Chapter 1
Ivy
“Thank you for dining at Bay Bistro,” I say to a couple of first-time customers who are on their way to the exit. “Please come again soon!”
“You bet! The food is delicious!” the lady says, smiling. “And great customer service! We’ll recommend it to our friends for sure.”
“Oh, thank you so much!”
The dinner hour hasn’t really started yet and the dining room is now empty. After I set the table, my dad comes out from the storage room.
“Where’s Kayla?” he asks. “She’s supposed to be here already.”
Kayla is my best friend who works here part-time in the evenings and over the weekends. “She won’t be here until six, Dad. She’s starting a new job today.”
“That’s right. I forgot about it,” he says after a pause. “What about you? Have you heard from any of the interviews?”
“Not yet,” I mumble, a bit embarrassed by the fact. It’s been a month since my college graduation. I’ve applied for many jobs and been to a few interviews. “Everybody wants experiences, even for an entry-level job. I should’ve done an internship like Kayla.”
Dad shakes his head. “Sweetheart. You and Kayla are different. She’s very independent and knows what she wants.”
“Are you saying I don’t know what I want?” I protest although what he says might be true. I don’t even care for the office jobs I applied for.
Dad chuckles as he pats my back. “Ivy. I’m saying you don’t need to worry about getting a job. You could just work for me at the restaurant! I’ll never fire you.”
I pout despite my gratefulness. “You spoil me, Dad.”
“There you go, baby girl. Go ahead and blame me. Just stop pouting.”
Seconds later, he asks, “Did Kayla say anything about quitting the restaurant? Can she handle it here on top of her new job?”
“I think so,” I say. “She says she’ll keep working here part-time if it’s fine with you.”
“Of course. That’ll be good. I would really hate to lose her.”
“Ooh, I’m jealous, Dad. You love Kayla more than I.”
He laughs and his cheeks flush a bit. “Don’t be silly, Ivy!”
After Dad walks away, I sigh. It’s been five years since my mom passed away, and my dad hasn’t dated anyone. As much as I miss my mom, I wish my dad would find someone again. But he spends most of his days taking care of the restaurant. It’s my wishful thinking that he and my best friend Kayla could get together because they are perfect for each other and I love them. I can even feel the chemistry between them, but neither of them seems to be aware of it. Well, I bet it’s the age gap that’s blocking their view. My dad is over twenty years older than Kayla.
I personally do not mind an older man, but I guess I’m not a normal girl.
The front door of the restaurant opens and Kayla dashes in.
“Hey Ivy! I’m sorry. The traffic is horrible. It’s a miracle I made it on time.”
“Don’t worry about it, Kayla. I told you not to hurry.”
Kayla has never been late for work since she started working here six years ago.
I follow her into the storage room in the back where she put down her purse. She looks very nice. Her hair puts up into a bun like she always does when she works here. The only difference is she’s wearing a tight skirt and high heels.
“How was your first day?”
She rolls her eyes as she changes into flats and put on an apron. “It was overwhelming. They expected me to do everything! But what can I say? I’m a newbie.”
“I’m sure you can handle it, Kayla,” I say.
“Thanks, Ivy. I think I did okay.” She smiles. “My boss seemed to be nice. He was very friendly. He even asked me to have a drink with him after work, which was why I was late.”
“Oh!” I raise an eyebrow. “Is he handsome?”
She giggles. “I don’t know. I guess so. But it isn’t what you think, Ivy. He’s got a girlfriend.”
“But that didn’t stop him from asking you out!”
“Stop it, Ivy,” she chides. “It was just for work. He wanted to know more about me.”
I’m going to say more but she shoves me away. “I need to get changed,” she says and heads toward the bathroom holding her uniform.
“Hi, Richard,” I hear her voice speaking to my dad on my way back to the dining area.
“Hi, Kayla. How’s your new job?”
“Oh, it went well. Thanks for asking.”
“Great. I’m proud of you.”
I let out a sigh. While I am happy for Kayla, I’m also frustrated with my own incompetence.
I wish I had majored in business like she did, then maybe I would have better job opportunities. But then again, I could never picture myself being a businesswoman. My dad and my mom always told me to study what I was interested in. It was why I majored in French literature! Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but now I see I made a mistake. I can’t even get a clerical job with a college degree. I shouldn’t blame my dad, but I wish he would be less protective of me and just let me be on my own, like Ivy’s mom.
As I’m sulking, I look through the restaurant's glass door and see a tall frame of a man. And when he steps in, I grin and forget all my chagrin. Gavin, my dad’s best friend and my eternal crush.
Chapter 2
Gavin
I’m driving toward Bay Bistro in my Audi SUV. The traffic is congested as usual and I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. As much as I love living in the city, I miss my life in the vineyard. I had the wish to raise a family over there, and I worked hard for over a decade to make my dream come true. But it ended the moment my ex-wife of eight years left me. Even though she liked the idea of owning a vineyard, Diana didn’t share my passion for an idyllic life and was resentful of me being cooped up in the countryside. Our marriage came to an end just two years ago, when she found someone else. My world shattered after that, and I lost my motivation to live or work. If it weren’t for my old friend Richard, I would still be indulging myself in misery.
Even though I’ve gotten over my despair, it’s still my weekly routine to dine at his restaurant and talk to him.
As soon as I step into the restaurant, my eyes fall on a slim figure of a girl with a ponytail. The restaurant uniform's plain white shirt and black skirt can’t hide her natural beauty, and her red Mary Jane flats draw my attention to her long legs. My heart skips a beat—what a pretty, lovely sight.
I’m wondering who this new employee is when she comes to me, all smiling.
“Ivy!” I grin. “Is that you? Wow. You’ve grown up!”
I haven’t seen Richard’s little girl for a while. Ivy started college in Oregon four years ago. The last time I saw her was before my divorce. For some reason, I kept missing her when she was home. The girl had many friends and was always busy with various activities when she was in the city.
Ivy blushes as she looks at me, her baby blue eyes sparkling. “Hi, Gavin. How have you been?”