by Jean Oram
She cleared her throat. "I could never compete with you, Benny."
He grinned. "That's right you couldn't."
She shifted uncomfortably. "But I was thinking if I somehow complemented your menu, there might be room for another restaurant in town."
Benny quirked his head and Mandy leaned forward, not quite sure where her courage was coming from, but she knew he'd hear her out without judgment or taking a bazooka to her flowering bud of a dream. "I think there is a lack of healthy food alternatives in town," she said.
Benny groaned. "Not this again."
"Benny," Mandy said impatiently. "Blueberry Springs has changed from when you first opened up. I'm not talking about things people don't know and can't pronounce. Just simple stuff. The cities have pita and wrap places now." She gave a one-shoulder shrug. "You know? Healthy fast food."
"And?"
"And...I don't have what I need or know how to start something like that." She sighed. "But I really think it could work here."
Benny sat in silence for a moment. "Maybe you need to think smaller."
"Smaller?" She frowned at him. Being a waitress was smaller. She needed to think bigger.
"What about a side business to get your feet wet? You could do it while waitressing."
"I did play with the idea of offering sandwiches for Jen's outdoor adventures," she admitted. "Like mini-catering or something."
Benny let out a chuckle. "Don't sound so enthused."
"Making a few lunches isn't really..."
"Big enough?" Benny offered. "Gratifying? Consistent enough? Lucrative?"
"Yeah."
"Well." Benny tilted his head to the side and pursed his lips in thought. "If you decide to go that route, make sure you charge enough to make it worth your time. But maybe you should consider buying into one of those ready-made businesses instead. Those things are a business in a box. Everything is laid out, there's training, brand recognition, marketing, everything. All you need is start-up cash and a place to set up shop."
"That's what Frankie was saying. They're really expensive though."
Benny gave her a look that made her feel bad for not talking to him first. "I'm sorry, Benny. I didn't..." She lifted her shoulders and tried to figure out what to say that would make it okay.
"Well, whatever you decide, make sure you give me at least two weeks' notice before you go." He stood and walked her to his office door, his enthusiasm fading. "Your shoes are going to be mighty big ones to fill."
"Thanks, Benny." She gave him a quick hug, grateful and guilty all at once. "For everything." She gave his beefy arms a squeeze.
"Fly away, little birdie," he chuckled. "And if you need anything—anything at all—you know where to find me."
* * *
Mandy crashed onto Frankie's couch and draped an arm over her eyes. It felt as if her whole life had been turned upside down and given a good shake this week. It was as though she was at a crossroads in high winds and without a map. But it didn't matter which way she went: she'd never be able to return.
Heart's nose nudged her in the ribs and she patted his head, avoiding the tennis ball she knew he'd be offering. The dog, giving up, slumped down with a thud onto the floor.
As the clink of ice cubes against glass moved closer, she held out her hand; a cold, damp glass slipped into her grip.
"Thanks, Frankie." She eased herself into a sitting position and let the vanilla spiced whiskey and Coke cool her throat. "Perfect." Why did Frankie's drinks taste so much better than her own? "You should have become a bartender."
Frankie folded himself into the armchair kitty-corner to her and sipped his own drink. "So the smell of skunk is finally gone?"
She leaned deep into the couch's cushions, smoothing her uniform's shirt. "I think so."
She propped her feet on the coffee table, letting her socks brush against Frankie's feet to absorb his warmth. She gave them a friendly tap with her own. The vibe in the air made her feel as though they might actually be friends again. Him believing she was accepting his building had somehow put things right again.
Frankie let out a hacking cough, his eyes watering as he sat up to clear his chest.
"God, your cough sounds awful." She watched him hack with alarm. "You should see a doctor." She took a large swallow of her drink and checked her watch, perching herself on the edge of her couch. "Or get some rest."
"I'm fine. Just tired."
"I'll go so you can get some sleep." She took another big swallow of Coke and whiskey. It was a good thing she'd walked over.
