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We could always put a show on one of our phones if Evie got restless. I intended to pop back and check on her too.
Harper stopped in front of me before we stepped into the hallway. “Thank you for this.”
Knowing she meant allowing Evie to stay in my office while she worked, I touched her shoulders with my hands, silently pleading with her to look at me. When her gaze lifted to mine, I said, “Evie’s always welcome. I love having her here.” I loved Evie, and I was quickly realizing I might feel a little something for her mother too.
“Thank you.” She touched my cheek before pulling me down, and before I could question what she was doing, she kissed my cheek. The touch was feather light, and I closed my eyes for a second to try to memorialize the moment.
By the time I opened them, Harper was gone, and Evie was smiling at me. “Do you have to work, Mr. G.?”
I cleared my throat, feeling a little off-kilter from Harper’s lips on my cheek. “It’s Leo. Mr. G. is my dad.”
“Mommy said to talk to adults with re-pect,” she said, drawing out the word, and missing the S entirely.
Evie’s head was bent over her book, her tongue between her lips in concentration, as she squeezed the crayon.
“But I’m your friend.”
Evie blinked up at me.
“I’m your mother’s friend. So, you can call me Leo.”
She smiled, and it was wide and sweet, and I blinked against the brightness. “Okay, Mr. L.”
“Ugh,” I groaned, knowing she was teasing me. “I’m going up front to help. If you need anything, just holler, okay?”
“Okay, Mr. L.” Then she giggled.
“Stop calling me that,” I bellowed as I headed out of the room and shut the door firmly behind me. Evie had been here enough times that she knew most of the staff and felt comfortable coming to anyone with a question.
I should have been stressed with the dining room full and the carryout orders coming in, but I felt content knowing Harper was here, and Evie was in my office. It felt right, even though I hated that I had to bring her in. Harper had enough things going on without me adding to them, but she was the one we called when we needed an extra server.
We’d rented the apartment above the restaurant to her for years, so they didn’t have far to go. But still, I felt responsible for the exhaustion I saw on her face.
Harper had taken over my tables, so I was free to float between the dining room and the kitchen, pitching in when necessary. The waitstaff’s uniform was a white polo and black pants, but Harper stood out in her office clothes of a white tailored blouse, slacks, and heels.
The rest of the night passed in a blur. I oversaw everything, which meant making sure that carryout orders were getting out the door, food made it to the tables, trash was cleared, and diners were seated quickly. Every fifteen minutes or so, I checked on Evie.
When I checked on her at the end of the night, she was curled up on my leather chair, watching a show on Harper’s phone.
Evie’s eyes widened. “Mommy said I could watch.”
“You want me to take you upstairs?” I asked, concerned.
Evie shook her head. “Mommy said I had to wait until she was done working.”
“Let me check on her.” It was getting late, and things had slowed. If I was going to send anyone home early, it would be Harper so she could get off her feet. Those heels weren’t ideal for waitressing.
Harper was by the service area, plugging in yet another order. “Why don’t you head out with Evie, and I’ll take over from here.”
“I usually work until closing.” Closing for us meant ten, but that was too late for Evie.
“Evie’s falling asleep in my chair.”
Harper winced. “I’m sorry. I’ll carry her up when I’m done.”
I nudged her out of the way and plucked her notepad from her hands. “Clock out and take Evie upstairs. I’ll check on you in a bit.”
Her brow raised, and I couldn’t blame her. We never sent Harper home early because she was a family friend. My parents didn’t question asking her to help. “Are you sure?”
