“She persisted” I said.
There would be just enough left over to take me as far as I could go. I was ready to go.
*
It wasn’t until after the lunch rush when Jacob came up to me asking for the office keys that I remembered I hadn’t had a chance to speak with him. Let alone give him the keys. Swapping out the lunch menu for the dinner menu wasn’t hard just time consuming. And I needed to make some time now before things picked up again.
“Tavis, you to take over the change out… then you all can take your breaks.” I said.
I had figured leaving Tavis in charge would make the other’s fall in line. He glared at me for a brief flash of a second. He must have remembered that Isaac was gone and I was in charge before he turned to his crew and barked orders.
The cooks in hand I gave Jacob my full attention heading to the office at his heels. Jacob didn’t even jingle the keys as he unlocked the door. It was just then that I noticed he had the takes for this afternoon tucked under his arm. It dawned on me that this wasn’t the first time Jacob had let himself into the office.
“Sit do’n” he said pointing at Isaac’s chair. “I donna know what ya know” Jacob said.
I didn’t even blink at his tone just sunk into the chair slightly swiveling it side to side. I stopped the moment I realized I was doing exactly what Isaac had been doing. For some reason being in his office without him was making me very sad…and tired.
Jacob started punching in the numbers to the safe. It popped open without a problem. Jacob shoved the money bag, and receipts into it without any particular finesse. He shut the safe door closed as quickly as possible. I hadn’t known that Jacob knew the safe combination. I couldn’t believe Isaac would share that information with anyone.
“How long have you been really running the servers?” I asked gesturing to the safe with my jaw.
Jacob just looked at me like I was… nuts. I knew he played a big part of the restaurant. I never put two and two together. I didn’t know how I kept missing what was in front of my face.
It was weird being in here without Isaac with the safe open. I was enjoying the little respite but it was still… just weird. I think Jacob thought the same thing since he had his hands off the safe like it had burned him. I shouldn’t be sitting down.
The second I start to relax things were going to start hurting. I was trying really hard not to think about the ache in my back and stomach. I don’t think there was a single spot on my body that didn’t hurt. I had been pushing it too hard with work the last few weeks. I wasn’t going to get a short day I realized.
“I’m not going to get a short day today am I?” I practically whined it. Jacob laughed. It was a deep belly laugh and his face showed no pity.
“Na thas the price BOSSy. Ya gonna catch a nap once tha boys back from break. Lock the doors to ya car, seep then ya come back for dinne rush.” he said enunciating each letter and then letting it fizzle out with his drawl.
He took in the food that had stuck to me and various other things staining my apron down to my boots. I was just too tired to care. I gave him a quizzical look with bleary eyes.
“What else” I said knowing that Jacob had left a lot…unsaid.
“Isaac is my cuzzin. He hada good boy and his lady… she wasa pict’re.” Jacob said.
“You are related to Isaac? Isaac has a wife and a son?” Past tense…they were both gone now. “How did I not pick up on any of that?” I said apolitically to Jacob.
I don’t see how I could have worked with Isaac for nine…almost ten… years and not know anything on the subject of his personal life. How did that even happen? What kind of person am I now? I hadn’t been paying attention to anything for a long time. Jacob gave me a level look.
“I seen ya when ya first got inta town. Get bak ta wok and then taka nap” he said.
I just gave him empty eyes and ignored the shivering that suddenly hit me. I had looked really…bad… when I had first rolled into this town. I hadn’t known that I had met Jacob before I started working here. He opened the door for me gesturing me out. He managed to sidestep my questions and I didn’t feel like dragging answers from him.
“Ok” I said. After all what else was there to say?
I sent Tavis and the rest off to break as soon as I stepped out of the office. I was lucky it was a Wednesday and most of the night time staff was going to have a short shift tonight. Prep cooks love a short evening. Most of them were just part time or passing through town.
I gave them a list of items to make up as soon as they walked in the door. I didn’t hear a single complaint from anyone. I let them know when they were done that I would check them out when I got back from break. Everyone loves a short shift.
“Until then stay busy” I said.
It was easy to finish the evening setup on the line. There wasn’t a single order the entire time the rest of the cooks were out on break. They came back fifteen minutes after their break was over. I didn’t feel like today would be the best day to address their punctuality…as their new boss. I was too tired to even try.
I had wiped down the counters for the tenth time and considered heading to the dish pit. Jacob walked by the window and gave me a look. He had a way that enticed a people to do exactly what he wanted. So without arguing just for the sake of it, I grabbed my hoodie from the hook by the back door, and let myself out.
Owning an older car is there is enough room for me to get comfortable in the back seat. I turned my phone on after I fished it from the console. I didn’t bother to check for messages. No one ever tried to reach me. Not even bill collectors.
I set a timer for an hour. I shucked off my boots chucking them onto the floorboard. I pulled my hood over my face and sprawled out. I remembered to lock the doors before I passed out. I didn’t even have the energy to over think.
*
I had decided to stick around Noel for a few days. I had been on the road for weeks. I needed rest and provisions. Sleeping in my car was my only real option since I was down to a couple hundred dollars to get me through…I wasn’t sure what I was getting through too. I only knew that I was tired and for now I needed to stop.