"No, stay." He leaned back in his chair. "Tell me about your day. After I creamed you in the meadow, of course." He gave her a pleased wink.
She shrugged, not settling back into her spot until the color slowly returned to Frankie's cheeks. "Same as ever."
"Benny hear the rumors?"
She nodded, trying to ease her way back into a comfortable position, but unable to find one.
"What'd he say?" Frankie prompted.
She waved a hand through the air, dismissing the conversation.
"Did you get fired?" Frankie asked.
She scowled. "No!"
"Well, I would have let you go. A subversive employee learning the ropes only so she can secretly go out on her own and take you down..." Frankie tsked and sipped his drink.
Mandy whipped a cushion at him. He caught it deftly and tossed it back, messing up her hair as it flew by. "Hey! My drink!" she said, holding it up out of harm's way.
Frankie held up his own in protest.
"You're such a punk." She tried to hide her smile behind her glass.
"So? When are you opening your own place?"
"I'm not." She shifted, unsure why Benny had all but pushed her out the door.
"Sure you are. You lost the bet."
Mandy glowered at him.
"What?" he asked. "Are you...chicken?"
Mandy let out a long-suffering sigh and rolled her eyes. "Frankie..."
"What, Little Miss Yellow Belly?"
"Have you ever even thought of how much work it would be? How much skill someone would need? Knowledge." She began ticking things off on her fingers, careful not to tilt her glass over too far. "Money, time, experience, management know-how, staff... Plus, Blueberry Springs already has a diner, a restaurant, and two fast food places. Where would I fit in? What if me adding one more place meant someone else had to close their doors? That would be even better than being the one responsible for you falling off the tower."
Frankie rubbed his chin and watched her. "Did I ever tell you how sexy your polyester uniform looks on you? Especially when you're slightly pissed off." He tapped the base of his neck, while gazing at the same spot on her, which was exposed by her uniform. "Your chest gets kind of red and—"
She whipped another cushion at him, hitting his arm and sloshing his drink over his t-shirt.
"Hey!" He gave her a look that indicated her actions had been completely uncalled for.
"Why do I even bother trying to talk to you?" She clunked her heavy-bottomed glass on the table and stood.
"Aw, Mandy, come on. I was just teasing. You're over-thinking this whole thing. Panicking at the idea of change when it's what you want." He met her at the end of the coffee table and slung an arm around her shoulders, drawing her in, sending shivers across her body. "You've got what it takes. Jump in and see where it takes you."
"Right. Just throw my savings into the wind and see what happens. Great business plan."
"Look." Frankie pulled her into a hug, his breath warm in her hair. "You've always said it's in your late twenties when everything comes together and a person really gets to shine. But maybe sometimes things need a little nudge. Maybe you have to step out of your comfort zone and take the first step so the world knows it's your time and it can step up and help."
Mandy sighed and eased out of his embrace, her fingers lingering on his chest a little longer than necessary. He must have been secretly working out becaus
e his chest was firm in a new way that made her want to run her hands down to check out his abs as well. Instead, she took a big step back and flopped onto the couch. Frankie sat beside her, his knee resting against hers. She stared at the denim, refusing to think about how his body heat was traveling up her leg and what it would feel like to be fully wrapped in his warmth.
"Start with something easy like a franchise. Those things pop up like they were sneezed out by a restaurant-creating giant. They've got to be designed so any idiot could run one."
"Gee, thanks." She gave him a shove.
"That's not what I meant," he said with a grin.
"Well, giant-sneeze-goobers are out of the running—I already checked. Expensive." Mandy pulled a magazine off the coffee table and flipped through a few pages of souped-up trucks. A letter tucked between the pages fell out and she skimmed it as Frankie's body tensed beside her. "What's this?" she asked.
Frankie crossed his arms and tried to act casual. "An offer."
"Well, I know that!" She shook her head at the television show's letterhead. "This is big time. When do you go?"
