“Do you miss Papa?” she asked quietly, peering into the cage at the bird. “Is that why you’re so upset? Do you somehow know that he isn’t coming back? I don’t know much about macaws, but I think you’re supposed to be pretty smart.”
She was relieved to see that the food and water dishes were mounted on little doors that could swing out of the cage. At least she wouldn’t have to reach her entire arm inside the cage; she was certain to get bit if she tried that. As it was, she still jumped back when the bird lunged at her from inside the bars. That beak was just so big.
“Look, I just want to feed you, all right? I’m not trying to invade your personal space. I even have a piece of blueberry muffin for you…” She held up the chunk of muffin, which the bird seemed to recognize. Marlowe climbed back up to her perch and began bobbing her head up and down, her eyes on the muffin all the while.
“I’m guessing that means you’ll let me put the food in your dish?” Ellie asked. “Just don’t try to bite me, okay?”
Moving slowly, she opened the little door by the food dish and dumped the colorful pellets into the dish. Watching the bird closely, she placed the chunk of muffin on top, then shut the door. In a flash, the bird climbed down to the food dish and began eating the blueberry muffin.
“Well, that’s one challenge done and over with for the day,” Ellie told the bird, stepping back and wiping her palms on her tee shirt. “Time to focus on the next one—saving my grandfather’s business.”
Ellie drove slowly by the old building that housed her grandfather’s pizzeria. A neon sign with the lettering Pa a Pace li’s Piz ria glowed in the window. The burned-out letters gave the place a run-down, disreputable look.
“It could be worse,” she muttered to herself as she turned her blinker on and rounded the corner, looking for the entrance to the parking lot behind the building. “This place used to turn a profit, after all. With any luck, it will be an easy fix and I can turn my attention to what’s really important: finding a way to piece my career back together.”
She parked her car next to a rusted silver pickup truck and started toward the building. The rear entrance was marked Employees Only. She hesitated, then squared her shoulders and pushed through the door. If she was in charge of the pizzeria now, she should act like it.
CHAPTER THREE
“Watch out!”
A young man carrying a pizza box and wearing a black and red baseball cap with the restaurant’s name embroidered on it narrowly missed running into her. She jumped back, stumbling into the legs of another employee—a blond girl sitting on the counter and chewing gum.
“Sorry!” Ellie exclaimed, flustered. Both employees were glaring at her. Great start I’ve made, she thought, upset with herself.
“Didn’t you see the sign, lady? It says this entrance is for employees only. Guests are supposed to go around front.” This was from another young man, one who looked slightly older than the other two. He had curly black hair, and a pin on his shirt that designated him as the manager.
“You must be Xavier,” Ellie said, straightening up and trying to gather herself. She hadn’t made a good first impression, but maybe that could still be salvaged. “I’m Eleanora Pacelli. I believe my grandmother spoke to you. She’s given me the pizzeria. I’m your new boss.”
The silence in the kitchen was deafening. She watched closely as a myriad of emotions flickered across the manager’s face; surprise, annoyance, maybe even anger. At last his expression settled into a simpering smile that didn’t touch his eyes.
“Ah, Miss Pacelli. I think Ann did mention something about you stopping by today. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Xavier Hurst.”
He stuck out a greasy hand, which Ellie shook reluctantly. She already disliked the young man, and would have bet money that he felt the same way toward her.
“I’m Rose Oliver,” the girl said, sliding off the counter. “And the guy that ran into you is Jacob Stevens.”
Ellie looked around. Jacob seemed to have vanished.
“He was on his way out for a delivery,” Rose added, snapping her gum. “He’ll be back in a bit.”
“Oh. Well, it’s very nice to meet all of you,” Ellie said. “Um, let’s get started then, shall we?” She turned to Xavier, who stared at her.
“Started with what?” he asked.
“I’m here to turn this place around and do what I can to figure out why it’s losing money,” she explained. “Didn’t my grandmother tell you that?” Was she imagining it, or had he paled?
