by Alex Bailey
Ann flopped onto the sofa and felt good about her day’s endeavors. She thought about what she’d make for dinner, but with the kitchen still a wreck from the day’s baking, she thought about calling out for a pizza. As she flipped through the phone book, she had a slight twang in her stomach. She almost wished she’d accepted the date with Ben. This alone thing was great, but it was also grating on her. She wasn’t used to being alone this much.
Instead of calling for pizza, she picked up her cell phone and dialed Gloria’s number. It went straight to voice mail. Great. “Gloria’s got a date. Guess that means it’s just you and me, girl.” She scratched Honey under her chin.
Ann sunk back into the sofa and thought about Ben’s offer to take her to dinner. She pulled his number from her purse, where she’d shoved it after leaving his office. She peered at it for the longest time, and then decided, no, she was not lonely enough or desperate enough to accept a date from her boss.
She finally decided to pay a visit to a new friend. And she didn’t even need to change out of her jeans and t-shirt, which she was grateful for, because who would want to get dressed up to go out into the rain? She merely brushed off the flour remnants of her baking and she was good to go.
Ann let Honey out the back door to run for a minute. Honey hated getting wet so much that she ran right back in after doing her business. “I’ll see you in a few hours.” She then drove to the Vinci Tavern to pay a visit to Daniel.
The place was packed and Daniel was nowhere to be found. An eager young woman in a pencil skirt and white blouse, approached Ann. “Welcome to the Vinci Tavern. Table for one?”
“That’d be great,” Ann responded, slipping off her rain hood.
“Right this way.” She led Ann to a table on the right side of the restaurant. “Here you go.” She laid the freshly-printed menu on the table.
Ann slipped off her rain coat and the hostess asked, “Would you like me to hang that up for you?”
Ann glanced around the restaurant but didn’t see a coat rack.
The hostess responded, “We’ve got one in the back.”
Ann handed her dripping coat to the twenty-something year old, and as the hostess took it, she held it out in front of her as if it had the Plague.
“Thanks,” Ann said, stifling a laugh.
“Your server will be right with you,” she called over her shoulder.
While Ann took her seat, and glanced over the menu, Daniel broke her concentration as he greeted her warmly, “Hey lady, glad to see you again. How’d those cookies go over with your group?”
“Wonderful!” she beamed. “Everyone loved them! Thanks again for your help.”
Daniel shook his head. “It was nothing. Gotta tell you though, I served them to my customers and had some rave reviews. They want to know when we’re going to make more.”
“Seriously?” Ann asked. “People want more?”
“Sure, Ann, you’ve made some fans already. So, what can I get for you today?” He pulled out his pen and notepad from his crisp white apron.
“I was looking at this vegetarian chili. Does it really have chocolate in it?” Ann looked up expectantly.
Daniel nodded. “You’d never know though. It’s not like a bowl of hot chocolate or anything. There’s just a subtle hint of chocolate. Wanna try it? I could bring you a sample.”
“That’s okay, I trust you. I’ll have a bowl,” Ann couldn’t wait to taste it. She was salivating already.
“Comes with a side of fresh-made tortilla chips. That okay?”
“Perfect,” she said.
“It’s a little crazy in here tonight. One of my waiters called out.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“It’s okay, got an extra cook to come in. And it’s nice to see faces other than the cooks’. What can I get you to drink?”
Can I get a glass of iced tea, unsweetened, please? So, all the crazies come out in the rain in this town? Where I come from they come out on the full moon,” Ann chuckled.
“Same here. Moon, no moon, rain, snow, cloudless nights. It seems folks around here are always in the mood to eat. Be right back with your tea.”
Ann sat for a moment watching couples on dates, friends laughing, and families with kids of all ages at tables surrounding her. It was a nice atmosphere and she liked spending time there. She wished Gloria had been able to join her, but she’d call her another time.
Daniel returned quickly and set down a very large mug of steaming black coffee, along with her tall glass of iced tea.
“I didn’t order—”
“Compliments of a friend,” he said and nodded toward a table behind her.
