Grandpa and Grandma burst into wild laughter. Grandma wipes under her eye, grinning from ear to ear. “Don’t let Grace hear you say that. It’ll be your head.”
“Okay, everyone ready?” Mrs. Nelson calls out, striding out from the kitchen with an almighty clap. “We need to take two cars. Where’s Steve?”
Mr. Nelson jingles his car keys from his comfortable armchair. “Just reading the news while I wait for everyone.”
Mrs. Nelson huffs. “Yes, honey, you’re always ready. Where’s your wallet?”
“It’s right…” Mr. Nelson gets up from the armchair and moves toward the rear of the house to his bedroom. “I’ll be right back.”
“Remember to pick up your cell while you’re in there,” Mrs. Nelson calls after him. Kai exits the kitchen, as his mother continues, “Okay, Kai’s taking his car because he wants to drive Tabitha in. Dad will take the sedan so Grandma and Grandpa are comfortable.”
Kai eyes his mom. “And you’re going with them?”
She pinches the tip of Kai’s nose. “I’m going with you, darling. I want to meet this girl’s parents.”
Kai frowns. “At eight in the morning?”
“That’s the time we’re all meeting her,” she replies.
Kai shrugs. “Fine, whatever.”
My hands tingle in suspense. “Ahh. Tabitha’s coming to my cafe?”
Kai grins. “She’ll love it. Plus, it’ll give you two a chance to hang out outside of school.”
“Jamie’s not there to socialize, she’s there to work. Don’t distract her just because her aunt’s away.” Mrs. Nelson beckons everyone toward the garage. “Okay, let’s go. Jamie can’t be late for work.”
Milo gestures to the baby carrier. “We can’t all fit in Dad’s car. The carrier needs to be strapped in or it’ll register as abuse.”
I lift the carrier, making sure not to knock Gandalf. “We haven’t done all this work to fail at the last minute. I’ll go with Kai.”
“No, you’ll be late if you come with us,” Mrs. Nelson says as her husband wanders back to us. “Milo, you’ll come with us. Honey, make sure Jamie’s baby carrier is fastened tight in the back seat before you take off.”
“No problemo,” Mr. Nelson says, leading the way to the garage.
Kai follows, pulling on a bomber jacket. “Today, Milo.”
Mr. Nelson chuckles. “Kai, you’re a nervous wreck. Take a breath.”
Milo shoots me a look as he walks to the garage door. The apprehension in his eyes mirrors the dread seeping into my stomach.
I. Do. Not. Want. Tabitha. Jones. In. My. Cafe.
Should I get a sign made and stick it on the front door of Morton’s Cafe? Ugh. Seriously. Why do they have to do a meet and greet at my family’s business? Can’t they do it here while I’m at work? I don’t want to witness this. Plus, I don’t want someone who torments me in the school halls to enter the space where I work. All those people are supposed to stay at Village Coffee on the other end of Main Street.
At the cafe, I seat Mr. Nelson, Grandma, and Grandpa at the long stretched table reserved for them. I leave Gandalf with them and walk behind the counter. I pull on an apron and my hands tremor as I yank on the ties and twist them around my middle.
“Hey, sport,” Jake says, viewing me from the food pass. “You okay? Looks like some angry tying there.”
I drop the ties of the apron and flex my fingers. My knuckles crack from the furious hand movements. “I’m fine.”
Laura comes out of the kitchen. “Kylie took tables one through ten so you could have the section with your friends.”
My gut plummets. “No.”
Laura blinks at me. “Excuse me?”
I shake my head. “Sorry. It’s just I’d prefer not to serve them.”