“Uh, I guess. I kinda thought you’d want me to handle everything, like I have been. Arthur sort of let me have free rein.”
It took Ellie a second to realize that he meant her grandfather. She frowned. “Well, I plan on doing things a little bit differently than he did. I know this place was a hobby for him, but to me, it’s a business. My grandmother and I can’t afford to be losing money on it. Today I’ll just observe and see if I notice anything that can be fixed right away. I’ll keep going over the finances this week, and do my best to figure out exactly what’s going wrong. Papa Pacelli’s used to be the most popular pizzeria in town. I want to see it back at the top within the year.”
She ignored the wide-eyed glance that Xavier and Rose exchanged and took out her tablet, already making a list of things to fix before the week was out.
By the time she was done assessing just the physical state of the restaurant, she had a frighteningly long list. From the semi-working neon sign out front to the greasy stoves in the back, it was evident that Papa Pacelli’s really needed a good, thorough cleaning. Beneath all of the grime, it was a nice-looking place. The walls in the dining area weren’t painted, but rather covered with black and red tiles the size of dessert plates. The floor was a dark, natural hardwood that would glow with a good cleaning. There were four booths and two tables; ample room for guests to sit in and eat, although few chose to do so. The appliances in the kitchen were all good quality, if a bit old. With some tender, loving care, the pizzeria was sure to become a popular eatery once again.
Tired of looking at dusty shelves and walls with pizza sauce stains, she decided to spend the last part of the day observing how the employees interacted with the customers. She already suspected that a large part of the reason for the restaurant’s losing money was from indifferent customer service. No one wanted to eat at a restaurant where the service wasn’t good. Good service was almost as important as the quality of the food, and what she saw in the first few minutes alone did not impress her.
“Rose, why are three of the tables still covered in dishes from guests that left half an hour ago?” Ellie asked.
“Cleaning the tables is Jacob’s job,” the girl told her. “He’s out on a delivery.”
“He left for his last delivery two hours ago. He isn’t back yet?”
The blonde woman shook her head. “I guess I can clean the tables off if you want, though. Give me a shout if someone else comes in, ’kay?”
Ellie watched the young employee begin stacking plates at the nearest table. She was fuming. It was obvious that the main issue that was holding back the pizzeria’s success was the employees’ poor work ethic. She had originally accepted the job of turning the pizzeria’s finances around because it was important to her grandmother, but now the project felt more personal. This was her family’s restaurant—the employees had no right to treat it the way that they did.
Her mental tirade was interrupted by the cheery jingling of the bell on the front door as a customer walked in. She turned to face him, but the words “Welcome to Papa Pacelli’s” faltered on her lips. His was a face that she would have recognized anywhere.
“Ben Elkton?” she said, her eyes widening with surprise. He stared at her for a moment before a wide grin broke across his face.
“Eleanora? Is that really you? Little Ellie Pacelli?”
Ellie winced. She had always hated being called that in school. At the start of every year she had tried to insist that her teac
hers and friends a call her by her full name, Eleanora, but despite her efforts, “Ellie Pacelli” had stuck. One of the many things that she had been looking forward to about marriage was the fact that she would, at last, have a different name. One that didn’t rhyme. Just another dream down the drain, she thought, letting the familiar bitterness flood her for a moment before she shook her head and focused on the man in front of her.
Ben Elkton had been her high school sweetheart, and seeing him brought back long-forgotten memories in a rush. He looked as handsome as ever, with his neatly trimmed black hair, just starting to go grey around the edges, mischievous hazel eyes, and a slightly crooked nose. She remembered the day it got broken, during a fight with his cousin.
“It’s really me.” Her face split into a grin to match his. “I can’t believe you’re still here. I thought you always wanted to move out west?”
