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“We used to offer it but the chef got annoyed with having too much to do in the mornings. Plus, some days we wouldn’t even get any breakfast orders so it didn’t make sense to have the extra staff for it. It wasn’t worth the hassle.” He glanced at the window and frowned at the figure on the patio. “This guy’s here for his morning coffee. I’ll duck out of the way or he’ll talk my ear off and I won’t get anything done for the next half hour.”
While Kevin slipped away, Allie took a couple of steps towards the patio doors, squinting out at the older gentleman in a wax jacket and walking boots.
With an overwhelming sense of deja vu, she opened the patio door for him.
Bill.
The name rang in her head so clearly she was tempted to call it out. Except her mind was doing odd things. She didn’t know the man. His limp grey hair lifted in the breeze and the skin around his eyes crinkled deeply as he smiled. The brown Labrador at his side trotted straight over to Allie, stopping in front of the door and wagging his tail madly.
“Hello,” she said, crouching to stroke him and feeling slightly dizzy with the notion that she’d done the same thing before.
“Morning!” the man called, as he ambled across the patio.
“Hi.” Allie straightened up, shaking her head slightly to dispel the distracting thoughts.
“You must be the new waitress?”
“That’s me,” she said, her mind whirring with the unshakable thought that she knew this man with kind eyes.
“Beautiful morning,” he said, stepping inside. “Chilly though. I’ll be glad of a coffee to warm me through.”
Allie remained holding the door open, but the lovely old Labrador didn’t budge from his spot outside the door.
“He’s fine out there.” The man aimed a single nod at the dog. “Perry knows the drill. He’ll wait for me.”
“It’s cold out,” Allie said. “The fire’s lit in the lounge. He’ll be much more comfortable there.”
“I’d be inclined to agree, but dogs aren’t allowed inside.”
“Of course they are,” she said without thinking, then paused and blinked slowly. “I mean they should be. Why aren’t they allowed?”
The man’s eyes narrowed as he regarded her. “Something to do with the cleaners and dog hair. You’d need to ask Kevin.”
“Oh.” That was ridiculous. “It’s a silly rule,” she said lightly. “Let him come in out of the cold. I’ll deal with Kevin.” She switched her gaze to the dog, patting her thigh as she told him to come in.
“Don’t lose your job on our account,” the man said. “Perry will be fine outside.”
“But you’ll be much happier inside, won’t you?” Allie adopted a sing-song tone as she ruffled the fur on Perry’s head.
She led the way to the roaring fire and gestured to the wingback chair for the man while Perry happily stretched himself out before the heat of the crackling logs.
From the reception desk, Daisy caught her eye. “Kevin doesn’t like dogs inside.”
“So I heard,” Allie replied with a conspiratorial smirk.
“Told you she’s nice,” Daisy called to the man before going back to the computer.
“She did say that.” He reached down and patted the dog. “Sorry. Daisy told me your name, but my memory isn’t what it used to be …”
“Allie.”
“I’m Bill,” he told her with a twinkle in his eyes.
Her breath caught in her throat. “It’s nice to meet you,” she muttered.
“You too. I heard you’re new to the area as well as the job.”
“Yes.” Her heart was galloping. It seemed ridiculous now that she’d never considered whether there might still be people around who’d known her as a child. How had that not occurred to her? She supposed she’d been too busy assuming she’d be recognised for her career achievements instead of worrying about people who might know her in real life.
