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He laughed, ducking his head to his checklist. “It’s boring. It starts and ends like they all do, with falling in love and falling out of love.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Ariel said, raising her sorbet bowl in a toast.
“And speaking of,” Darcy pressed, “showing up in new places…”
Ariel winced, sensing where this was going. “It’s not my story to tell. All I know is that Miles’s ex-wife really enjoyed the salmon tonight, and she’ll be our guest at Leeside for the near future.”
“She doesn’t know you know?”
“I doubt she would be so friendly. I’m not sure of her reasons for being here, but honestly, I’m too tired to speculate. I texted Miles about an hour ago, but I don’t want to crowd him. I know I would be freaked out if I were in his place.”
Darcy let out a long, deep sigh. “I thought it was going to be boring in Maine.”
“Oh, it is,” Ariel quipped. “Just not at my house. Look, why don’t you leave that paperwork for tomorrow? We’ve all had a long night. And it was the perfect opening, thanks in part to you, Darcy," she said, smiling at him.
"It’s no problem," Darcy replied, his cheeks turning slightly pink. "I'm just glad I could help out."
Ariel surveyed the kitchen, taking in the spotless counters and gleaming stainless steel appliances. She couldn't help but feel impressed by the young man's work ethic. "You know," she said, "you've been doing such a fantastic job. I'm really impressed by how hard you work."
Darcy smiled shyly, ducking his head. "Thank you.”
"In fact, I was thinking, would you be interested in doing more around here? Getting more hours, maybe?"
Darcy's eyes widened with surprise. "Really? Yeah, I'd love to!"
"Great," Ariel said, beaming at him. "How about you come in tomorrow morning, and we'll talk about some more responsibilities you could take on?"
"That sounds awesome. Thank you, Ariel.” He stood from the island, gave Ariel a pat on the shoulder, and gathered his things to go. “You should go, too. You have to be exhausted.”
“Oh, I am. Luckily, my commute is down the hall.”
After Darcy left, Ariel sat alone in the quiet, half-dark kitchen. Overall, the evening had been a success, and she would hopefully talk with Miles later. As for what they would do about Emily and her mysterious motives for booking herself into Leeside? Ariel had no idea what their plan would be…
CHAPTER NINE
“I think I died,” Katie said, slumping into a chair at one of the tables in the main dining area of the Seaside Café twenty minutes later.
“And went to heaven?” Ariel asked, pushing in the last chair as she completed her final check of the dining room. “I mean, it is pretty transcendent getting to work with your mom in a swanky place like this.”
Katie let out a heavy sigh and rolled her eyes as she leaned forward and put her forehead on the crisp, white linen tablecloth. “No. Of overwork.” Her head popped up. “Like, in a good way. We accomplished something, But,man, are my feet sore.”
Ariel walked to the back of the dining room, starting to flip switches so that the chandeliers turned off, one by one. The dining room slowly descended into near darkness. The quiet dim was such a change. All night, the Seaside Café had been a bustling and vibrant space, filled with the clinking of glasses and the murmurs of conversation. But now, when the restaurant was closed and the lights were out, it was transformed into a different world altogether.
Only a few soft lights remained, casting a warm and inviting glow over the space. The chandeliers, which normally sparkled with crystal and light, were now muted and serene.
The room was still and quiet, with only the faintest sounds of the beach and crickets outside filtering through the windows. The tables, which had been adorned with elegant candles and fine china, were now freshly draped and pristine. The chairs, recently filled with diners, were pushed in neatly under the tables.
The only movement in the room came from the gentle sway of the curtains in the evening breeze. They moved gracefully in and out of the moonlight, casting a soft glow over the room. The silverware, which had been polished to a high shine, lay quietly in their places, waiting for the next guests to arrive.
Despite the stillness, the dining room still exuded an air of sophistication and luxury. The walls, painted in soft shades of cream and gold, were decorated with ornate mirrors and elegant artwork. The carpet, which had been carefully chosen for its plush texture and muted tones, was soft underfoot.
It was in this state of calm that the Seaside would remain until the next day, when it would once again come alive with the sounds of laughter and conversation. But for now, in its serene state, it was a testament to the beauty and sophistication of the renovation—and to those who had helped Ariel pull off a spectacular opening.
Ariel looked back at Katie, who was staring into the dining room just as Ariel had been.
“I really appreciate your help, Katie. I know you had a lot going on tonight…” She trailed off, hoping that her daughter would pick up on the hint and start the talk that she had mentioned earlier. Connor hadn’t returned from outside with Katie, and so Ariel could only assume that he had gone home.
But Katie only picked up one of the cloth napkins from a nearby table and said, “Yeah. It was fun. I’m happy to help out here again whenever you need me…” before crumbling up the fabric into her lap and refusing to meet Ariel's gaze any longer.
