smile was genuine. “Why, yes she did. Thirteen grandbabies. Quite a legacy that woman left behind.”
“You have thirteen grandchildren?”
“It’s fifteen now. Two more additions in the past five years.”
“How many kids do you have?”
“Six. My Heddie raised five, hard-headed, feisty boys, bless her heart, before she finally got her baby girl.”
Six kids? Wow. She couldn’t even imagine having six kids. Savannah came from a big family too. She couldn’t help but wonder if Hunt expected to have a lot of kids. She wanted kids, even though Bradley hadn’t, but six? Shocked by the direction her thoughts had wandered, Gia jerked back.
“Now. Enough talk about that.” His eyes gleamed with mischief. Had he read her mind? “Y’all got grits this morning?”
“You bet I do.” Thanks to Mark. But no need to divulge that. A girl had to have some secrets.
“And if you don’t mind, you could throw a bit of those home fries on the side. They weren’t half bad.” He winked and sipped his coffee.
Her heart soared. “You got it. I’ll be right back.”
Since she’d put the order slip up as soon as she’d seen Earl waiting outside, Mark should have had it done by now. No plates sat on the cutout counter between the kitchen and dining room. She peeked into the kitchen. Mark was nowhere to be found. Nothing was cooking, and the order slip still hung in its place above the grill. “Mark?”
Silence.
“Mark?” she called a little louder. Maybe she was destined to do all the cooking. If this was a repeat of Maybelle, he was so out of there.
“I’m right here.” He emerged from the storage closet with a pen and order pad in hand. “Everything else is done, so I started going through your supplies to see what we’ll need to order this week.”
She just stared at him.
“I…uh… I’m sorry. I just though—”
“Where is the breakfast order I put up?”
“Oh, right, sorry,” he continued, his words flying out as he walked. He tossed the pad onto a counter. “I saw you two talking, and it seemed pretty intense, and I didn’t want the gentleman’s food to get cold, so I put it in the oven to keep it warm.”
Eggs and milk had been written in neat print. He’d started another word, but she couldn’t figure out what it could be.
He grabbed a pot holder, yanked a covered dish from the oven, and handed it to her, pot holder and all, then followed her toward the dining room. “Sorry. I hope that was all right. I left the order slip up, because I didn’t know where to put it. You obviously had it stashed somewhere, since you had it up before he even came in.”
“It’s fine. I’m sorry. I’m just a little…” A little what? She’d already been open more than half an hour, and so far, Earl was her only customer. “Could you please grab a side of home fries, too?”
He eyed the thin man sitting at the end of the counter for a second, then turned and walked away.
She set the food in front of Earl. “Enjoy.”
She moved away but kept an eye on him in her peripheral vision until he tasted the grits. She’d tasted them earlier and wasn’t a huge fan. Gritty, salty, and loaded with butter. Though Mark had assured her they were delicious with milk and brown sugar, she still had her doubts. Maybe it was an acquired taste.
Earl stuffed a forkful into his mouth and sighed. “Now that’s breakfast.”
Willow rushed in, then stopped short and glanced at the clock. “Uh… Good morning.”
“Morning.”
She gestured around the empty dining room. “Sooo…”
“Yeah. Not much happening this morning.”
“You know what? People probably didn’t realize you were open again. Maybe you could run a breakfast special over the weekend. Advertise it on a chalk board out front or something.”
“That’s a great idea, Willow.” She perked up a little. She had a sneaking suspicion she had no customers because people thought more like Maybelle, but she’d give it a try. She’d known it would be hard to make a name for herself in the small town, but she hadn’t expected it to be quite this hard. Maybe Willow was right. She’d get a sign and set it up out front advertising the weekend’s specials. And maybe Mark’s signature hash and eggs. Thanks to Mark giving her the rent and security for the apartment that morning, she’d be able to pay him and Willow for about two weeks. If she couldn’t increase business by then, she’d have to let one of them go.
The front door opened and Hunt walked in, laying his hand on a woman’s back as he ushered her in. A very pretty woman with short, blond hair and a killer smile.
Hunt kissed Gia’s cheek. “Hi there. How’s it going?”
“Okay, I guess.” Not that he’d indicated any interest in Gia, but she’d kind of thought maybe he hung around more than necessary because he liked her. Now she realized he was just a nice guy who took his job seriously. And that’s all she was. A job. And Savannah’s friend. Family almost. Great. Maybe he viewed her like a cousin. She sighed. “Been better.”
He rubbed his hand up and down her arm. A very friendly gesture. “Don’t worry. Things’ll pick up again.”
She nodded.
He indicated the woman standing next to him. “Gia, this is Sonny.”
Of course. “Hi, Sonny. It’s nice to meet you.” She shook her hand without even squeezing too hard. Okay, maybe a little hard. “Would you like a table?”
With the way her day was going so far, she’d be lucky if she got through it without another body turning up. She wouldn’t be heading out to the dumpster any time soon, just in case.
Chapter 13
Savannah came in a few minutes later, saving Gia from any more conversation with Sonny and her big blue eyes, framed by thick lashes. And a happy disposition to top it all off.
“Hey.” Savannah waved a hello to Hunt and Sonny, then hugged Gia and sat at the counter. “What’s going on? Y
ou look a little cranky.”
Leave it to Savannah to cut right to the chase.
“Nah. Just a little slower than I’d hoped.”
“How many customers have you had so far?”
“What’s here now and Earl.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
“It’ll pick up. You’ll see. Just give it time.”
Her hopes started to lift when the door opened again, but fell flat when Maybelle walked in with a tall, stocky man at her side.
“What does she want?” Gia couldn’t help it. Something about that woman rubbed her the wrong way.
Savannah turned. When she spotted Maybelle, her posture stiffened. “Well, bless her heart.”
When Earl had said bless her heart about Heddie, the sentiment had been so sincere and heart-felt. When Savannah used the same expression, it sounded more like…well…something else entirely.
Savannah plastered on a fake smile, stood, and squared her shoulders. “Hello, Maybelle. What can I help you with?”
She ignored Savannah and spoke directly to Gia. “Just come to pick up my pay for yesterday.”
She had to be kidding. The woman had barely done a thing.
Maybelle gestured toward the hulk of a man standing next to her, his jaw clenched. “Hank didn’t want me meetin’ up with no killer by myself.”
Gia had had just about enough of this woman. “Look, M—”
“Come now, Maybelle.” Savannah’s southern accent thickened, sweetening the bitterness of her words. “You know you have to work before you can get paid, and you were about as useful as a steering wheel on a mule.”
“Don’t make no difference. I worked, and I deserve to get paid.”
“Worked?” Savannah simply tilted her head and fluttered her lashes.
Hank looked down at the woman Gia assumed was his wife. “What’s she talkin’ about?”
“Nothin’.”
Hunt came up beside Savannah and slung an arm around her shoulder. “Problem here?”