“It’s still a dream of mine, but life got in the way,” he said with a shrug. “My old man got sick just before I left for college, and I had to take over the business while he saw specialists. I’ll get out of this town someday, though. No, what I’m really surprised about is seeing you here. It’s been what, twenty years?”
“About that. I’m back for the foreseeable future, though. I’m sure you heard about my grandfather?”
He nodded. “I’m very sorry about his passing. He was a good man. Are you staying with your grandmother now?”
“I am. She’s lonely in that big house without him, and I was ready for a change of career, so it’s working out well for both of us.” She wasn’t quite ready to tell him about her failed relationship and the mess that she had made of her previous job; thankfully, he didn’t ask her any more about it.
“That’s very kind of you. I’m sure she appreciates it.” He hesitated, then cleared his throat and added, “Say, do you want to get dinner tonight? I’d love the chance to catch up more. It’s not often that you run into old friends.”
“Sure,” Ellie said. “Just tell me when and where, and I’ll be there.”
She fought hard to keep from smiling like an idiot. It seemed that she was still just as vulnerable to Ben’s charms as ever. Don’t get ahead of yourself, she thought. He’s probably happily married. He did say that this would be a chance to catch up… as friends.
“What do you say about the Lobster Pot at eight?” he asked.
“That place is still open? I’ll be there. It was nice to run into you, Ben,” she said.
“You, too.” He smiled at her. “I’ll see you tonight.”
He made to leave, then turned back around with a foolish grin on his face. “I almost forgot to pick up my order. I should have a Hawaiian back there somewhere.”
“Just a second, I’ll check.”
After he left with his pizza, Rose, who had finished clearing off the tables, came over with a smirk on her face. “Looks like you’ve got a date.”
“It’s not a date… just dinner, as friends,” Ellie objected. The young woman chuckled and, shaking her head, began wiping down the counter with a wrung-out rag.
CHAPTER FOUR
The Lobster Pot had been one of the most popular restaurants in town for as long as Ellie could remember. When she used to live in Kittiport, she and her parents would eat there a few times each month. It didn’t seem to have changed much from what she remembered.
“Well, here goes,” she said once she parked her vehicle. She flipped down the visor and looked at herself in the mirror. Had she gone too far with the makeup? She kept telling herself that this wasn’t a date, but she had been unable to resist the opportunity to gussy up a little for Ben. Her eyeshadow was dark and smoky, and her lipstick was an alluring red. Her hair, straight and boring as ever, was pulled back in a messy bun, held back by her nicest hair clip. She was wearing black dress pants and a blue blouse with a gold camisole underneath.
At least I don’t look like I was just cheated on by my fiancé and fired from my job, she thought. I don’t look bad at all, really. She gave herself an encouraging smile in the mirror, then shut the visor. It was time to find Ben and officially start their not-a-date dinner.
“I still can’t believe it,” Ben said, shaking his head. “Ellie Pacelli. I never thought I’d see you again after you and your mom moved to Illinois when we were in high school.”
They were seated at a booth near the back of the restaurant, next to a window that looked out over the marina. Ben was sipping a beer, and Ellie was nursing a glass of chardonnay. It felt good to relax and enjoy being back after being so stressed about the pizzeria all day.
“I should have visited,” she said. “I feel bad about that. I missed out on the last chance to see my grandfather before he died, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive myself for that.”
“Don’t be hard on yourself,” he said, settling his hand over hers. “From what I heard, his death was unexpected. There was no way you could have known you’d have so little time left.”
Ellie looked down at their hands and felt a flutter in her stomach. After leaving Kenneth, she hadn’t even considered dating another man. But maybe her future wouldn’t be as bleak and lonely as she had thought.
“Oh—I’m sorry,” Ben said, following her gaze to their hands. He pulled his back with a jerk. “I didn’t mean to… you’re probably married…”
He broke off, coughing awkwardly and taking another swallow of beer. Ellie grinned, finding his embarrassment endearing.
“I’m not married,” she assured him. “I thought you might be, though.”