She turned around. Ben was leaning out of a booth toward the back, grinning ear-to-ear.
“What makes him think I wanted coffee?” She gritted her teeth. “If I wanted coffee, I’d have ordered it my own damn self!”
“Whoa, slow down there, Ann. That’s not the reaction I was expecting. When I deliver a free drink, the recipient’s usually a little more gracious in receiving it. He meant nothing of the sort. Ben’s a good guy.”
“Look, I know you’re old pals and all—”
“We’re best friends. When I was opening this place, Ben spent every weekend helping me with the construction. He’s mighty handy with a hammer and saw. Come on Ann, give the old man a break. He said you’re working for him now, huh?”
“He told you?” Ann steamed. She liked to keep her private life private. She didn’t need the whole world knowing about her business.
Daniel grimaced. “What’s the big deal?”
Ann wasn’t about to fight with the chef. She knew better than to get on the bad side of someone making her food. “Nothing.”
“Ben asked if you’d like to join him. I can just move these drinks,” Daniel reached down and scooped them up before Ann could object, “Over to his table. You two won’t have to be alone tonight.”
This is all a setup for Ben to get the date I turned down! She reluctantly followed Daniel over to Ben’s table and joined him.
Ben stood, waited for Ann to be seated, and then sat back down. “So nice to see you! Been far too long.”
“Yeah,” Ann growled.
“Did you already order?” Ben’s plate of food was sitting in front of him, but he hadn’t yet taken a bite.
“I did,” she said, biting her lip.
“I could take this back and keep it warm until Ann’s food is up?” Daniel offered.
“Thanks, man,” Ben said, handing the plate to Daniel.
Daniel smiled at Ann as he sped off. She returned his smile with a scowl.
“So that was mighty manipulative of you,” Ann said, gazing off in the distance.
“How’s that?”
“You get me here, you have Daniel bring me coffee I didn’t ask for, you get me to move to your table, and you get this date you’ve been asking for. When I told you I am not interested in dating my boss!” Ann looked away because she was so angry, she was afraid she might tear up.
“Wait,” Ben fired back, “I agree I ordered the coffee for you and told Daniel to ask if you’d like to join me. But how did I get you here? I had no hand in where you chose to dine.”
She knew he was right, but she was pissed off and didn’t want to admit it so she did the next best thing and said, “So, Daniel said you two are best friends?”
“Nice change of the subject. Have you no comeback to my defense?”
Ann stared at him blankly. She knew she’d been wrong.
“Fine. I’ll take that as an apology,” he said. “And yes, we are best friends. Besties, as you West Coasters would say.”
“That’s not a West Coast saying, that’s a teenage girl saying. I should know, because I have one. Anyway, Daniel said you helped him fix this place up?”
“You know, if you were in a better mood, I’d make a joke about how some West Coasters were equivalent to teenage girls, but I think I’ll just let it go.” He quickly added, “It was a hell of a lot
of work. We spent every minute here for the better part of six months. Months I’d rather forget. But it turned out great. Before this place, there really wasn’t a decent restaurant in town. You’d have to go over to Yorkchestershiretown about five miles away.”
“I hate to admit it, but you did a great job,” Ann said losing her biting tone, just slightly. “I love this place.”
He glanced around the dining room. “Thanks, but it was Daniel, all his ideas, mostly his work. I just did what he told me.”
“I bet you found that hard to do,” Ann teased.
“What’s hard?” Ben took a gulp of the beer sitting in front of him.
“Doing what someone else told you to do,” she said nonchalantly. She didn’t believe Ben could ever do what he was told, she figured even when he was a child, he was probably a brat bossing his older sister around.
He didn’t respond.
“Here you go.” Daniel set their dishes down.
Ann wafted the chili toward her face. “Smells divine.”
“Enjoy, you two.” Daniel scurried off to another table.
“How can he do all this work by himself?” Ann wondered aloud.
