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“You twenty-one?”
“Not yet,” I told her truthfully, knowing it would keep me out of the public’s way.
“Pity,” Maggie said as she indicated I follow her. “You’re pretty and new. Some of my regulars would like to see an unfamiliar face.”
Maggie opened the door to the kitchen, and I spotted the double sink immediately. “We get pretty busy on Saturdays. The town kids like to use this place as their backwater hangout. No mall here,” she deadpanned. “Then we have the few families who still think my husband’s cooking is better than theirs.” Maggie leaned over to me and whispered, “It isn’t, but don’t tell him I said that.”
“So…it’s a family place?” I guessed.
“Nope.” Maggie popped her p as she spoke. “We stop food at eight thirty, and then the die-hards come in and drink till one.”
“Every night? Or just weekends?” I wasn’t sure if I was to work weekends or the week.
“Comes and goes,” Maggie told me. “You got ID?”
The question took me by surprise, and I pulled out my worn wallet.
“Jesus, what happened to this?” Maggie asked as I handed her a water-damaged fake ID.
“My wallet got stolen in the last town, and they dumped this in a puddle. I need the post office to get some stuff sent to me.” I did not know if that was a thing, but my lie did not put Maggie off at all.
“Free-living is all well and good until you need the essentials. Am I right?”
I had no idea what that meant, so I simply agreed and hoped it was the proper reaction as I watched her look at my ID before she handed it back to me.
“That tells me nothing,” she said with a grim smile. “But I think I saw your name, so that’ll do until your replacement comes through.”
Taking it back, I hurriedly put it away before she wanted a second look.
“You drink?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Drugs?”
I shook my head. “Never.”
Maggie’s eyes narrowed. “You sleep around?”
“I…” I flushed bright red when I realized what she meant. “No, ma’am,” I told her gruffly.
“My husband could cook eggs on your face,” she said with a huge grin. “Gotta ask, honey…can’t have you bringing drama to the place.”
“Honestly, hardly any of your customers will know I’m here,” I reassured her.
“Where’s the longest you’ve stayed before moving on?”
“Four weeks.”
Maggie nodded, her eyes observing me. “It’ll do for me. You start tonight.”
“Now?”
“No, you good to come back in two hours, and one of the guys will show you the ropes?”
“Of course,” I told her. She walked out of the kitchen, and I hurried after her. “Do you know of any places that are renting rooms?”
Maggie was back behind the bar, filling a glass with soda. She took a big drink before she answered, “In this town, you’ll only get in at the B&B. Tell Lottie you’re passing through, that you’re working here for a few weeks and won’t need breakfast.” Maggie took another drink. “Trust me, you’ll thank me for missing the breakfast,” she added conspiratorially. “Lottie will drop your rate.”