Frankie took a large gulp of his drink.
"What?" Mandy asked, her voice low. "You're going to say no?"
"It's too much work," Frankie said offhandedly.
"You thrive on too much work."
"I don't have time."
"You make time for something like this." She nudged her knee against his, wanting to push him physically as well as verbally. She flicked the letter. "They're asking you to remake a Mercury Roadster. You'd be on an episode of Roadster!"
"I know."
"You can't pass this up! You've wanted to work on one of these for as long as I've known you and the exposure and money would be phenomenal. You'd be able to do your restorations full-time."
"I know."
"Well, then what?"
He shrugged.
"I'll take care of Heart, if that's what's stopping you."
Frankie ran a hand through his hair and let out a long breath.
"You have the skills, Frankie."
He nodded.
She leaned forward to scratch Heart's ears and to hide the emotions suddenly storming through her. Why was she so intent on him going away for weeks—heck, according to this letter, up to months—on end when in her heart, she was freaked out that he'd hook up with the busty Roadster hostess and never come home?
She looked at her chipped fingernail polish and sighed. She supposed she couldn't expect him to stay single forever just because she wanted him to. Besides, the busty gal would likely be cool with Mandy and Frankie being friends. Gorgeous TV stars didn't get their panties in a knot over small-town waitress friends.
"I didn't think you'd feel so strongly about it," Frankie said, gently rubbing her back.
"I just don't get it. Why are you saying no to something that could be really good for you?" she said, turning to face him.
Frankie's body became very still—as still as the air between them. "You don't do the things I think would be good for you," he said.
Mandy picked at the nail polish on her left thumb. "We're talking about you, not me, you big chicken."
"Well, if you want to be the woman I know you want to be, this is your shot. Take some friggin' money from me and fix up that damn building and be happy. See that sometimes taking a goddamn risk leads to something really fucking good in your life." He poked her chest with a finger.
She rubbed the spot he'd poked and frowned, cheeks burning. "I won't take that kind of risk with your money, Frankie."
"What? I'm not good enough?" He thrust his shoulders forward. "You have to do everything on your own?"
"Look." Her hands clenched into tight bundles by her side. "I'm not willing to ruin our friendship. I'll happily be a waitress forever if it means keeping you as a friend. I'd rather do anything than hurt you."
"Too late on that one," he muttered.
Mandy's eyelids flicked closed and she fought for control. "Frankie..."
"Why won't you accept my help, Mandy? Why won't you accept me?"
"Because—" she opened her eyes and gripped his face, staring him in the eye, needing him to understand "—you're the one thing I can't afford to lose."
Chapter 6
She'd show him who was chicken. She wasn't going to turn out like Gloria. She could totally accept help. He just couldn't see it because he had his own case of chickenitis. She'd do this new career thing. She was woman, hear her roar, dammit.
Taking a side street, she marched up to her friend Jen's rickety three-storey apartment building, a former rooming house. Jogging up the outside stairs, she knocked on Jen's door.
"Who is it?" Jen called through the door.
"Mandy." She blinked and made sure her eyes were dry and waited for the door to open. And it didn't. "Um, can I come in?"
"I'm in my PJs."
"So? I'm in my hideous uniform and have had a rather stiff drink, followed by a fight with Frankie. So who the hell cares? Well, unless your jammies are a thong and a see-through t-shirt. No offense, but I really don't want to see that."
The door unlocked and swung open a few inches, Jen's round face shooting her a wary glance. "What?"
"For Christ's sake, do you have a man in there or something?"
"No!" Jen opened the door further.
Mandy rolled her eyes. "You're still such a city transplant. Who locks their doors or asks who it is before opening?" Mandy strode past her friend. "Okay. Idea." She clapped her hands and spun to face Jen again. She paused and raised her eyebrows at Jen's short Tweetie Bird nightie. Jen put her hands on her hips, daring Mandy to say something. But Mandy wasn't about to mess with the strong gal. Even if she was wearing something she probably should've given up around her eleventh birthday.
