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So, she could spend the next few years questioning whether or not she did all she could to mend their relationship, or she could accept life for what it was. A series of tests and hurdles with the newest upon her. She didn’t have time to bemoan the past and wish she could fix situations that were no longer changeable. Because she was now a homeowner, a business owner, and an employer. Not to mention, all of these new roles existed states away from her real life, where she had an apartment, job, boyfriend, even a betta fish being watched by a neighbor’s kid.
Geez. One could easily collapse under the sudden weight of such heavy newly acquired responsibility.
“Everyone’s here now, Miz Jennings,” a high school senior named Danny announced in his slight southern twang. From what Toni had observed so far, he was a great kid. A hard worker who bussed tables on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Supposedly saving up for a “sweet ride.”
“Holy hell, please call me Toni,” she said, then smiled as the group chuckled. “I’m not old enough for a Miz, or a ma’am, or anything besides Toni. Except maybe Your Highness. That would be okay.” Everyone laughed again and warmth stole through Toni.
They liked her. She’d wondered how they’d feel, considering she was the daughter who had nothing to do with the place or her parents. She had to admit, part of her assumed her folks would have poisoned their employees against her. Especially the few who knew her way back when.
Michelle, the last to arrive, dropped into a vacant seat and shoved her untidy hair out of her eyes. A year or two younger than Toni, the busy mother had faint circles under her eyes, some kind of stain near the collar of her uniform top, and a messy bun with loose tendrils tumbling out in all directions.
Toni had only met the server for the first time at the funeral, but if she had to describe Michelle in one word, it’d be exhausted. Rumor had it, she lived alone with her three-year-old daughter and worked her ass off at two jobs to provide for the kiddo. Hopefully, Toni could find a few minutes to chat with Michelle at some point throughout the day. She seemed friendly, outgoing, and kind. Toni could sure use a female friend, especially if she was planning to stick around until the end of the summer.
Wait.
What?
Where the hell had that thought come from? Damn Uncle Mark and his advice. She had no plans to stay in Tennessee. None whatsoever.
“So sorry I’m late,” Michelle said in a breathless voice. “My mother had some car trouble and was late to come babysit.”
Toni waved the woman’s concern away. “Please, don’t worry about it. It’s just six now. You’re right on time.” She addressed the group seated in booths along the front windows. “Okay guys, thanks so much for getting up crazy early on a Saturday morning to indulge me. Especially those of you who don’t normally work Saturdays. But I wanted to chat with you all before we re-open at seven.”
Murmurs of “no big deal” rose up from the team.
“Let me ease your minds by first saying that you all still have jobs and I do not plan on that changing. Since I don’t live here, I’m going to be looking for a buyer for the diner with the stipulation that everyone remains on staff, barring any issues. And I don’t anticipate any issues because I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about you guys from pretty much anyone I’ve talked to since I’ve been here.”
Smiles popped up on each and every face. Huh, look at that. She was rocking her first staff meeting.
“Are we going to stay open until you find a buyer?” Ernesto, the head cook, asked. He was quite the head-turner. Time had been good to him. Fifty-something, dark hair speckled with gray, dark eyes, trim build, bit of an accent. Toni remembered customers swooning over him back in the day. She’d been thrilled to find out he still worked there.
“Yes, absolutely. I have a few interviews for a general manager to handle the day to day until it’s sold, since I have to go back to Chicago.”
You don’t have to go.
Ugh. Why the hell was her inner voice getting all sassy now?
She heard at least four sighs of relief, and a wave of guilt washed over her. “Oh gosh, I’m sorry guys. I should have met with you all earlier to ease your worries.”
Michelle’s face showed the most relief. Must be a tremendous challenge having to provide for yourself and a child without any assistance from the father. “None of us expected that, Toni. You were planning a funeral for crying out loud. We’re all just glad to still be employed.”
Toni chatted with her new team for a few minutes, getting caught up on any changes in the diner since she’d last been there, years ago. Turned out, much was exactly as she remembered, which would make slipping into her role as owner a breeze.