“What’re you talking about—he’s got plenty of help. Look, Sophie’s over there, hostessing. He’s got Manny helping him cook in the back. Daniel’s serving and cooking some. What else does he need?”
“Roller skates,” Ann said; then burst into laughter.
Ben joined in her laughter and they continued taking jabs at each other while they ate.
When they finished, Daniel returned, and said to Ann, “So, what’d you think?”
“You were right. Only tasted a hint of chocolate, it definitely wasn’t overpowering. I think this one’s a keeper.”
“Great, so you guys want some dessert? I made a Boston Crème Pie earlier. I think there’s still a slice or two left.”
“None for me thanks, I’m stuffed,” Ann responded first.
“Got any of those cookies you gave me the other day?” Ben asked like a little boy wanting more ice cream.
“Nah, man. Been getting so many requests, got none left. They were gone the same day she made them,” Daniel said in a disappointed tone.
“Yeah, I could see it. Something good wouldn’t last. Bummer. Any chance you’ll be making them again soon?” Ben looked like he knew the answer.
“Very funny,” Ann said. “Maybe I don’t need to bring any in to work; seems like your memory is in fine shape to me.”
Ben started to protest, but Daniel interrupted. “Look you guys, I hate to break this up, but I’m kinda swamped here. I’m gonna make this short and sweet. Ann, whadya think about coming back and we could make some together. Don’t have to be gluten free. I could sell them here and we could share in the profits, you willing to give it a try?”
Ann was stunned. No one had ever asked her to cook for money. But she was also thrilled someone was asking now, “Sure!”
“Okay, come by next weekend—how about Saturday morning?”
“Absolutely!” She almost jumped out of her seat.
Daniel rushed off after leaving their check.
“Damn, how’d he do it?” Ben wondered.
“Do what?” Ann was still elated at the thought of selling her cookies in Daniel’s restaurant.
“Get that date that I don’t seem to be able to get.”
Chapter 14
Ann was learning a lot about her new job and was becoming very fond of her newly adopted family, quirks and all. She was starting to feel as if she fit in. And now that Ben was her boss, he wasn’t nearly as annoying as she once thought him to be.
Around eleven thirty on Wednesday, Ben popped his head into Ann and Helga’s office. “Don’t forget—you turn into a pumpkin at noon today.”
Helga looked up from her paperwork, “What are you talking about, Benny? Her aura’s perfectly clear. I can read her like a book and there are no pumpkins in her future.”
Ben nodded his head toward Ann, “She knows what I mean.”
“I really don’t—”
“This is not up for negotiation, Ann. You’re to leave at noon today. End of story.”
Ann wrinkled up her nose at him as Ben turned to leave.
He popped back in, and said, “Helga, come get me if she’s still here at twelve-o-one.”
“Got it,” Helga gave him the thumbs up.
“Traitor,” Ann said, sticking her tongue at Helga.
“Hey, he may be family, but he’s the boss man. And what the boss man says, goes. I know which side my bread is buttered on. And oh, have you ever tried slathering butter on a piece of bread, then rolling a corn cob all over it. Best way in the world to butter your corn.”
“Nope,” Ann said, “can’t say I’ve ever tried that. But sounds like it’d work just fine.”
Helga swirled her chair around to face Ann, “Can I tell you a secret, Ann?”
Ann continued with her paperwork but glanced in Helga’s direction. “Sure, shoot.”
“Well, I haven’t told anyone. You know,” she waved her hand through the air, “they all think I’m cray-cray here.”
Ann noticed the concern in Helga’s voice and stopped what she was doing, then turned and gave Helga her full attention. Her blond hair had streaks of sliver and the cosmic eye charm seemed to glow. “Helga, I don’t—”
“I didn’t mean you,” Helga said excitedly, “that’s why I wanted to tell you. But, please, please, please don’t tell anyone. I’m not ready just yet.”
“What is it? This must be good news, because I’ve never seen you this enthusiastic before.”
“I’m going to open up my own palm reading shop!”
