“Yeah?”
“We need some help back here. The police are taking food back to everyone at the office who couldn’t come eat here. It’s a big order, plus whatever the six of them order.”
I turned back to Carol and Beth. Carol held up her hands. “Go. We’ll keep an eye out here. We’re your ladies.”
I owed those girls so much. They’d held me up more than once in my life, and again today. I would never forget what they did for me, nor would I ever forget how lucky I am to have friends like them.
Back in the kitchen, I made double sure no more of the special ingredients were used. We were just too busy to try to give people little magical bites.
A while later, at least a couple of hours, Carol walked in. “It’s quieting down out there.”
I sighed in relief. “Good, because It’s almost closing time, and I’m exhausted.”
“Come on,” Carol said. “What can I do? Half your staff is gone.” As it had died off, I’d let them go home. We’d been keeping up with the dishes as the day went on.
“We just need to finish cleaning up,” I said. The clock chimed ten o’clock, and I grinned. “That’s it. The kitchen is closed.”
After today, Deva’s Delights would just be open for breakfast and lunch, which I was really glad about. If tonight had taught me anything, I was definitely a morning person. Yes, the excitement had kept my crabby side quiet, but a couple of evenings like this would definitely give me the wrong kind of reputation… as a grump.
“You did it,” Beth said as she came through the door. “Your first day was a rousing success.”
I couldn’t wait to see how much we’d made today and share the numbers with…Ugh. I’d wanted to share them with Harry, but that would be all he cared about. Not the success. Not the triumph. Not my pride or need for validation.
He’d want to know how much of the money he could have to buy… stuff. Tools, or a boat or a new video game system.
I started scrubbing the grill.
“You okay, Deva?” Carol whispered. “Is it Harry?”
I froze in the act of scraping the surface of the grill. “Yeah. I’m not sure how much longer it’s worth fighting for.”
Carol sighed and put her arm around me. “Come on. Let’s get this finished and we’ll have a glass of wine when everyone is gone.”
A glass of wine sounded great, especially with my girls.
SEVEN
“Another?” Beth asked as she picked up the bottle of wine and wiggled it at me slightly. Her smile was irresistible, just like the wine was right now.
I smiled back and winked as I held out my glass. Carol had brought two bottles of wine and snuck them into the back of my cooler with Vic's help just for this moment. Apparently he and my ladies were becoming quite adept at helping me behind my back. I wasn't sure what to make of that, but for now, I was just grateful.
The kitchen was clean. The cooking stations were all spotless, which said a lot considering burnt sugar was no joke to get off. The dining room was clean and all the chairs were put up. We even mopped the floor. Patrons dancing while eating and drinking had caused enough of a mess that it was definitely a necessary step.
All the staff had gone home with many thanks and pats on the back. They had performed admirably, even when everything had gone crazy. Not to toot my own horn, but I felt pretty proud of the group of people I'd hired, and was actually feeling confident about how the restaurant was going to do going forward.
And I’d counted up the days totals. It had been a very good day, to say the least.
I sighed and sipped my newly refilled wine.
“Come on, Deev,” Carol said. “This is a happy night.”
I sighed and forced a smile, but they both saw right through it. “I’m sorry. I think I’m going to be a soppy drunk tonight.” I was usually the life of the party when I was buzzed. I just wanted to bawl tonight.
"Want to talk about it?" Beth asked.
“Relationships aren’t real,” I muttered. “Scientists say it’s chemical. Nothing that will last. Have we just been sold a lie our whole lives? Is the soul mate, love of your life stuff even real? Or does it just sell movies and books?”
Carol sniffed. “I don’t know. My ex…” She swirled the wine around in her glass, the red liquid licking up the sides and clinging for a moment before slipping back down. “I feel like he was the one who got away. I've never felt that same...buzz of attraction like I did with him. That has to be real, right?”