“Nope.” He grimaced. “Divorced. Going on five years now. I’ve got one son, but he lives with her.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“It’s all right. I’ve got the furniture shop to keep me busy, and I get to see Josh on the weekends. He and his mom moved down to Portland. I think he likes the bigger city better anyway. Let’s talk about you. How long do you think you’ll be here?”
“I honestly don’t know,” Ellie said. “Don’t tell anyone I told you this, but Papa Pacelli’s hasn’t been doing so well. It’s actually losing money right now, and while my grandmother wants to keep it open, she can’t do it for much longer if things don’t turn around. So I suppose I’ll see if I can get the restaurant back on its feet. After that… I have no idea.”
“Well, I hope you end up staying here for good this time,” he said with a smile. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you again, Ellie Pacelli.”
Their conversation trailed off after the waiter brought them their food. Both of them had ordered lobster—the Lobster Pot’s specialty, after all. Lobster season was in full swing, and the delicious crustaceans had been caught just hours before.
Ellie had ordered baked lobster tail with Cajun seasoning, and a side of creamy lobster bisque. The soup was creamy and rich, and won her over immediately. She was glad the Lobster Pot had a take-out service as well—she imagined that she would be stopping here a lot after work to grab a couple of bowls of that bisque for dinner.
She was just finishing her last bite of lobster tail when the waiter reappeared to see if they would be wanting dessert. Ben glanced at her questioningly, and she shook her head.
“No thanks. I’m pretty full,” she said.
The waiter handed them their check, which Ben insisted on paying for despite her protests.
“What sort of date would I be if I didn’t pay?” he asked. “If you feel like you have to, you can make up for it with a free pizza sometime.”
“Oh, all right,” she said, laughing. “I think I can make that happen.”
They walked out to their cars side by side. Ellie felt happier than she had in a long time. She had always liked Ben. Even when they were teenagers, he had always been a genuinely good person. Their dinner together felt like the beginning of a whole new part of her life; her high-stress job and cheating fiancé seemed a world away back in Chicago.
“When are you free for another dinner?” he asked when they reac
hed her car. “There’s this wonderful new restaurant called the White Pine Kitchen a few miles outside of town. I’d love to take you there sometime.”
“This week will be pretty busy while I get the pizzeria fixed up,” she said. “I’m planning on going in before the restaurant opens tomorrow to get some cleaning done, and I’m sure I’ll end up staying after it closes most days, too. I’m taking the weekend off, though, so how about Saturday?”
“I’ve got a poker game Saturday evening,” he told her. He gave a sheepish smile. “Normally I’d cancel, but I won a bunch of money from one of the guys last time we played, and he’s supposed to pay up this time. It might seem sort of dumb, but I’d like to be there. How about Sunday?”
“Sure,” she said, chuckling. “Saturday night’s poker night. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I had a really nice time tonight, Ellie,” he said, his tone becoming more serious. “I’m glad you came back.”
“Me, too,” she said softly. With some surprise, she realized that it was true. She had missed this town.
Their gazes met and held. It was a breathless moment that seemed to last an eternity before Ben kissed her on the cheek. It was a sweet kiss, and a second later he had pulled back and was wishing her a good night, leaving Ellie flustered as she got into her car and began the short drive home.
Sleep didn’t come easily that night, despite her exhaustion from the long day at the pizzeria. It wasn’t until late that she managed to doze off, with Bunny curled up by her head. She woke up later than she meant to the next morning, and hurried out the door after a rushed promise to tell her grandmother all about her date later that evening.
“I’ve got to get to the pizzeria and start tackling my to-do list,” she explained. “I want to get some of it done before the employees show up, so I can show them what a difference some cleaning makes.”
“All right, dear, but it’s not good to skip breakfast. Won’t you at least take a muffin to go with you?”
Pall Bearers and Pepperoni: Book 1 in The Papa Pacelli's Pizzeria Series Page 2