It’s not what you’re here for.
Maybe Faye was right. Maybe thoughts of Ian kept haunting Georgie because she didn’t want to lose herself like that again. Maybe it was a defense mechanism.
Faye looked at her. “You can’t hide. Even on this secluded island.”
Georgie took a deep breath and let it out, nodding. After another moment, she asked, “So, who’s coming to dinner?”
Faye smiled and stood. “That’s what I like to hear. I’ve invited the Gordons.” Just as she left the room, she said, “They have a daughter—I believe she’s sixteen—and a son about your age, fresh off his mission. Good looking too.”
Georgie groaned and flopped back onto the bed. “Faaaaye.” A setup?
“Oh, I know better than to push anything on you right now. Maybe later, but not right now.” She winked. “Give your aunt a little credit. He’s just a good kid. They both are. You need good people around to restore your faith in humanity.”
Georgie pulled herself back up. “I guess I’m a little on the defensive side.”
“I don’t blame you. Will you be all right?”
She groaned. “They sound nice.”
“Glad you approve. Now come help me with the salad.”
Later, a couple about the same age as Georgie’s parents followed Faye into the main room. George could hear Dar in the entry, still hanging up jackets and giving welcomes. She gave the salad a couple tosses and set the big bowl on the table, then slowly moved toward the group.
Faye began introductions. “Earl, Karen, this is my niece, Georgiana Tate. She’s my baby brother’s youngest. Georgie, meet the Gordons.” Georgie stepped forward to shake their outstretched hands.
Earl Gordon shook her hand with confidence. “Georgiana? Or just Georgie?”
“Georgie is fine.”
Karen reached for her hand. “Georgiana is a beautiful name. So old-fashioned.”
Georgie smiled. The comments about her name were not the first, and she didn’t mind responding. “I was named after my great-grandfather.”
Earl wrinkled his shiny forehead. “His name was Georgiana?”
Georgie muffled a laugh.
A young man and woman stepped into the room, followed by Uncle Dar.
“Georgie,” Faye said. “This is Tyler and Megan. Tyler just got home from his mission in Japan.”
Tyler pushed his hand toward Georgie, and she took it. “Kobe, Japan. Nice to meet you, Georgie.”
Georgie couldn’t help recognizing the eager look in his eye, that gleam that said, “I’m looking for eternity. Could you be the one?” She’d seen that look a number of times from fresh-off-the-plane elders.
Before she could reply, Faye said, “Tyler gave the best talk last week. It’s a shame you missed it, Georgie. The Spirit was so strong.”
Tyler ducked his head. “Thanks, Sister Silva.”
With his blond hair, deep brown eyes, and lingering missionary glow, Georgie guessed it wouldn’t be long before Tyler Gordon found his eternity. He was undeniably adorable. With a jolt, he seemed to remember his sister. “This is Megan.”
Megan smiled. “Nice to meet you. Please ignore my brother’s stare. He’s not used to being so close to pretty girls.” She giggled.
“Thanks a lot, Megan.” Tyler scratched his head. “Guess you’ll be walking to work tomorrow.”
Megan didn’t look threatened at all.
She turned to Georgie. “I was telling my mom that you should volunteer at the hospital. You’re not in school, right?”
Karen broke in. “Megan, that’s not really the best way to approach somebody.” She shook her head and looked apologetically at Georgie. “We were discussing the need for volunteers, and apparently she’s not bashful about asking for them.”
Megan shooed her mother aside. “My mom is a counselor, and I volunteer. And I think you should too.” She grinned as though she’d asked Georgie to help her run a concession stand at the fair.
Georgie felt her own smile fading and her pulse quickening at the idea of being in a hospital again. “I don’t know. I work most days at Peter & Andrew’s.”
“I love that place,” Tyler said.
“But that’s just afternoons and evenings, right?” Megan asked.
Karen put her hand on Megan’s arm. “My goodness, Megan. Give the girl a moment to get to know us first.”
