At least not when she was down two employees and had been for months. Now that Emmett was out of her life and her heart for good this time, she no longer had a backup—her person—to count on. Maybe not having someone to rely upon made her current situation appear worse, but even if Emmett was around, she would still need extra help.
On the twenty-second of August, Timmy, who’d worked there from day one, had started classes at Summit Ridge University, located in the next town over from Silver Falls, so his availability had lessened, more than either of them expected. She missed seeing what color his hair was each week—sometimes day.
Who was she kidding?
What she really missed was his eagerness to work any shift he could, but school came first. They both agreed upon that. He’d worked too hard during his years attending community college part-time so he could transfer and finish his degree full-time at the university. Even if his absence left her in a world of hurt and needing to hire two or three more baristas. But finding people who wanted to work was proving to be…difficult.
Beth Owen, the owner of the Falls Café a block away, picked up her drink. She peered over the counter. “Just you today?”
“Heather called out.” Raine prided herself on not addingagain. She brushed a stray strand of hair from her face with her forearm. Chopping off her hair in a moment of weakness had been a bad idea—too short for a ponytail now. “Sorry, it took so long.”
“Don’t apologize.” Beth took a sip. “Good help is hard to find.”
“Try impossible.” Raine hadn’t yet sipped any coffee, which must be lukewarm in her cup by now. Granted, she could refill it. But the availability wasn’t the issue. Time was. And she wasn’t in the best mood without a cup first thing in the morning. “I thought hiring staff when I first opened would be hard. Four years later, I wish I could go back to that time when I turned applicants away. Too bad I can’t clone Timmy…”
Beth nodded with a gaze full of understanding. “Silver Falls has grown so much. The community’s great, but let’s not kid ourselves. No state income tax in Washington is one of the draws, and many want to escape bigger cities. But with new businesses opening here and in Summit Ridge, people have more choices for jobs.”
“I should be happy for the economic boom, but it’s—”
“Hard on employers.”
So hard.“I spoke to Mr. Bell, the career counselor at the high school, about hiring a few students for weekend shifts, but I also need others here during the week. I placed an ad on Summit Ridge University’s job website. Students would have to commute, so I upped the pay.”
“The price of desperation. When we needed a new dishwasher, it took us weeks, but we finally hired someone, and it was for more than we paid the last person. You’ll find someone.”
Raine crossed her fingers behind her back. If an applicant was breathing and showed up on time, they had a job.
Yep, desperate.
“I take it you won’t be attending the First Avenue Business Association meeting that starts…” Beth glanced at her phone “…in five minutes.”
“Unfortunately, no.” Raine would be more worried if she hadn’t coordinated the Valentine event earlier this year.
“Do you need me to take anything over for you?” Beth asked.
Anything meant the nectar of First Avenue aka Raine’s special “Silver Falls” coffee blend. She concocted that in honor of the town. “Callie picked up the carafes ten minutes ago.”
“Good.”
The relief in Beth’s voice brought a much-needed smile to Raine’s face. She loved pleasing customers and friends. Beth counted as both.
“We were disappointed when you missed last month.” Beth raised her cup. “That’s why I stopped by for this. In case it happened again.”
Raine hadn’t had time to deliver coffee to the meeting last month. This morning, she’d called Callie on her way to work. “I plan on attending next month.”
If the stars and moon aligned.
She hoped they did.
The association would discuss the annual Holiday Window Decorating Contest at the October meeting. The Christmas windows brought tourists to town and publicity to the storefronts along First Avenue. The definition of a big deal. But the association kept making new rules and coming up with ridiculous fines for businesses, which annoyed her and other business owners. The increase in revenue was nice, but the pressure from the events made Raine question her membership. She wanted to be there to speak up if new regulations were to be voted upon. Few went against Margot Winslow and the other long-time association members, but the last round of fines issued during July’s Summer Fair had been too much.
She smiled at Beth. “Hope the meeting goes well.”
“See you around.” Beth headed toward the exit.
Raine finished preparing the drink and set it on the counter. “Mrs. Jones.”
Raine peered into the display case to fill the next order. She grabbed a blueberry muffin—the last one—and placed it on a plate.
