Every Little Piece (17 page)

He’s mixing the batter for pancakes. His graying brown hair needs a cut and his face wears the happy expression it always does when he’s cooking. “Hey, there.”

“Good morning.” I can’t hide the yawn as I pour a cup of coffee and wrap my hands around it. Just this little bit of warmth is comforting.

He bustles about the kitchen, never stopping. “Thanks for training the new waitress.”

“No prob.” I can’t force any fake enthusiasm.

He pats my back as he rushes past. “Remember, you were once new too.”

I feel guilty after all Tom’s done for me. He’s put his life’s money and his dreams into this place. Then he opened it up to Justine and me. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you down.”

He slows to measure another batch of flour. “You going to be staying with us another summer?”

“Yeah, sure. Why?” My chest constricts in the fear that he’s suggesting I move out. It must show on my face.

“Don’t worry. You’re welcome here as long as you’d like. I wondered if you’d thought anymore about college or what you want to do the rest of your life. Not that I want to lose my best hired help.”

“I’m here for now.” I head into the restaurant for a few moments peace before the crowd trickles in. I avoid these types of conversation with Tom. That’s how he knows to sneak them in when I’m unaware. He’s knows I’d claim to be sick or slip out the backdoor if he suggested we sit down and talk.

The restaurant is quiet and still. The floor shines and tables are clean with white paper place mats. The morning sun peeks over the horizon in a beautiful sunrise of soft reds and purples. I love the mornings I have off and can be on the beach with the colors playing on the water. The feeling of a new day and the hope that comes with it. Before the crowds and the tourists when I can feel the beach is mine. Like here in the inn. No chatter or clinking of cups or rattling of dishes. Just quiet.

A fierce knocking rattles the door. A pretty, smiling face presses up against the door, her breath fogging up the glass. Katie’s here. A twinge of jealousy twists in my gut that she’s replaced me in Seth’s life. I unlock the door, and she bounds in like a bunny in the spring. Her blonde hair bounces around her shoulders, her smile practically leaping off her face.

I can’t help but smile back a little bit. I want to dislike this girl, but it’s just about impossible. “Hi.”

She gives me a huge hug. “So glad to finally get to know you.”

“Really?” I pull back at her enthusiasm. “I didn’t know I was so famous.”

“Well,” she says slyly, “you can’t hang around Seth for long without realizing he’s a goner for someone.”

I gasp. “Seth and I have been over for a year.” Ever since he ran out on me. It hurts just to think it. Just him being in town has set me back.

“Maybe, but he still loves you.”

I move across the room, knowing she’ll follow. “Are you always this blunt with people you’ve just met?”

“Yep!”

“That must drive Seth crazy.”

She nods. “Yep again. But someone has to make him laugh.” She rubs her chin in a thoughtful professor-like way. “Looks like I’m going to have to be hard on you too. At least a few smiles every day.”

I flash her a big fake smile.

She laughs. “I knew I’d like you.”

A few customers stand outside, peering through the glass. In a few minutes, the door will open, and they’ll flood the room. I give her our standard apron decorated with seashells and rush through the basics of welcoming customers, inviting them to find their seat, serving coffee, and returning for the orders. Then I show her the back room and where to put the dirty dishes.

She rubs her hands on the apron and fiddles with the strings, rather unsuccessfully attempting to hide her nerves.

“Don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it.” I give her the quick rundown. “We take the orders, slide it onto the counter, pour coffee, smile, serve the food, clear the plates. It’s really not that hard.” With my every instruction, she takes in the scene as if memorizing the layout and process. She’s going to be a good waitress. I can tell.

“Alright, you ready?” I ask. “Why don’t you shadow me for a bit while keeping the coffee filled and the plates cleared. Sound good?”

She claps. “Perfect.”

I unlock the door and our day starts. I thought for sure I’d hate this girl Seth brought to town, but clearly she adores him. I’m glad he has someone. Maybe she knows a little more about why he left, though he’s promised me some answers before the end of the week. My thoughts flitter to the envelope in my drawer. But if he thinks he’s getting me to go back, he can forget it.

The morning passes. Katie picks up the routine quickly and is extremely helpful. Around noon, she taps my shoulder.

“What?” I ask while balancing several plates on my arms.

“Who’s that good looker who just walked in?”

I glance at the door. Crap. Noah’s here. “Not sure.” Whenever Noah visits it’s to check up on me or talk me into moving on with my life. Out of everyone, he should understand how hard it is to move on. He never did as far as I can tell.

I nod my head as I brush by him with the plates. Then I sneak back into the kitchen and upstairs. Justine is putting the final touches on her make-up.

I rush in, flustered and anxious. “Do you mind starting a bit early?”

“Sure, why?”

“Noah.”

She purses her lips together. “Maybe you should talk to him.”

“Why? I know exactly what he’ll say and I don’t want to talk about this weekend. That’s why he’s here.”

“You can’t ignore him forever, Haley.”

“I know. But, please?”

She crosses her arms. “On one condition.”

“Sure,” I say hesitantly.

“That you’ll open the letter before you go to bed tonight.”

“Promise.” I’m a good liar.