I haven’t been bothered by anyone so far. I kept expecting someone to tell me that it was time I was moving along. But no one did. I just parked my car behind some dumpsters off of Main Street and curled up in the back.
I always carefully locked the doors and rolled up the windows. I didn’t have a desire to be mugged for the little bit I had…small town or not. It was hot…unbearably stuffy… in the car. It was better than sleeping in a park or more likely around here…a corn field. I wished my car was just a little bit younger for the first time… a sun roof would have helped cool it down some. I startled myself wishing for anything…being in this half-life has been enough…so far.
I hadn’t even run across a cop…yet… which was both reassuring and worrisome. There had to be some there was a small station just a block from where I parked. This was probably the safest place in this town.
It was so quiet I bet the police could hear me if I so much as whispered. There hadn’t been a car driving by since dark. I didn’t know if the small population meant that there wasn’t any crime or if the people here handled their own problems.
I looked at the brochure I had picked up. The color photos of the cave stood out in the dark. I had memorized how the place must look…with its strange house built into the side of the massive cave. The limestone from that place made up most of the town’s main buildings. Main Street glowed softly from the rock reflecting streetlight. I was fading down into sleep… still thinking about glowing buildings… and silent gardens of stone.
*
Cracking my eyes open it took a minute to figure out what that noise was. Someone was knocking on my window. How does that even happen I am on the second story? I realized I was in my car.
It was dark enough outside that I sat up quickly patting around for my phone. I managed to brai
n myself looking for the overhead light. The phone read 5:45pm and I had been asleep an hour and a half. It was fantastic that I give the crew something to rip on me about on my first day as a manager. This was just peachy freaking perfect.
I couldn’t see who was knocking so I turned the flashlight app on and rudely pointed it at the window. I had no idea who this guy was but he was kind of nice looking. In his mid-twenties at that, maybe a little older, it was hard to tell.
Not a fan of strangers I rolled the passenger side window down enough to ask what he wanted. I had my own reasons for living in a tiny town next to nothing. Not having to talk to anyone new was one of them.
“Yes?” I said.
Politely enough since I was covered in slop and probably had drool in the corners of my mouth. My car actually stunk and I was really aware of that fact once I got a whiff of fresh air. I know it wasn’t the car that smelled… it was me.
“Yes she says...” he mumbled. “Jacob says get back to the line in the next five minutes or he quits.” He actually put his hands on the hood of the car and glared at me.
“Ok” I said. “Give me a minute and I will be right in...uh”
“James” he said. “You know the guy you were supposed to train but dumped off washing dishes all day, I didn’t learn anything. I could have cut up vegetables or something besides slinging garbage all day. Also… I will wait for you to go in if you don’t mind. It’s getting pretty dark out here already and probably isn’t the best place for you to be sleeping” James turned his back to me leaning against the driver side door. Irritation simply oozed from him.
Nothing gets me going faster than someone being snippy right when I wake up. I yanked my boots on not bothering to lace them. I practically kicked the car door open in my haste to get out of the back seat. In doing so I managed to hit him pretty hard with a solid thwack to the thigh. When he bent slightly rubbing it I had a moment of guilt. It passed pretty quickly when he glared at me.
“Oh I am sorry James…. that I had an entire freaking restaurant to run … and managed to keep the line afloat. What was Isaac thinking throwing some newbie tweener into the kitchen today anyways? I would have rather been home in my bed enjoying what was supposed to be my evening off…. but oh no… I get stuck with some little ungrateful snit.” I practically bit the words off. “Why are you to good to be doing dishes? People can’t eat without plates” I said so irritated I had to pause to catch myself.
I could feel the hair standing up on my head. I physically bristle when I am angry and today…well today I am just so very tired. I don’t have the reserves to brush off a jerk. I physically kept myself from flinching away…I’d never been struck for talking back. I’d been struck down for other reasons…It bothered me that I didn’t know them.
“Did you just call me a tweener snit?” James said his voice was deeper and riddled with what could be laughter. A little too deep for how old I thought he was, but like so many things lately I just didn’t pay enough attention to him. “I am a little older than a teenager but you have been busy” he paused “and…you kind of look like garbage.” He said the last with some sympathy…and it stung.
“Fantastic” I said. I slammed the car door and marched past him.
“Hey wait up” he called walking quickly to catch up “you know you’re grumpy when you get woken up. I should have said you look really tired.”
He huffed a bit and I noticed that the parking lot wasn’t packed. It looked like it was going to be a dead night. That meant that Jacob could wait and I could at least tie my boots before I went running to his summons. Jacob knew me well enough that I wouldn’t have bitten his head off …if Jacob would have woken me… I wonder why he sent this guy out.
“I have another shift to finish then I can go home. I am sorry I hit you with my car unintentionally” I said.
Bending to lace up my boots I didn’t have any reserves left to look him in the eyes. The pull of my scars along my back and they itched with irritation… I really wanted to go home and hide out. Maybe absorb all the changes today without anyone watching me.
I really didn’t want to be in charge of anything. I really didn’t want people looking to me for anything. I was happy with my old job. I was mostly happy…probably happy…maybe. I paused in front of the back door.