Ann didn’t know what to think of Helga’s idea. She knew Helga was into these…meta-physical ideas, but Ann had never bought into crystal ball gazing. She mostly agreed with the rest of the staff, that Helga was a bit…odd. Regardless, she wanted Helga to be happy and to pursue her own passions. She wasn’t about to discourage her and said fervently, “Helga! That sounds wonderful! It’s you, all over!”
Helga ran over to Ann’s chair, gave her a quick hug, then sat back in her own chair and asked, “So, you don’t think it’s crazy?”
Ann wanted to phrase her response in a way that supported any crazy idea Helga came up with. She smiled and said emphatically, “If it’s what you want, go for it! You deserve happiness as much as anyone. I think it’s perfect. So, how does one go about opening a palm reading shop?”
“Well, I was thinking of starting small. I contacted the Burrburgh Mall management and asked how much it would cost a month to set up a small kiosk, without the kiosk.” Seeing Ann’s confused look, Helga explained, “Just two chairs and a table, no kiosk needed. And I could start by doing it on weekends and after work.”
Ann nodded in agreement, impressed that Helga had already started planning her new adventure.
“But it won’t work,” Helga sounded glum. “The mall said if I open a kiosk, I have to keep the same hours as the mall hours. Even without the kiosk.”
Ann shook her head. “That doesn’t sound fair.”
“I agree. I would have to be there full time.”
“And you can’t work here and there.”
“Right,” Helga bobbed her head up and down, her teased do remaining in place. “But when you started working here, I began to think it might be possible to leave. Before you came, I never would have left Aunt Dorothy, Ben, and Uncle Walt. They needed me. But now that you’re here, I’m thinking they don’t need me as much. And once you’ve been here a while, I can quit and open my little shop in the mall.” Helga beamed like Jupiter aligning with Mars.
“Don’t you worry, I’ll work really hard to learn everything I can, so you can go off and see your dream come true. So, will you be Madame Helga?”
“I will! How’d you guess?”
Ann shrugged, “Good guess?”
“Madame Helga’s Palm and Tarot Card Reader. And you Ann, were my first
customer.”
“But I didn’t pay you for my reading.”
“Oh, but you did. You paid me by giving me confidence to pursue my dream.”
* * * * *
Ann was still in the office a few minutes after noon, but as soon as Helga walked in and fussed at her, she grabbed her bag and headed out the door. She had gotten a lot accomplished so she didn’t mind so much. Plus, she really did feel bad about not taking cookies for Mindy last week and wanted to get started making another batch. She looked forward to a surprise for some of the others too.
When she walked into her house, Honey jumped all over Ann. Honey had gotten used to Ann being away most of the day, so this was a special treat for Ann to be home early. “Missed me, huh? I missed you too.” Ann squatted to give her pet a kiss and let her lick her face.
Ann started creating her cookies after giving Honey a homemade biscuit. Since she had all the ingredients, it was easy to do. She made the gluten-free cookies first, so there would be no contamination when she used the same measuring cups for the cookies with wheat flour. Once the cookies were baked and cooled, she stuck them in the freezer, and relaxed with a cup of coffee. After a few minutes of rest, she prepared the batter for the deep-frying step and plunged them into the bubbling oil.
When all the cookies had been fried and drained, Ann grabbed the tin of homemade dog biscuits and placed them on top of the platter. She couldn’t wait to see everyone’s face when she arrived.
* * * * *
Still in her work clothes of a simple purple dress and black pumps, Ann had to juggle two platters, a tin, her knitting bag, and Honey’s leash for the short walk to Freda’s house. She was glad she could at least leave her kitchen sink at home.
When Freda answered the door, her gaze landed on the tin on top of the cookie platters. Her face went from full-on-smile to I’ve-just-lost-the-Miss America’s-swimsuit-competition, “No Southern Fried Chocolate Chip Cookies today? You found a different recipe to try on us?”
While Ann untangled Honey’s leash, Freda snatched a cookie from the tin and chomped down on a heaping mouthful of beef flavored dog treat. She spit the biscuit out in the sink. “Crap, you need to stick to the original recipe.”