Callie
“There’s something you should know about me before I sign these papers.”
Gertie lifts one penciled-in brow and looks at me from over the rim of her glasses. “That’s never a sentence an employer wants to hear from her newly hired employee.”
I laugh. “Well, I haven’t escaped from the mental ward or anything like that. But I have anxiety. Sometimes, I’ll have a panic attack out of nowhere, and I can’t stop it.”
Her head tilts. “What is it you need from me when that happens?”
I shrug, averting my eyes to my white apron. “No one’s ever asked me that before.”
“Oh, dear.” Gertie’s hand comes up to cup my face, and it trembles slightly. “I’d be honored to help you. Just tell me what I can do when you feel it coming on, okay?”
I nod, swallowing the emotion in my throat. “Thank you.”
“Well, I suppose I should share a secret with you now.” Gertie heaves a sigh, planting her hands on her hips. “I know you might be a bit surprised to hear this, but I’m getting old, Callie.”
I bite my bottom lip to stifle a laugh. “You don’t look a day over thirty.”
She pats her silver bouffant and smiles. “Flattery gets you everywhere.”
“So, what does your age have to do with anything?”
“My hands don’t work like they used to.” She holds them out in front of her, demonstrating how shaky they are. “I’m looking to take less of a hands-on role here. That’s why I’m so glad you came along. It’s like fate brought us together.”
My eyebrows lift. “That must be a very hard decision for you to make.”
She nods. “It’s killing me to think about not being in front of that stove every day, but it’s also killing me physically.”
“Well, good for you for taking care of yourself.”
“I have to, dear. Lesson number one: Take care of yourself. Nobody else will do it better than you can.”
I hum as I let her wise words sink in. “That’s a lesson I’m working on.”
“Glad to hear it, sugar. It’s never too late to learn how to love yourself. Now, sign those papers, and let’s get cooking!”
The morning flies by. When lunchtime rolls around, I smell like fried oil, and the balls of my feet throb. But I wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world.
I love it here.
After the lunch rush dies down, Gertie saunters over to me and bumps my hip with hers. “Your friends are here. Why don’t you take your lunch break and eat with them?”
“My friends?”
“Billy and Cole.”
My stomach clenches at the sound of Cole’s name. “Oh, are you sure that’s okay?”
She smacks me with a hand towel. “Of course, child. You need to eat. Can’t have you passing out on the first day. I’ll whip you up what the boys are having.”
I grin and remove my apron and hairnet. “Thanks, Gertie.”
I don’t know why I’m nervous to see Cole. If anything, he’s the one who should be nervous to see me after the way he acted yesterday. But I feel bad for him. Josie didn’t need to jump on him like that, especially not in front of me and the kids.
“You weren’t there! You didn’t see the way she looked.”
I was up half the night wondering what he was talking about. It makes me sick to think about what he went through.
Billy’s face lights up when he spots me exiting the kitchen. “Hello, Miss Callie. How’s the first day going?”
Cole’s eyes meet mine, and I offer him a smile. “It’s going great. I love it already.”
“Knew you would.” Billy chugs half of his iced water. “Lucky us, we get to see you every day now.”
My cheeks flush as I walk around the counter and take the seat on the stool beside Cole. “Do you mind if I sit with you guys? I’m on break.”
“Of course we don’t mind.” Billy smacks Cole’s arm with the back of his hand. “Isn’t that right?”
He nods once. “I’m glad to hear your day is going well.”
I lean in so Billy can’t hear me. “Cole, I’m really sorry about yesterday. Josie was out of line, and—”
“Don’t. It’s fine.”
I chew the inside of my cheek. “Your sister cares about you. She has a huge heart, and she hates to see anybody suffering.” I shrug. “She just wants to help.”
“Well, she should help the people who want her help.”
I nod. Then I nudge him with my shoulder and attempt to be playful. “At least you’ve got the pool house to escape to. I’m stuck with her in the house.”
I expect Cole to chuckle or at least flash me a smirk. Instead, his eyebrows collapse as he puts those stunning steel eyes on me. “Do you want to take the pool house? I could switch with you if you’d prefer it.”
My mouth falls open, and I can’t seem to form a response.
Is he seriously willing to give up his isolation in the pool house for me?
“God, no. Cole, I was just kidding. I would never ask you to switch with me.”
He hikes a shoulder. “I know you wouldn’t. That’s why I’m offering. You went from that big mansion to a room inside my sister’s mansion. It’s gotta be an adjustment.”
I shake my head. “No. Absolutely not. That pool house is yours. I’m fine in the guest room.”
“All right,” Billy says, leaning over. “Anybody want to tell me what we’re whispering about?”
“No,” Cole says before I can answer.
Billy wags his finger. “Secrets, secrets are no fun.”
“You finish that sentence, and I’m going to punch you.”
Billy chuckles. “How do you deal with this guy?”
I grin. “He’s not so tough underneath his scary exterior. I’d even dare to say that he’s sweet.”
Cole shakes his head and pulls the brim of his hat lower, but I swear I see a smile trying to peek through.
“Pffft. Sweet? I can’t even picture it.”
“Did Cole ever tell you how we met?”
Billy shakes his head. “He mentioned that you live across the street from his sister.”
I’m about to tell Billy the story, but Cole suddenly springs to his feet.
I swivel on my stool to see what’s going on, and my stomach drops when I see Paul standing inside the diner.
“Paul, what are you doing here?”
He walks toward me, slowly, with his hands out in front of him like he’s approaching a scared animal. “I’m not here to cause trouble.”
Then his eyes land on Cole, and his entire demeanor changes. “What’s he doing here?” he growls.
Cole steps forward. “I should be asking you the same question.”
I stand between the two of them, looking up at Cole. “Please, don’t cause any problems for me on my first day.”
His eyes widen. “He’s the one causing problems. He shouldn’t be here.”
“Let me talk to him. Please, just stay calm.”
Cole’s jaw flexes as his eyes shoot daggers at Paul.