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I didn't give myself time to think about it.
I picked up the tray and held it in front of me, balancing it on one hand in what I imagined was the appropriate way to carry a server's tray. I balanced it with all my might, concentrating on each step as I walked out of the kitchen and through the restaurant. I knew there were a few employees who noticed me, but I didn't stop. I walked straight to Isaac's table.
I was concentrating so intently on getting the tray from point A to point B without dropping it that I hardly remembered to breathe. I set the tray down on the table, smiling at myself for making it all the way there.
And then I continued the job. I remembered the order in the correct places. I placed the water with no lemon in front of Isaac, the ice tea, unsweetened in the place next to him. I put the Sprite next to my spot and then I set my mixed soda in front of me before sitting down. I sat back in the booth, relaxing and finally breathing as I looked at Isaac.
He smiled and shook his head at me. He raised his eyebrows, his green eyes twinkling with mischief.
"You should have another inch or so of soda in these, and you should take them off of the tray while you're holding it rather than setting the tray on the table first."
My eyes widened at him.
"What? What's that face for? Was that difficult?" he asked, smiling at me.
"Yes," I said. "That was so hard. I can't believe I actually did it. I've never even tried to hold a tray before, let alone with something on it. I thought you were about to stand up and cheer for me when I got over here."
He laughed.
"No, really, I knew they needed more, but I didn't want to spill. I figured you'd rather me be safe than sorry."
"Seriously not bad for a first try," he said. "How do you get away with working in a restaurant and not ever hold a tray?"
I laughed. "I have no idea! I have practice at the cash register and getting to-go orders in bags. I'm your girl for either of those things. But I've never so much as picked up a tray."
Isaac leaned over and picked up the tea and took a sip of it, tasting it to make sure if it was right.
"What'd you make yourself?" he asked. "It looks like you mixed everything."
"I did mix everything," I said. "It's called a graveyard."
He smiled. "A graveyard, huh?"
I took a sip out of the side of the cup. "I wish I would have brought myself a straw," I said. "I forgot that."
"You can go get one if you want," he returned.
"It's okay." I smiled, still feeling proud of myself.
"Misty would usually make tips anywhere from eighty to a-hundred-and-fifty dollars in a day, if she's working a double, which she always did."
"Whoa, really?" I asked, thinking that sounded great. "It seems like Misty had some experience. Do you think I'll be able to keep up?"
"Rita seemed to think so. She told me not to let you leave here without giving you a job."
"She did? She said that?" I asked, beaming and feeling like I had just won the lottery. I had no idea why it made me so happy to get Rita's approval, but it definitely did.
Chapter 6
"But regardless what Rita thinks," Isaac said. "We should make sure you're actually interested in the job before we go any further.
"I am interested," I said.
"When would you be looking at moving here?" he asked. He absentmindedly sat forward and adjusted the tray and the extra glasses so that they would be out of our way.
"Right now," I said. "I think I'd be ready to start anytime. You know, once I got a place and everything. I don't even think I would need to… I could have my parents and a few friends… the long story short is that… uh… I think I could… February. February first is when I can start."
"And you would be settled in and living in Seattle by then?"