How old had Faye said Megan was? Sixteen? Georgie could’ve easily considered Megan’s forwardness obnoxious, but she reminded Georgie too much . . . of herself. Sixteen was a long time ago.
Thankfully Karen changed the subject. “Something smells wonderful, and I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
Tyler rubbed his hands together. “It does smell good. Is that pork chops?”
Faye beamed. “Yes, with mashed potatoes and gravy.”
“Mmm-man I missed that smell. Japanese food is amazing, but I missed food from home. It’s been one of the best parts of this week.”
Faye grinned. “Everything is ready and waiting on the table.”
Karen looked around. “Where is Tru?”
“She’s in her room. She chose to eat earlier.”
Dar motioned for everyone to sit down, and after they were all arranged, he blessed the food.
After the meal, they went for a walk along the rocky shoreline. Georgie, Megan, and Tyler walked together behind the older adults until Karen enlisted Megan in looking for white rocks. It was amusing but not surprising that Megan had led the conversation to that point. Tyler was walking two good arms’ lengths away. That was fine with Georgie. He seemed to gain his confidence when others were around, but alone, well, they were both at a loss for words.
“What are your plans?” Georgie finally asked.
He seemed to appreciate the opening. “I have to find a job or two to save up. I’ll be going to the Y in the fall. You’ve been there, right?”
Georgie nodded. “Yes. But I’m not sure I’ll be going back.”
“Why not?” His question was innocent, off-the-cuff. Still, Georgie flushed as she tried to find an answer.
“Because I was in a car wreck. I’m still recovering, actually, and I’m deciding what to do next.” She drew her jacket around her. “But I don’t think BYU is in my future.”
A look of concern crossed Tyler’s face.
“It’s a wonderful campus,” she said. “I loved my classes. And my roommates.” She wasn’t sure what more to say. It all sounded so superficial. “The accident was bad. My—a guy—died. It’s complicated.” The words had tumbled out in a pile of awkward oversharing.
Tyler slowed. “Oh, wow.”
“Yeah. So I’m not sure what I’m doing yet.” She gave him an encouraging smile. “You’ll love it there.”
He nodded and smiled back.
Megan moved in a zigzag ahead of them on the rocky beach. “Megan’s probably happy to have you home.”
He laughed. “She won’t leave me alone. I was gone a long time, and a lot of things changed, but she’s still the same old Megan. Still driving me crazy. I can’t believe she’s dating and driving and all that.” He watched his sister hop up and down at something his mother said, grinning, hanging on her elbow. He took a deep breath and blew it out. “I have three older siblings, but ever since she could walk, you’d think she was the boss of all of us.” Tyler chuckled.
Georgie grinned at that. Her brother, Deacon, had always called her Boss since they were little, even though he was older.
“Tyler!” Megan hurried to them. “Faye said Georgie hasn’t been to Deception Pass yet, and you haven’t been since you got home, so we should go together. I’ll bring Brian.” She grinned and took his hand, swinging it in both of hers. “It’ll be a date.”
The color left Tyler’s face, and Georgie could only look between the two.
Tyler turned away from his sister and took a few mindless steps. “Aw, man, Megan.” He gave Georgie a tortured look and scratched his head again. “See, she�
�s still just . . .” He dropped his hand, and a small laugh escaped Georgie’s lips. He straightened and faced her, his hands on his hips. “Um, Georgie? Would you like to go with me and my sister and Brian to Deception Pass sometime?”
“On Saturday,” Megan interjected, practically bouncing with glee.
Tyler sighed, unsuccessfully trying to hide his smile, barely meeting Georgie’s eyes. “On Saturday. It’s always been one of our favorite places. And Megan’s right; I haven’t been since I got home.”
Georgie looked at the pair, who waited for her response. Her hesitation was habitual. But she hadn’t felt afraid of Tyler all evening. She nodded.
“Woohoo!” Megan spun around and ran back to her mom and the other adults. “Mom, it worked! Tyler has a date!”