"So you know how you've started doing those excursions out into the wilderness with Wally's sports shop?"
Jen nodded. "Um, yeah."
"Food is a problem, right?"
Jen gave her a frown. "You mean, like, keeping it from the bears?"
"No, I mean getting some in the first place. Healthy food." Mandy rubbed her forehead. That whiskey and Coke was muddling her head. The idea had sounded half decent in her head.
"Well, we usually just brown bag our own meals and snacks."
"But maybe it's not always nutritious and good fuel or whatever, right?" She squinted at Jen.
"Um. Sometimes, I guess. I haven't really paid attention to what others are eating and when they sign up and ask about food, I give them suggestions. I actually have a few food ideas on the blog I just started. I can write down the URL if you want."
Mandy rolled onto the balls of her tired feet. "What about doing one better and offering your clients pre-made lunches?"
Jen paused, head tilted. "Wouldn't it be kind of hard to take Benny's meals all the way out to the woods? Sometimes we go out really far and—"
"No," Mandy said impatiently. "I mean, what if I—like, my own business kind of thing—made sandwiches and salads and healthy snacks like homemade granola bars and trail mix or whatever makes your clients go gaga."
Jen nodded slowly. "Yeah. Maybe. How much would it cost?"
Mandy paused. "Well," she said carefully. "It would depend on what you wanted. Healthy eating isn't cheap, but if you ordered enough, we could make a profit—both of us."
"I don't know," Jen said slowly.
"It would make your excursions different from what Jojo's doing in Derbyshire."
"Yeah..."
"I'd do everything. You don't have to think of a thing. I can make up the meals and bring them to you. And all you—"
"What about food allergies and sensitivities and stuff like that?" Jen perched on the end of her couch. "I'd have to have forms or something."
"I can make forms. And menus!" Her hand shot in the air, inspiration hitting her full-force. Her mind conjured everything from business logos to killer sandwich ideas.
"I'm not sure either of us are re
ady for this, Mandy." Jen chewed on the corner of her thumbnail. "I'm still sort of figuring everything out, you know?" Jen gave her ponytail a sudden jerk, tightening it. "I'm barely meeting the minimum number for my excursions. I don't see how you can make it affordable with my small numbers. My needs would be too inconsistent."
Mandy crossed her arms. "I can find a way to make it work."
"Not if you're starting out." Jen shook her head. "You can't work for nothing and I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to provide enough to keep you going." Jen gave her a thoughtful look and rubbed the bags under her eyes. "Have you considered catering—parties or weddings or something bigger like that?"
Mandy scrunched her nose. She wasn't really big on the whole catering idea. Too stressful with all the last minute preparation caterers had to do. She'd give herself a heart attack. She needed something a bit more slow and steady. And making some lunches here and there would at least let her feel like she was doing something with her life besides waitressing.
"It's so much work starting your own business, Mandy." Jen disappeared behind a half wall and reappeared with two small tubs of ice cream. She handed one, along with a spoon, to Mandy and flopped onto the green sofa. "Way more than you realize." She started ticking things off on her fingers. "You need to register your business, get bank accounts, advertise, arrange equipment, get insurance, fill out a pile of government forms, and get loans for money you didn't even know you needed. You end up with about eight-hundred lists just to stay half-organized, and on top of it all, you still have to show up for your regular shifts." She gave Mandy an apologetic glance. "I just don't think I can add another element right now. Maybe after I've done it for a full year. Then maybe we could work out a menu and figure out how to make money without charging everyone fifteen bucks a sandwich."
Mandy blew out a sigh, making her bangs flutter. She scooped a big spoonful of chocolate into her mouth, giving her instant brain freeze.
If she wanted to make something of herself, she would just have to have to plug her nose, shut her eyes, and dive right off that plank.
