“Don’t tell me that slave driver of a sister of mine is making you work the early shift?” Mrs Andersen huffed.
“No ma’am. I just need to get some gossip from CeCe,” I told her and walked away before she could ask more questions and punch more holes in my weak lie. As I walked into the diner, the cook greeted me and when they heard him, Mrs Jones and CeCe came rushing back to give me a hug and say welcome home. It felt bitter sweet. “Mrs Jones, do you have a minute or two to talk?” I asked.
“Always, honey. Let me just place Frank’s breakfast order and then we can sit down,” she told me. I nodded and grabbed atable in the corner. She soon joined me with a cup of coffee in her hand. I sipped on the coffee her sister had made me and gathered my thoughts.
“Mrs Jones, I don’t know if I have ever told you how grateful I am that you took a chance on me the day when I arrived here. I was lost, and you gave me a way to earn money and a place to stay. It really means a lot to me,” I started.
“I’m happy I did. Workers like you are scarce. Why am I getting the feeling you’re trying to say goodbye?” She was as insightful as ever.
“My vacation,” I started.
“The first and only vacation you have taken in four years and that just coincided with a hot man stubbornly courting you?” Mrs Jones asked.
“Yes, that one.” She laughed. “I got an offer for a new position. It’s a good opportunity and at first I was going to turn it down, but now I have accepted. I need to hand in my notice. I’m sorry, but I can stay and work until you find someone to replace me,” I told her. She nodded.
“There is no one to replace you. But I think I can persuade Laura to come work here. I would be grateful if you could stay a week from her starting, to help train her. “
“Of course. It’s the least I can do,” I agreed.
“Good, I appreciate it. So, this man of yours. Does he treat you right?” she asked.
“It’s nothing romantic between Finlay and me. But he treats me good,” I told her. She smiled and nodded.
“I won’t say I won’t be sorry to see you go. You are my best employee and a damned good girl. But I think you are doing the right thing. You are too good for a place like this. I always knew you were passing by. But I’m happy we got four years at least.”
“I’m happy as well,” I told her. Even if the town seemed to gnaw on all my sore spots at the moment. I knew I would lookback on my time here as positive and a turning point in me finding and accepting myself.
“Let’s not make this old woman cry. I will talk to Laura and let you know when she can start. And I’m sending CeCe over. I’m guessing you want to talk to her as well?”
“Yes, thank you Mrs Jones.” CeCe came skipping over, filled with exciting news of what had been going on for the last three days. I happily let her talk and soaked up her overflowing positivity. As soon as I told CeCe I was leaving, her cheery mood vanished and she looked at me with puppy dog eyes. I felt like I had kicked a puppy.
“You're leaving? Why?” she asked.
“It’s just my time. The job Finlay offered was just too good to turn down,” I said.
“Finlay, that’s that hot guy who didn’t give up until you agreed to meet him, right?” CeCe asked.
“Right.”
“I see, well than I approve, kind of.” I rolled my eyes as she did something on her phone.
“It’s not like that,” I told her.
“Aha, sure it’s not.”
“No, seriously, it’s not. He belongs to someone else.” It wasn’t a lie. Even if Finlay was single, he had a mate out there somewhere waiting.
“What? He’s not single? What the fuck was he flirting with you for then?” CeCe said, clearly outraged on my behalf.
“He wasn’t flirting. It’s a little complicated to explain. But he has a connection to my family and recognised me. He wanted to offer me a job, that’s all.” It was as close to the truth as I could go, and CeCe looked at me for a long time before nodding. The door to the diner opened, and Jessi stormed in and headed straight to our table. Now I knew what CeCe had been doing on her phone.
“You’re leaving?” he asked as he stood next to me and stared down.
“I am,” I told him.
“I don’t like it,” he said and sank down on a chair.
“Why not?” I asked.