Georgie again tried to hide her concern while Tyler looked like he wanted to hide under a rock.
He watched after his sister, his arms crossed over his chest. “Well, that was smooth. Very smooth.”
Georgie nodded. “I’ve heard of Deception Pass. It’s up at Whidbey Island, right?”
“Yes.”
“Should be fun.”
“Really? You’re okay with it?”
“Sure.” She was, kind of.
Tyler grinned and wrung his hands. “Great.”
Georgie wished all men were as easy to read as Tyler. And she wished he didn’t look quite so eager.
* * *
Jace wiped his hands on the bleach towel and hung his white chef’s coat on a hook. It was time for his break, and he wanted to spend it outside. The clouds had broken up earlier that afternoon, and the sunset would be incredible. He pushed the back door open and walked to his bike, taking the seat far more comfortable than the concrete steps or the weathered old picnic table next to the employee parking. As he opened his water bottle, the back door opened again. He looked behind him.
“Hey.” He turned back to the sunset.
“Hey.” Mai stopped next to him.
“I’d offer you a seat, but my car only has one.”
She smiled and playfully kicked a tire. “Compact.”
“Mm-hm.”
“Such a gentleman.”
He shrugged.
“You doing better?”
He peered at her as he took another swallow. “Than what?”
“Than whatever that was last week.”
He looked down, slowly twisting the cap back on the bottle. He shrugged again and looked up at the color slowly spreading across the sky, bouncing off scattered clouds. Three days had passed since Reuben had given him the ultimatum.
“Look, it’s none of my business, but it’s nice to have you back. At least some of you.”
He glanced at her. “Thanks.”
“You were pretty unbearable. I wondered if you’d started drinking.”
He lifted his water bottle in a salute, and she laughed. She grew quiet, and they both watched the sky turn from orange to purple.
“You know, you were pretty hard on Georgie.”
“I know.”
“Well, you need to know.”
He set his jaw. “I do.”
Mai folded her arms. “Good.” She raised her eyebrows, looking at him over her glasses.
“Great.” Was she done yet?
“That just wasn’t like you.”
“I know.”
“She doesn’t know.” She turned. “See ya back inside.”
“Yup.” He heard the door close, and then he growled, knowing what he had to do.
Once back inside, Jace continued to do his best to be positive. He could sense the staff breathing easier around him. The realization of the influence his mood had in the kitchen left him shaking his head at himself, vowing not to let his personal life affect his work again. He wasn’t completely back to his old self, but the atmosphere in the kitchen encouraged him. He tried especially to ease any tension he had created between himself and the expediter.
The bread oven buzzed, and he looked around. Georgie had entered the fridge in the back, and the door had closed behind her. Jace reached for a bread spatula and began removing the loaves. He had enough time to slice a few up before he needed to turn his attention back to the grill. He placed the bread in baskets and wiped his hands before moving on. As he turned, he met Georgie, her tray filled with more loaves. She looked anxiously at the baskets of bread he’d just prepared. “I could have done that,” she said.
“I had a minute. Here.” He took her tray, sensing her pull away from him as he did. Sheesh, how hard had he been on her? He slid the loaves into the oven and stepped back. “There you go.” He moved to the grill again, feeling the weight of that old warning: You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
* * *
Georgie twisted thin slices of lemon and laid them gently on the salmon steaks. A sprig of dill on each finished the plates. “Ten.” The plates were picked up, and she reached for the last ticket on the cable with a sigh. Mondays were not particularly busy, but that made time go slower. “Crab cakes, the special, and a fettuccine.” She pulled the squeeze bottle of chipotle aioli they served with the crab cakes closer and played with the spoon in the blue cheese crumbles. The bread was hot and ready in baskets, and the busboys had already closed down three areas out front.
Mai sauntered in with a dessert order. “Almost done. I love Mondays.”
Georgie couldn’t disagree. She checked the small dessert fridge up front and pulled out a slice of key lime pie. “I need a bread pudding for the oven.”
“I’ll get it,” came a voice behind her.
