AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My mouth went slack, but thankfully I had just enough forethought to close it before retreating into my own head to figure out how to respond to an adult adult apologizing. It was unprecedented. In the seconds I allowed myself to think, the only response that came to mind was a truly horrific one.
What the hell, brain, I thought as my right foot shifted behind my left, preparing a curtsy.
A loud thwack suddenly sounded beside the counter that shocked me enough to make me straighten and rescue the dregs of my dignity. I could almost hear the crack of joints around the room as everyone looked at the source of the sound.
It was Vinh, who stood in front of the saloon doors beside the counter, holding a serving tray of orders in each hand.
Liem recovered first, to absolutely no one’s surprise.
“Big bro! Look, she’s here. And she just met Mom!” Then, kind-of-sort-of lowering his voice to a stage-whisper, he added, “I think it went well.”
24
VINH
This morning had not gone how I’d imagined, leaving me to wonder if it was all the universe’s way of reminding me that some things were, in reality, not always in my control.
Especially when it came to Bree.
Ari’s had been unexpectedly busy with a seemingly unending flow of customers and orders. When I’d pulled into the lot at 5:30 a.m. and let myself in the back door to the kitchen, it’d been clear right away that Dad was a no-show.
Mom had been furiously rolling biscuits when she explained that he’d had a rough night, so she’d decided to let him sleep in. I’d briefly had the unkind thought that maybe if Dad would try to go to sleep at a decent hour and take his medicine on time more often, he wouldn’t feel so poorly in the morning, but pushed it aside, similar to the way I hip-checked Mom and told her to get cleaned up while I finished up the prep work.
Time had flown by as I lost myself in the work, quietly apologizing to the biscuit dough for Mom’s rough treatment, even if I’d understood the compulsion. There wasn’t anything quite like a bowl of buttermilk biscuit dough to work out your frustrations.
It hadn’t been long before I was pounding the mix just as forcefully as Mom had been.
I’d punched the dough and reminded myself, for probably the hundredth time, to have patience, but the fact was that I was ready for Bree to be here. Here at the restaurant. Here with me.
I had been so busy thinking of how to help with the morning rush and be present for Bree that I hadn’t even had space to feel anxiety when Mom had flitted into the kitchen to check my progress.
I’d got the biscuits into the oven, finished prep, and retreated from the kitchen by 6:15 a.m., there’d already been a long line of customers, mostly locals, waiting to get inside. Once the doors opened, it’d been a nonstop blur of calling out orders and delivering them.
Until I’d opened the swinging door with my shoulder, a tray in each hand, and heard the tail end of my mother apologizing to Bree.
Which brought me to now—the slap of the door behind me echoing like a gunshot, my gaze flying among all three of theirs. Had I already messed this up?
I hadn’t been out front when she arrived. I hadn’t been able to escort her in, so I missed the opportunity to ask her about her night.
And now she was standing in front of my mother, who had done something that she felt warranted an apology.
I could fix this. I had to.
I kept my eyes focused on Bree’s, easily forgetting about everyone around us.
Mom grabbed Liem’s attention, saying “Liem, come work the counter. I need a break,” and he agreed with minimal whining.
Mom was beside us in the next instant, and I took a step toward Bree to make room as Mom took the trays from my hands. I let her, but not before arching an eyebrow and asking, “Didn’t you just say you needed a break?”
“Are you complaining?” she shot back.
I smiled down at her, deciding to gracefully take the gift. “No, ma’am.”
She nodded, sharing a brief smile with Bree before going to deliver the orders.
I enveloped Bree in a hug, allowing myself a moment to take in her scent, which may have been a mistake. It took everything in me to not groan at the feel of her and bury my nose in her hair. Or her neck.
We were not there.