“Are you implying that if you wanted to you would hit me with your car intentionally?” He grinned at me then, just a flash of white teeth in the evening light.
I quirked a half hearted smile back at him. I enjoy people who have a quick wit and a nice smile. I even enjoy grumps like Jacob and Isaac because they are good people. I realize with some surprise he was just an inch or two shorter than me. There weren’t a lot of tall people around this area most are average at best.
It had been a long time since I had seen mostly eye to eye with anyone. Not since my husband… it occurred to me…it was weird that his eyes were almost level with mine. Hard to gage the color but we were standing in the dark. I knew he was dark headed and his skin had a dusty brown look to it. Why do I suddenly feel like this is a date?
*
I had met Gideon my freshman year of college and from the moment we had met I wanted him. He had caught my eye while he was standing outside the quad holding a clipboard trying to get signatures. He had on a pair of drawstring pants and a tank top. The combination had made me blush…his assets were highlighted to perfection. I was just one of a hundred passersby’s on my way to class when he stopped me.
I listened to his prepared speech with little interest I was too busy watching his face. His eyes were the exact same color of the sky. He smelled like sugar cookies. He let me use his back to sign the form and his shoulders were nice and strong. I had no idea what I signed that day but as I filled out my address and phone number I was suddenly bold. I flicked my hair away from my face and touched his arm.
“You ought to give me a call sometime” I said handing him back his pen.
“Sure I will, just as soon as the date is set for the clean-up. I will probably see you there” he said.
His smile light up my whole world and he glanced at my hand. I didn’t realize I was still touching him. He flexed a little bit. That was a good sign.
“I’m looking forward to it” I said.
Smiling and bubbling in unfeigned excitement of the prospect. I hadn’t had a date in a while and this was turning into a maybe date. It wasn’t until I was in my next class that it occurred to me…during a vivid daydream involving blue eyes…I didn’t know what the hell I had volunteered for.
*
James apparently didn’t notice my sudden awkwardness because he raised his fist and hit the door soundly three times in rapid succession. I didn’t even flinch at the sudden movement and loud noise. I stepped back habitually from the door. Within seconds Jacob had slammed the door open hitting James hard enough he fell over.
I laughed at his shocked expression and Jacob summed up our positions with a glance offering James a hand up and didn’t apologize. James didn’t look like he expected an apology from Jacob but took the offered hand. I forgot that they were related somehow.
“What’s going on Jacob, I am sorry I overslept but I was wiped out and you know I must have needed it” I said.
I felt bad leaving everything to Jacob. The cooks can be testy when they work double shifts.
“S’ok” he said heaving James to his feet he gave him a once over and saw that James would survive. “Ya just need ta wrap it up” Jacob said putting a hand on my shoulder. “I kin see ya tired ana we are shutttin it down early. Detha in the fam an all.” Jacob took in James and I “we gonna be clos’d for ah few days” he said sucking on his teeth.
I had noticed the mostly empty parking lot. It was a dead night and closing early wasn’t a bad idea. The restaurant had never shut down early before but like Jacob had said…there was a death in the owner’s family. The nephews were still here but it looks like everyone else had already left for the day.
&
nbsp; I wondered why James hadn’t been lumped in with the nephews. They were his cousins, or brothers, or whatever too. I wish I had known we were shutting down early I wouldn’t have spent the time writing up the prep lists for tonight.
“I tossad the lists and sen people off” Jacob said.
This means that we didn’t have a lot of waste for the night. Waste products cost the restaurant money and they were a sure way to get on the end of one of Isaac’s lectures. Isaac would fire you on the spot if you wasted his food, or for being too stupid to make food.
I guess I don’t have to worry as much now regarding Isaac canning me. Otherwise why did he promote me? Jacob knew how to take care of business. I didn’t realize how well until today but again, I just wasn’t paying attention.
Jacob sent James back to the dish pit with a jerk of his head. There was one of the nephews over there already breaking down the pan sinks for the night. It was really early to be shutting down. Jacob had a look on his face that I just wasn’t willing to argue with.
“Finnsh up ya line and senda them on. Imma gonna do the works and lock it up” He bit of each word at the end, speaking nice and clear with authority.
Jacob had clearly taken charge and I was grateful. I didn’t know how to go through all the receipts for the entire day and tally up the books. I hailed Tavis and the other two nephews once I hit the line. I told them exactly what they needed to do to get out of here.
They didn’t even make a single snarky remark, or give me any crap for being late. They just did their work and left after their last trash run. They didn’t dawdle at all and this left Jacob, James, and I alone in the restaurant to finish shutting everything down.
*
Silence…it was a weightless silence that echoed back at me. I had the ticket in my pocket so I don’t know why I was here now. Bluff Dwellers Cave was closed on Sundays…and at night. I had been avoiding this place since I stuck around town. The cave was what had interested me about this place. I hadn’t seen it for myself. I was afraid of exploring the caverns. Not for any fear of close spaces or being underground. I had avoided it because I was afraid that once I’d seen this place…I would be ready to go.
Merrily In Tragedy: Book One (Merrily We Live 1) Page 5
