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Andy also couldn’t help noticing another similarity. Feeling curious, she ventured to ask, “Is that you on the website, then? The woman on the surfboard?”
“Nah.” Mary rubbed her bump as they continued their trek down the aisle. “That was my mom.”
Andy didn’t miss the sad note underlying the statement. “Was?” she broached softly.
“Yeah.” Mary paused again near a door marked “Staff Only,” her eyes shimmering as she let out a bitter laugh. “Cancer’s a bitch, huh?”
Andy glanced away, not knowing what to say. So of course she latched onto the first random fact that popped into her head. “Did you know the word ‘cancer’ is related to the Greek word for ‘crab’?”
Mary cocked her head.
Andy kept on rambling, suddenly acutely aware they’d stopped within earshot of the sales counter. “Y-yeah. I read it in a book somewhere. It’s because cancer cells have these little finger-like projections that make them look like crabs when you look at them under a microscope.”
Mary tilted her head another couple degrees. Probably because everything flying out of Andy’s mouth was asinine.
Damn it. She so wasn’t good at these types of conversations.
But after a few seconds of silence, Mary let out a surprising snort. “Oh my god. If my mother only knew…” There was another series of snorts as she raised her fingers in air quotes. “She died ofcrabs.”
Andy’s cheeks reddened, a smile growing in response to Mary’s giggles. “I take it that would have amused her?”
“Girl, my mother would have died laughing.” At which point, Mary, of course, died laughing. “Oh, god,” she wheezed as she cradled her shaking belly, “we should probably wrap this up before I pee myself.” Andy’s quick nod drew one last giggle from her boss.
Tapping the door to her left, Mary resumed the tour. “So back here is the guys’ workshop. They generally keep the door closed while they’re shaping to keep out the noise and the dust, but don’t worry, if things get real busy in the store, they’ll come out to help.” Mary pointed towards the ceiling. “There are cameras up there, and the guys can monitor us from the CCTV in the back.”
Andy followed the woman’s gaze, and her mouth dropped open. Not because of the cameras mounted strategically about the exposed dark-wood beams stretching across the store, but because of the hidden trove of merchandise resting above them.
“Wow,” she whispered.
How had she missed this walking in? Dozens of surfboards were stashed in the rafters — deck-side facing the floor. Perfect white ovals interspersed with pops of color like some magical, mosaic sky. And just like that, the dreamy Oz-like feeling was back.
Mary chuckled. “Yeah, I forgot to mention the overstock. Needless to say, we rarely run low on boards. Anything we sell during the day, we replace after closing with inventory from up there. The quiver should always be full every morning when the store opens.”
“Got it.”
“Oh, and when we’re backed up on custom orders, please push the pre-made stock. If a client just wants a different color or something, we might have it in the rafters anyway.”
“Cool. Are we backed up on orders now?”
Mary groaned. “Yeesss. Luke and Dylan have had to pull double-duty lately because my closer Reggie busted up his ankle at Black’s.”
Well, that explained the weird line of questioning during the interview.
“But Reg told me he’ll be back to work next week,” Mary hastened to add. “Also, I’ve got two seasonal part-timers, Rash and Quentin, who’ll be returning tomorrow, so don’t worry. We’ll be fully staffed when I go on leave in July."
“I’m not worried, Mary.”
This wasn’t entirely true. The dude ringing up an assortment of snacks for the group of teens currently raiding the cashwrap was causing her at least a bit of concern. But she wasn’t going to stress her pregnant boss out by admitting to this.
Mary let out another relieved sigh. “Thanks again for starting today. I really appreciate it.”
Andy’s bank account did too. Electric bikes weren’t cheap. “No problem.”
“Cool. Well, now we just need to make it official and get you a shirt.” She gestured to the floor of the store, which was clearly the apparel department. Multiple wheeled racks in a trendy brushed-nickel finish took up much of the space, all hung with beach attire. T-shirts, swim trunks, wetsuits, bikinis, sarongs. They had it all.
Andy’s gaze lingered on the same top Mary wore. It really was a pretty shade of blue. But, ugh, it would show off her belly button. That seemed weird. “Do I have to wear that one?”
“Nope. Feel free to pick out any top you want so long as it has our logo on it.”
