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“You had the right to do that. I might have done it in the same situation.”
“I don’t have much to say. I think we said it all. I’m glad you saw the things I would have pointed out on my own. I’m glad I’ve got good ideas that you go with. That means the world to me. And I’m sorry if what I said to you came out in a clumsy way. It was about me believing in my abilities, and not for one second did I overlook the fact that it is your talent and expertise and experience that made Southside a success.”
“And I’m thrilled you feel comfortable and confident enough to come to me with things. I feared that after what I said on Sunday that you’d take some steps back again and I don’t want that to happen.”
“I might have, but I told myself not to. I like the person I’m becoming. I’ve got you to thank for that.”
“No thanks. You’ve always been this person. Maybe you just need someone to jiggle it out of you.”
She started to laugh. “Jiggle. That makes me think of Jell-O. What a funny word.”
He shook his head at her. “It’s a long story. Maybe someday I’ll tell you,” he said.
“I can’t wait to hear it.”
It let her believe she’d be around long enough to be told.
31
Doing My Job
Weeks later, mid-August, Hadley wasn’t sure being the manager of Southside was as much fun as she imagined.
She was the person everyone was coming to complain to. Staff included.
There’d been some that weren’t thrilled she was appointed to the position. That they wanted to apply or felt they were better qualified.
Many said she only got it as a favor to her parents.
It made her feel like crap, but rather than argue over it, she decided to be the bigger person and not engage.
She didn’t think it was running or avoiding, but the best business practice in this situation.
The old saying of you couldn’t please everyone was the truth.
She’d spent a few shifts training the new hostess that had wanted to be a server and she started to work the hostess stand. She liked placing people because she knew the servers and how fast they worked when need be.
Some hustled, others liked to take their time and be friendly. There was a place and a time for both, but on Friday night it was more hustling with kindness blended together.
“Welcome to Southside,” she said to the couple that walked in. “For two?”
“Yes,” the woman said. “You must be Hadley.”
She wasn’t sure how they knew her, but she didn’t know them. “I am. I’m sorry. Have we met?”
The woman laughed and Hadley looked at the man next to her, saw the blonde hair on the big man and the resemblance to Duke.
“We’re Karen and Kyle Raymond. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too,” she said. “I just realized who you were now by looking at you. Duke looks a lot like you.”
“And Kelsey looks like me with Kyle’s coloring,” Karen said.
“Please, let me find you a seat. Is this your first time at Southside?”
“It is,” Kyle said. “We normally go to Duke’s, but my wife got it in her brain to try out Southside.”
“And maybe get a glimpse at me,” she said quietly as she moved to an open table. She wasn’t sure where the boldness came from, but it felt like the time to say it.
