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“I like—” The bell rang again. Abby frowned. “I’ll be right back.”
She slipped through the pocket door, pulling it shut.
Carolina stretched and walked to the window, staring across the street. In the square people either strolled or sat on the benches. Veils of Spanish moss hung from the oaks, shading the crowds. Her mother would love the view.
She leaned against the windowsill and knocked over a small porcelain bird. A cardinal. There were four of them scattered on the sill. Four.
She swallowed. It was so little. She picked it up. It couldn’t be worth much. Her fingers squeezed the bird.
No. What her mother had asked her to do was wrong.
Footsteps echoed outside the door. She hurried back to her chair. Blast. She still had the cardinal. She jammed it in her purse as the door slid open. She would put it back before she left. She snatched up her tea and sipped. Maybe the cool drink would chill the fire blazing across her face.
When the door opened, Abby waved her over. “Would you like to see the restaurant?”
“Yes.” Because she wanted to leave. Wanted to stuff the bird under the sofa cushion.
But Abby never took her eye off Carolina as she joined her in the entry.
Carolina couldn’t breathe. She’d have to…drop the bird somewhere.
Abby walked next to her, spouting the B and B history. Carolina chewed on her lip. If Abby quizzed her, she wouldn’t be able to repeat anything she’d been told.
They walked through a kitchen.
“Is this the restaurant?” It was large, but there was a big table tucked in an alcove and a sitting area around a fireplace.
“This is the B and B kitchen, for Fitzgerald and Carleton House.” Abby held open an outside door. “We remodeled the carriage house for Southern Comforts.”
The heat and humidity weren’t the only reasons Carolina started to sweat through her shirt. The bird in her purse weighed on her shoulder like an anvil.
Abby dealt with the restaurant door locks and Carolina walked into a gorgeous room. A wall of windows looked over the gardens they’d just walked through. Outside were tables. “Do these windows open to the patio?”
“Aren’t they fabulous?” Abby tapped her chin. “I might eventually add a bar out there.”
Right now the green umbrellas were closed, but Carolina could imagine them open and the iron tables filled with happy diners while soft music played.
“This is our main bar.” Abby led her to the side of the dining room.
Again, Carolina was overwhelmed. Her heeled sandals clicked across sand-colored tiles. The tables all had flowers and the tablecloths weren’t just white, but brought in the colors of the gardens: greens, pale pinks, reds, even lavender. It should have looked—garish. But the colors made her smile.
The top of the bar was old wood covered with a thick layer of polyurethane. Brass hardware under the bar top sparkled.
“Those were the carriage house doors,” Abby said. “Nathan used them for the countertop.”
“It’s beautiful.” She ducked under the pass-through. It was the normal bar setup—taps, fridges, glassware hanging above and high-end liquor gleaming against a mirrored back wall. Two or three people could easily work back here. “This is a good setup.”
“Because we’ve been so busy, the servers are waiting too long for their drink orders.”
“That’s not good.” Shouldn’t there be people lingering over a glass of wine or having an early cocktail right now? “You don’t serve lunch?”
“We do, but we’re closed on Mondays.”
Carolina nodded. She wasn’t sure what day it was. Since she’d returned to Tybee, the days all blended together.
“I have one more interview this evening,” Abby said, “but I want to make this decision fast. How soon could you start?”
Carolina moved to the other side of the bar. “As soon as you need me.”
Abby touched her shoulder. “Wonderful.”
After discussing the pay, they left the restaurant.
Carolina’s phone rang. “I’m so sorry.” Her face flamed. “I thought I shut it off.”
“Take the call, we’re done. It was nice to meet you.” Abby shook her hand and headed back to Fitzgerald House.
Carolina pulled out her phone. The cursed bird rattled against the case. “Mamá? Are you all right?”
“I wanted to hear about your interview.”
“It was good. And the pay is better than any job I’ve found.” Carolina sat at the nearest table. “Is Mrs. Halvorsen still there?”
“She’s boring. I sent her home.” Her mother’s voice turned low and sly. “Did you get something for me?”
