I watched as she took the empty one from the case and inserted the fresh one. Then she took the pistachio ice cream from Sierra and put it in an empty spot off to the side, ready and waiting until the other container was gone.
She grinned at us as she carried the empty container into the kitchen to wash it out. "Be right back."
I watched her go and shook my head slightly.
"What is it?" Sierra asked quietly.
"I don't know. She calls in sick at least one Sunday a month but she works really hard when she's here. I thought maybe she just didn't want to work when something more fun came up, but she comes in whenever I call her to cover for Kelly. I feel something's going on and I don't know what it is."
"You could ask her," Sierra pointed out.
"Yes, but I'm pretty sure she would just tell me if she wanted me to know. Whatever it is, she's keeping it a secret."
"Soooo...what are you going to do?" she asked.
"I don't know. I need to think about it."
"Okay, I'm going back to the office. It's too complicated and people-y out here," Sierra muttered.
"Wait," I said before she could walk away. "Brody manages several of his dad's businesses. He probably has a good idea of what sort of questions we should ask someone interviewing for an assistant manager position."
She waved over her shoulder at me without turning around. "Good idea. Go ask him."
I scowled at her back as it disappeared down the hallway toward my office. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Brody leaning across the table toward his daughter, his mouth open to take a bite of her ice cream from her spoon. Just as his lips were about to close around the spoon, Jacks jerked it away and stuck it in her own mouth. She made a show of humming as she ate it, a huge, mischievous grin on her face.
Brody shook his head, pretending to be hurt. Then, when she wasn't looking, he dipped his spoon into her bowl and took a bite anyway.
I smiled to myself at their antics. I didn't want to interrupt, but Brody chose that moment to look up and his eyes met mine. He waved me over.
"How is everything?" I asked them as I approached the table.
"Delishoush," Jacks replied, her mouth still full of ice cream.
Brody's grin was directed at me and, yet again, I felt it somewhere very private. "It's really good. I see why it's so popular."
"Thanks." I glanced at Jacks. "I'm interviewing someone to be my assistant manager today and I've never done that before. What do you think I should ask them?"
She thought about it for a long moment, as though she were seriously weighing the question. Finally, she answered, "You should make sure that they like ice cream." Her eyes darted to her father, then to me, before she expounded. "I mean, they're supposed to sell your ice cream for you, so if they don't like it, how will they do a good job?"
"That's a really good point," I said honestly.
"Jacks, I'm gonna talk to Cam for a few minutes. Give her some pointers. Can you sit right here for me?"
"Okay, Daddy."
Brody got to his feet and put his hand in the middle of my back, guiding me toward the hallway that led to my office. He stopped when we were out of sight of the dining area and faced me.
"Have you seriously never interviewed anyone before?" he asked.
I frowned at him. "I didn't say that. I've interviewed my part-time employees, but I've never interviewed someone for a management position. Natalie Phelps recommended the woman I'm talking to today and I trust her judgment, but I also want to ask the right questions. I want them to take me seriously because this shop is my baby and someday I want to expand."
"You waited until the day of the interview to decide on questions?" he asked, his expression unhappy.
I sighed. I wanted to be angry at his pointed question, but it was accurate. "There's a reason I need to hire an assistant manager. I'm doing ninety percent of the full-time labor on my own and it's getting to the point that I can't keep up anymore. I haven't had a day off in nearly two years. I love this place but I do occasionally need time to myself and to have a life. If I don't find a husband and start popping out grandkids at some point, I'm pretty sure my mother will start leaving sperm bank brochures and IVF information all over my house."
Brody's expression became inscrutable at my words, but his eyes flashed with irritation. Then he sighed and the annoyance faded. "I understand. It's difficult to find time to do everything when you literally are doing everything." He placed his hand in the center of my back and gave me a gentle nudge toward my office. "I have to get back out to Jacks, but if you'll bring me a notebook or pad and a pen, I'll write down a few questions for you. Will they be responsible for any bookkeeping or bill paying? Because if they are, you should definitely consider investing in a background check."
I shook my head. "No, Sierra and I will be taking care of all that. They'll just have to count the drawer if they're closing up and put the money in the safe. And this is a small town. It won't be difficult to find Lee if she decides to rob me. Heck, her mama would probably drag her ass back up here personally and force her to return the money."