I change into jeans and a sweatshirt, ready to hit the beach. Anywhere but here. I sneak out the back door and bump right into Tate.

Out west, I worked for Katie’s dad in exchange for room and board and a small weekly pay, but in a lot of my spare time, I volunteered at the Boys and Girls club. It was my saving grace, a time when I lost myself in the pain those kids carried, gave back, and by the end, we all felt better. My time with them was the high point of my week, like a drug I needed to keep me afloat.

I’m desperate for that. After this week, I might only bump into Haley here and there, but I’ll still need this in my life, no matter what kind of paying job I find. If I stay.

I knock on the office door. I’m dressed in the best clothes I have, which consists of a pair of khakis and a button-up blue shirt. I threw them in my suitcase at the last second, knowing I might eventually go through some kind of interview process.

“Come in.”

I open the door, wiping my sweaty palms on my pants.

“Hi. I’m Mandy.” She stands. Her reddish hair falls to her chin. She’s sharp. Her elbows, her chin, her nose, her shoulders remind me of sharp angles, but her smile makes me breathe easier. “You must be Seth?”

I nod. “Yes, Ma’am.”

She points to a chair, then leans back in her own, her full attention on me. “Tell me about yourself.”

I clear my throat and sit straighter. “For the past year I’ve worked on a ranch out west and volunteered for the Club. I love the work and would like to continue it here.”

She studies me, not saying a word. Her eyes are a hazel, nothing special, but she seems to see right through me to my past. I want to look away but I don’t.

“What’s the real reason, Seth?”

I stare at her, trying to keep my composure. “Excuse me?”

She waves her hand. “Never mind. We’ll get to that later.” She studies my resume and the letter of recommendation I slid across her desk. “Why don’t you spend some time on the court, get to know the boys while I read these papers. Then come back and we’ll talk.”

“Sure.” I eagerly leave the cramped office, cross the empty gym, and head to the basketball courts. This is my safe place. I saunter up to the younger high school boys playing.

“Hey, can I play?” I ask.

A boy with a mass of curly hair gives me the once-over. “You play before?”

“Yep. I’m Seth.”

“I’m Chris. And that’s Joe and Davey. The others aren’t important.” Joe and Davey stand nearby. They dress similar to Chris with their shorts low on their hips and old T-shirts hanging off their bodies.

Joe has black hair and a scowl on his face, and Davey has dirty blond hair that falls over his ears. He wears a frown too. But I get it. I have to earn trust first.

We start playing, and I fall into an easy rhythm. I don’t play too hard and let them steal the ball every once in a while. At the same time, as a stranger I need to earn their respect too. I make my fair number of shots and passes, but I steal the ball from them too. It’s easy for the encouraging words to slip out. It’s easy to connect, and I feel better than I have since I came back.

Thirty minutes later we’re sweaty, my shirt is on the ground, and the kids are breathing a little harder than when I came. The boys have loosened up and are talking about all sorts of things. Not the hurtful stuff, not the scars that I’m sure lay beneath the surface. They’re very excited about the ice cream bar the next day with an afternoon of games and competition.

“Sounds like fun.”

Chris pauses, then says. “You should come.”

“I’ll try.” I wipe the sweat off my forehead. “I’ll ask Mandy, okay?”

They nod and go back to their game. I head inside the club and return to Mandy’s office. My boss out west had called her with glowing recommendations for me, along with sending an email. Working with the kids this past year saved my life. If I stick around here I have to keep it up.

Mandy sits behind her desk, pouring over paperwork but stops when I knock at the door. She motions me inside and points to the same plastic chair across from her desk.

“I can see you needed that as much as them.” She taps a pencil on the papers in front of her.

I flop down in the chair and can’t hold back the grin. “I’ve missed it.”

She hesitates, and drums her fingers against my resume. I know what she wants, the questions she needs to ask. I’m ready. “You know what’s coming, don’t you?”

I nod.

“Alright then. If you want to work with the kids here you have to realize that it’s not about you. Most adults want to work with kids because for some reason they want to give back and this in return helps them too.” She switches to tapping the pencil against her lips, and her eyes pierce mine.

She can see through me and straight to the pain. I can tell when her eyes soften and her head tilts to the side.

“I’m not going to poke around in your life. Yet.” She smiles. “But know that if you work here, I encourage everyone to face their past. This isn’t a place to hide out and escape from the world. Other clubs work differently, but I see some of my employees as big kids who need that extra hug and smile as much as the kids do.”

For the first time I can’t believe I’m going to be honest. But Mandy seems to get pain, and I’m sure she has her own battle scars. “That’s why I’m back in town.”

She purses her lips to the side. “I see.” She pushes the paperwork across the table to me. “Fill these out and return them by the end of the week. And, we have a great day planned tomorrow. If you’d like to come and man the ice cream buffet we could use the help.”

“I’d love to.” I grab the papers and go to leave, but I stop at the door. “Can I bring a friend?”

She flashes me a knowing smile. “Sure. See you tomorrow.”

I leave the Boys and Girl Club with a smile and a little more confidence. For the first time since I’ve returned, I feel better, but it won’t last. I have to convince Haley to come with me tomorrow. She’ll love the kids, and she’ll see that a world waits for her outside of being a waitress.