Warmth built up behind Clem’s eyes. Harriet’s letter was achingly funny and sad at the same time. And as she read it a second, and then a third time, she knew she’d be mad to turn down the opportunity to make memories with her little girl before she became a big girl who was too cool to nominate her daggy mum as parent helper for canteen, let alone a three-day, interstate school camp.
‘There you are, Clemmy. Not a moment too soon.’
Clem quickly swiped her eyes and looked up to see Aunty Jean waving to her from the front door. ‘You won’t believe the fireworks we’ve had here this afternoon. I’m going to need your help bailing me out of this one.’
5
Clem hadn’t meant to blurt out an impromptu job offer at Jean’s house, but after Selina’s furious accusations, offering her teenage cousin a job as an olive branch for supposedly ‘stealing the coffee van from under her nose’ had been the first thing that came to mind.
And while Jean and Fiona had agreed the job offer was a sound idea, Selina’s reluctant acceptance didn’t bode well for workplace morale. Nor did the frown she’d worn when she’d arrived two minutes late for her first shift at the cafe that morning.
‘I’ve seen her help out at the second-hand store,’ Kev said quietly, watching Selina carry cutlery to a table of four. ‘The kid knows customer service.’ He sprinkled icing sugar over a pumpkin, pineapple and sultana muffin, and added a dollop of cream to the plate. ‘And if she thought that coffee van was going to be hers one day, I can see why she’s a little unimpressed about this new arrangement,’ he added, glancing out the kitchen window to where the van was parked.
Sebastian’s friend Cohen had removed Jean’s old signage during the week, respraying the van and painting it with a fieldof sunflowers. The end result was even more eye-catching than she’d expected, but after the misunderstanding with Selina, Clem felt a twinge of guilt every time she looked at the van.
‘I wouldn’t have bought it if I’d known. Aunty Jean hasn’t got a nasty bone in her body—she had no idea the coffee van was so special to Selina, or that she thought it was her inheritance. Maybe she forgot?’
Sebastian breezed in with fresh orders and empty plates, catching the tail end of the conversation as Clem stirred tangy lemon curd into muffin batter. ‘Jean remembers her favourite customers’ coffee orders from three years ago,’ Kev continued, ‘I can’t imagine her forgetting a promise like that.’
‘I’ve fantasised about a long-lost relative leaving me an FJ45 ’Cruiser ute plenty of times, but no matter how hard I’ve manifested it, no utes have rolled up in my driveway,’ Seb chimed in.
‘If you have any luck manifesting rich rellies, conjure up a few for me, would you Sebby?’ Kev chortled. ‘Maybe Jean made a throwaway remark, and the kid didn’t realise it was a joke?’
Clem sprinkled shaved coconut over the curd-filled muffins, slid them into the oven and set the timer. She didn’t normally whip up fresh muffins mid-morning, but they’d been a hit on the winter specials board, and with a local supplier’s citrus trees pumping out produce, it was a good earner for both the grower and Sunny Cross alike.
‘Either way, you can’t do anything about it now,’ Sebastian said, heading for the coffee machine. ‘The van’s been rebranded, you’ve advertised it on your socials. And you offered Selina a pity job, even though you can’t afford another set of hands and she clearly doesn’t want to be here.’
Clem startled as crockery shattered on the cafe’s polished concrete floor.
‘Want me to take care of it?’ Kev grabbed the dustpan and brush. His commitment to swift customer service was one of his traits Clem most admired. And even if new customers were surprised to find themselves being served coffee and cake by an older gentleman with a bald head and tattoos peeking out from his shirt sleeves, they were quickly won over by his brisk efficiency and attention to detail.
Clem held out her hand. ‘I’ll go. It’ll be fine,’ she said, striding out to clean up Selina’s latest mess. Sebastian caught her eye as she passed, giving a ‘I’ve-got-everything-else-covered-out-here’ nod from behind the coffee machine.
‘Everyone knocks the odd table every now and then,’ Clem told the red-faced teenager before turning to Ian and Louisa Brealy. Selina bumped her shoulder as she brushed past her, nearly sending Clem over too.
‘I’ll get you a fresh plate, pronto,’ Clem promised Louisa. She swept up the mess swiftly, scanning the floor for any stray shards as she weaved her way back through the tables and chairs.
‘Luckily it’s the Brealys’ table,’ Clem said, entering the kitchen. ‘They won’t leave us a bad review. Can you fetch them fresh drinks, please Kev?’
‘Their son-in-law’s the teacher in town, right? The one we’re catering for with the telly crew? Tough gig, being surrounded by gorgeous women all day, fighting off all that attention and affection. Don’t envy him one bit.’ Kev laughed.
‘You watch that show?’ Clem fought to cover her surprise by fussing with the delicate almond biscuits her Canadian regulars loved.
Kev grinned. ‘There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Clementine. You might be surprised to know my TV taste runs more toDancing with the Stars,Australian IdolandLove on the Land.’
Sebastian breezed in with more empty plates. His silent gaze swept the kitchen, noticing Selina’s absence. Why had Clem thought this was going to be a good idea?
Clem met Sebastian’s grim look and hurried across the kitchen in damage-control mode. ‘She’ll warm up, I promise. It’s only her first shift. Nobody likes being the new kid on the block.’
At least, Clem hoped it was nerves and not plain old spite that was making the grouchy teenager the least enthusiastic employee she’d ever hired.
She tapped the staff bathroom door.
‘What?’
Clem winced at the sassy tone. It hadn’t been that long ago that Selina was the sweet, sunshiny second cousin Harriet and Indi idolised.
‘Hey Selina, you okay? First days are never smooth sailing, you’ll get the hang of it, I promise. You can work on kitchen prep if you like, and the rest of us can handle front of house today. Tomorrow can be a fresh start.’
