Another three people – a man, a woman, and a child – walked through the door.
“We’re okay,” River said. “You can go in the back.”
“River, come on. Let me help.”
“Okay. Um… Can you cut and weigh fudge?”
“I’m sure I can, yes.”
River took the knife that was under the counter in the display, made a motion on what looked to be plain fudge and said, “People tend to order it in half or one pound usually. That’s about half a pound, what I just marked on that one to help you. The scale is over there.” River pointed next to the counter. “Use the wax paper on the scale, set the fudge there, weigh it, wrap it, and it goes in a bag if it’s just one. If they order a bunch, it goes in a box.”
“I’ve got it,” she said.
“Okay. I’m going to help Michaela,” River told her and squeezed Kennedy’s forearm. “And thank you.”
“No problem, boss,” Kennedy replied with a wink.
“Oh, so many fantasies,” River said and winked back.
Kennedy didn’t have time to process River’s comment because there were suddenly two people standing in front of her, looking at her and expecting her to help them.
“What can I get for you?”
“Can I get half a pound of the peanut butter one and a pound of the chocolate?” a woman asked.
“No problem,” Kennedy said and did her best to slice the fudge in what she hoped was close to half a pound and a pound, respectively.
She was proud of herself for getting it close enough, and she used the tape next to the wax paper box to tape the two bricks of fudge before she put them into a box and handed it to the woman.
“Thank you. How much?”
“Oh, you can pay over there,” she said, assuming that she was right because there was only one register in the place. “What can I get for you?” she asked the next person when the woman moved to join the other line.
The man ordered, and Kennedy packed up his order for him. Then, she looked up and found River looking at her. Theysmiled at each other, and Kennedy went about helping a third person.
“River, a customer wants a soda thing,” she said a few minutes later. “I don’t know how to do that.”
“I’ll get it,” River replied before squeezing her forearm again, and it was something Kennedy could really get used to.
“Are you Kennedy Gannon?”
Kennedy turned to see a young woman in probably her early twenties looking at her, with her phone out and aimed in Kennedy’s direction.
“I’m just working,” Kennedy said, deflecting.
“But you’re her, right? Kennedy Gannon. Why are you working here?”
Knowing she couldn’t get away with it, she said, “It’s preparation for a role. I’m going to play an owner of a candy store. It’s not out there yet, though, so keep it to yourself for me, okay?”
Kennedy winked.
“Really? That’s cool. Can I get a selfie?”
Kennedy didn’t want to agree because that meant going around the counter and joining the still-growing crowd, but she didn’t want to be known as the celebrity who didn’t take photos with fans, either. She had enough problems already.
“Sure,” she said and leaned over the counter, deciding that would have to do.
The woman turned, snapped the photo, thanked Kennedy, and walked off to join her friends in the corner.
