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It wasn’t as if he threw things or screamed at people. Not like some of the kitchens he’d been in while he was getting experience.
And that was all it had been for him. Experience.
He knew all along he’d own his own restaurant, but he wanted to see how things were done before he dove in headfirst.
“That’s good to hear,” Stan said. “Louisa and I came to get some dinner the other day. You weren’t here, but man, the place was already busier than it’d been before.”
“Really?” he asked. He hadn’t known that. He didn’t think they were spying as much as maybe checking things out. Could be talking to the staff too.
“It was nice to see,” Stan said. “Louisa and I just had this dream and we didn’t seem to be able to make it work. I hope you can.”
This couple was just way too nice. He wanted to say trusting too, but he didn’t think they were naive with it.
“Is there something I can do for you?” he asked. “That you asked to talk to me when I was here next.”
Duke wasn’t sure what this was about. If they changed their minds he’d rather know now before he got in any deeper.
“How is staffing going for you?” Stan asked.
He lifted his eyebrow. “The staff has been fine,” he said. “Change is hard for some but for the most part not bad.”
“I expected that,” Stan said. “Some people are set in their ways, but in the end I think they want the place to succeed as much as we did. No, I mean, are you short staffed?”
“Oh,” he said. “I am, but luckily I’ve got staff from Duke’s that are willing to come and take shifts for me. It works since they know how I run things. Once Memorial Day weekend hits, things will pick up and I’ll have to be staffed by then.”
“It’s hard on the island,” Stan said.
“It is. I don’t normally have too much of a problem finding staff though,” he said.
Because he had such a good reputation, his restaurant was packed most nights. That meant more tips and those that wanted to serve or bartend on the island liked to go where they could make the money.
He was hoping he could get this place to be the same.
“I was wondering if maybe you could do me a favor,” Stan said. “No obligation or anything like that.”
“What’s that?” he asked. “Do you know someone looking for a job?”
“My daughter is back in town. Back on the island. She’s lived in Portland since she left for college twelve years ago, but she is starting over here. She’s looking for a job but hadn’t realized we were going to part ways with the restaurant. She’d hoped to work nights and weekends to help get back on her feet.”
He hadn’t known they had a daughter. It’d never come up once and he had no reason to even ask.
“Does she have experience?” he asked.
Not that he thought it’d be smart to have a family member of theirs working here, but Stan had been nothing but nice and accommodating to him. To the point that not only was he making the payment on their loan while he did this trial run but also was paying off the debt they’d incurred while things were falling behind.
Louisa insisted they were fine and he believed they were. But it didn’t feel right to him to just walk in at ground zero, turn a profit and walk out. If he bought the place, they’d make money and be able to square up all the debt anyway. They should get something for not taking a salary during this time.
Then his sister informed him that Stan and Louisa hadn’t been taking a salary in almost a year.
He still felt it was the least he could do. He wasn’t that much of a dick.
“Hadley is a hard worker. She’s come here on vacation a few times a year since we had the pub and instead of taking time off to relax, she’d work and fill in where we needed her. She’s good with people. She’s worked the bar, the hostess table and has been a waitress. The only thing she hasn’t done is work in the kitchen. She could do easy things if we needed, but it’s never been a need while she was here.”
He needed help in all those places and if she could float between them, even better.
“Do the staff know her?” he asked.
“She hasn’t been in here in close to ten months,” Stan said. “She’s had a rough year and needs to start over.”
