The restaurant without Jason was a great atmosphere. And after finalizing all of the paperwork, Ira’s promotion was official. She went from tips and hourly work to a salaried position, and I was even able to offer her some benefits. They weren’t much, but with some of the tweaks I eventually wanted to make with the restaurant, my hope was that I could provide all the full-time workers with benefits of some sort. That was hard to come by in small towns, and that kind of thing ensured me I’d get the cream of the crop working for my parents’ restaurant.

I had so many things I wanted to add to the place, including events I wanted to throw at night on the back patio. Ideas buzzed in my brain every night, which made it hard to sleep. I was thankful that Ira had offered to come in every morning with me and help. Having two people open up this place instead of one would make the morning shift a little easier on people. Plus, we could alternate who worked on the weekends.

I had a feeling this partnership would go over very well.

I walked up to the doors and opened them, only to find them locked. Huh. Odd. Ira and I had settled into a pretty good pattern over this past week. And she was usually here before me. I pulled out my key and slid it into the lock. No matter. She was probably with her father. I didn’t want to bother her with something that was completely optional to her position, so I ran through the opening of the restaurant as best as I could.

I still had to revert back to the list Ira and I had compiled, but I’d only missed two things, as opposed to four or five.

“Hello there! How are you guys?”

“Welcome to Deb’s Dine-In. Do you have a preference for seating?”

“Miss Jackson, you look better than ever. I don’t think I’ve seen that dress yet.”

“Of course, we’ve got our vegetable on standby. It’s this restaurant’s signature soup, thanks to my father and his recipes.”

“We don’t have that as a dessert, but I will make sure the suggestion gets back to our new head chef. She’s a spitfire in the kitchen, and I know she’ll be revamping the menu soon enough.”

I helped with the front of the house for the first hour of the opening shift. I settled into a routine with the customers, who I was beginning to recognize more and more. I was open to their hospitality and their stories of my parents. It didn’t hurt as much to hear them as it did in the beginning. Everyone was so easy to talk to and get along with. I even found myself apologizing to a few people I figured I had intimidated my first time in the restaurant.

Everyone had a hug to give, a story to offer, or a joke to share. I saw very quickly why my mother had enjoyed this part of the job. It was a constant reminder of the angel she had been in everyone’s life.

In my life.

“She would be proud of you, Clay.”

“Your father, too.”

“I knew they wanted to pass this place to you, and I think you’re doing a fabulous job.”

“It’s good to see you smiling. You have Bernie’s smile, you know.”

“But he’s got his mother’s eyes. You really do have Deb’s eyes.”

Their compliments were overwhelming, so much so that I had to take a small break in the bathroom. I placed my hands onto the bathroom counter and cleared my throat, swallowing hard as I tried to untie the knot around my neck. I looked up into the mirror and sighed. I didn’t look in the mirror much nowadays. Because everyone was right. I was the perfect amalgamation of the two people I loved the most.

The two people I missed the most.

I looked down at my watch and noticed the time. Eleven in the morning. Ira was two hours late for her shift. This wasn’t like her, and worry bubbled in my gut. I splashed some water in my face and reached for a paper towel, blotting off the excess water.

Then, a customer cornered me in the small hallway

“Clay! There are you. Have you seen Ira? I was hoping to give this to her to get to her father.”

“I haven’t seen her this morning yet. But if you want to hand it to me, I can leave it in the office for her,” I said.

“I’d really appreciate it. These suckers always helped with my nausea when I was going through my treatments.”

“I’m sure both of them will appreciate it. I’ll take these to the office immediately,” I said.

“You’re a good boy, Clay. This restaurant is lucky to have you.”

I hugged the man when he offered his arms to me, and then I quickly strode to the office. I placed the suckers down onto the table and reached for the office phone, ready to call Ira. I wasn’t angry, not like I would have been with Jason; I was worried, fearful that something had happened to her. A car accident on the way to work. Maybe she was sick and couldn’t get out of bed.

I picked the phone off the receiver and held it to my ear. But a voice wafted through before I started dialing.

“Hello?”

Ira’s broken voice hit my ears before she sniffled.

“Ira. It’s me,” I said.

“Clay,” she whispered.

The hairs on the back of my neck bristled.

“What’s wrong? Where are you?” I asked.

“Clay, I—I’m so sorry,” she said.

“I don’t care. It’s fine. Just tell me where you are, Ira.”

Her shuddered breath stopped my heart in my chest.

“I’m at the hospital, Clay.”

“You stay there. I’m on my way right now. What ha—”

“He’s dead.”

I stopped in my tracks as my heart sank to my toes.

“My father’s dead,” she whispered.