Georgie turned. Jace was already walking to the big fridge to get the dessert. She looked at Mai, who seemed pleased.
“He’s trying.”
“Trying what?”
“To make it up to you.”
Georgie flushed and looked down. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on. The way he’s been acting was hard on all of us, but you got the brunt of it. I was worried you’d quit, and you can’t do that because look how great you’re doing.”
“It’s a slow day.”
“Slow days are the best days to get the routine down, don’t you think?”
Georgie conceded with a nod but glanced behind her. “You said, ‘The way he’s been acting.’ He’s not always like that?”
Mai frowned and opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, Jace returned with a tray and slid the bread pudding into an oven, then placed a small tray of crab cakes in front of Georgie. Instead of leaving, he waited. “Well?”
With the realization that he was going to observe her work, Georgie tried not to flush as she reached for a clean plate and the aioli. She picked up the tongs on the tray.
“Aioli first.” His tone was gentle and unnerving.
She bit her lip and set the tongs down. Of course she knew that. She took the bottle and squeezed the creamy red chipotle sauce in a generous swirl, then laced the edge of the plate. Her arm wavered, unsteady with nerves. The result wasn’t perfect. She placed the golden cakes on the sauce, squeezed one more dollop of sauce on them, then arranged two green blades of chive and a twisted lemon slice on top.
He nodded and looked at Mai. “Make yourself useful.”
Mai took the appetizers. “Careful, Jace. Your charm is showing.”
He chuckled, but Georgie backed away, needing distance. She had braced herself for his criticism, and even though he’d approved, she still found her stomach in knots. “I’m taking some of these to the back.” She gathered the small stainless-steel containers of ingredients that she wouldn’t need anymore and walked away as quickly as she could without attracting attention. She reached the walk-in fridge, closed the door behind her, and gripped the handle. After a deep breath, she turned and began emptying carrot slices and cucumbers into plastic baggies. Her fingers trembled, and she exhaled in frustration.
Her mother’s words came back to her. He’s a charmer, that one. She poured croutons back int
o the larger container. Georgie shook her head. Here she was trying to recover, trying to trust people, and Jace had her on edge and second-guessing her every move, even when he was being nice. Just like Ian. She stacked empty pans and rested her head against her hands gripping the edge of the shelf, tired.
You live in a world full of people, good and bad, and you can’t hide from all of them. She nearly laughed out loud at her recollection of Faye’s words, here, hiding in an oversized refrigerator. She whispered the rest. “It’s not what you’re here for.”
The door opened, and Reuben stepped back, his fist on his hip. “Do I need to bring a chair in here? Maybe some books?” He winked.
Georgie shook her head and shivered. “A space heater.”
Reuben laughed.
She managed a smile. “I’m sorry. My mind wandered.” She reached for the pans. “Did you need something in here?”
He shook his head. “Just you. To help close up tonight. Jace will show you how.”
Any remaining warmth left her. “Oh.” She stepped past him as he held the door open.
“John and Rhea will be closing the front. And Anders is here, of course. I’ve got to take off early.”
She nodded. At least she wouldn’t be alone with Jace. Really, everyone on shift stayed and took a job, but those assigned to close were the last to leave, making sure everything was in its place. She took the stacked pans to the station where Anders manned the giant sprayer suspended on a metal hose over a rinsing sink, and she stacked dishes into the stainless-steel commercial dishwasher. Reuben waved as he left, and the back door closed behind him. His departure left the kitchen feeling hollow.
Closing commenced before the last diners asked for their check. Georgie cleaned up her station and readied everything for the next day. The dishwashing station made the most noise at this point, with clanging and spraying, though as soon as the diners were gone, Caleb changed out the disc and fixed the music so it could be heard through the kitchen speakers too. The waiters counted up their tips, and the hostess closed out the cash register. Any leftover food was put in take-out boxes and offered to anyone who wanted it. Georgie usually brought something home for Tru.
Kisses in the Rain Page 4