I pulled up to the restaurant and sat in the parking lot of Deb’s Dine-In. I chuckled at the name. My father would have renamed the Earth “Deb” if it meant making that woman happy. I sat there and took it all in. It was a small restaurant on the corner of the two main roads in downtown. Well, the area designated as downtown. Hartland, Virginia, was a small town. In fact, the population boasted of fifteen thousand, but what many didn’t know was that the town’s population also included the animals.

Deb’s was the only formal place to eat in the town. And by formal, I meant it wasn’t a diner or a fast-food joint. I scanned the facade of the building. There was a porch that had rocking chairs for people waiting to be seated. I knew there was a patio out back for outside seating when the weather was nice.

There were a few things I wanted to update about the place, but nothing big. No major changes.

If it wasn’t broke, there was no need in fixing it.

I turned off my car and slipped out. When I went to go unlock the door, however, I found it already unlocked. I opened the door and the smell of the restaurant ushered me home. I could still smell my parents in the air: my father and his wooded cologne he wore too much of, my mother and her honey-laced shampoo and conditioner. I stopped and took a moment. I looked at the hardwood floors that needed to be treated. I raised my eyes and took in the ceiling that had exposed shiplap that could use a nice waxing down.

Then, my eyes fell onto a woman moving around the main floor.

I watched her move as she wiped down booths and tables and rearranged chairs. She cleaned up the salt and pepper shakers, swept a bit here and there. Her sandy-blonde hair was piled on top of her head in a bun, and when she flashed her light green eyes at me, it felt as if I’d been punched. She stood and focused on me. Ran her eyes along my body. I took the liberty of doing the same and found that her thick frame slammed my heart against my chest.

Oh, she was beautiful.

“You must be Clay,” she said.

I watched her walk up, taking in the deep sway of her thick hips.

“I am. And you are?”

“Ira,” she said as she held out her hand. “Ira Campbell. I’m a waitress here. I usually open. Sometimes I cook, when the rush crowd starts and I’m working a double. I also train new people, if necessary.”

“How long have you been working here?”

“Three years. Almost four. It’ll be four at the turn of the year,” she said, smiling.

Her smile lit up her face. It sent her light green eyes sparkling. It was like looking into a chunk of emerald that had been shined up and ready for cutting into jewelry. Her skin had a nice tan to it, compliments of the summer Southern sun. Her accent was light, her voice lilting.

Fucking hell, she was beautiful.

“Can I help you with anything?” Ira asked.

“Well, I’m going to be taking over the restaurant. So, I’m here to work,” I said.

“Oh! Well, then that answers my father’s question.”

“About?”

“What was going to happen with the restaurant.”

“I have a legacy to protect. I want to make sure my parents’ memory isn’t lost.”

Ira smiled. “Trust me, it won’t be. They were a force in this place.”

I took a moment and drank in the thousand-watt beauty of her bright white smile.

“So, what time is the cook supposed to be here?” I asked.

“Jason’s usually fifteen minutes late.”

“Usually?”

“Well, always. He makes up for it in his cooking times, but I’ve never known him to be on time,” she said, giggling.

If it wasn’t for the fact that I couldn’t stand people who weren’t punctual, her giggle would have shot fire through my veins. It was a soothing sound, but one I wasn’t focused on.

“Did my parents have an office in the restaurant?” I asked.

“They sure did. Through the back door, walk through the kitchen, last door on your left. It’s not much, but that’s where they did their thing,” Ira said.

“Let me know when Jason gets here. I’d like to speak with him.”

“I’ll come getcha.”

I navigated my way back into the office. “Not much” was an understatement. I had to duck in order to get through the door, then stay hunched in order to sit down at my seat. The ceilings couldn’t accommodate my six-foot-four frame, and the chair underneath the desk looked like it would buckle the second I looked wrong at it.

Yep. The office space would have to be revamped or moved.

I sat down and started pilfering through things. Thank fuck, my parents were organized. It didn’t take me long to find anything, and since the computer wasn’t locked, I didn’t have any issues accessing what I needed. Everything from a tax-paying software to payroll was easily found on the desktop, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Two obstacles on my list down. Many, many more to go.

“Knock knock,” Ira said.

I turned around in my chair.

“Just wanted to let you know that Jason’s here,” she said

“Thank you. I’ll be out in a second,” I said.

I walked out into the main room and intercepted the man. He was twenty minutes late and took his sweet time getting himself to the door of the kitchen. I stood there, my eyes locked with his as he walked up and offered me his hand.

“You must be Clay. Nice to meetcha,” Jason said.

I shook the man’s hand, but I didn’t speak.

“Am I in some kinda trouble or somethin’?” Jason asked.

“You need to be on time from now on. If I can’t count on you to be on time, I can’t count on you for much,” I said.

“Uh… well, I was just stuck in traffic.”

“Then, leave with enough time to navigate it. I expect you here at the start time of your shift. This isn’t going to be a free ride for anyone any longer. There are always things that need improving, and one thing I won’t tolerate is tardiness.”

“Uh-huh. And what is it you do tolerate?” he asked.

I dropped his hand. “Competent employees.”

I stared the man down before opening the kitchen door for him. He nodded and walked through, murmuring to himself as he did so. I walked through the kitchen and ducked in the doorway of the office, and I found Ira muffling a giggle in her hand.

“What?” I asked.

“Making enemies already?” she asked.

“Well, wouldn’t be my first enemy. Once he gets the hang of being on time, I’m sure we’ll become best buds.”

“Why do I get the feeling you’re being sarcastic?”

“Because you’re smart enough to be on time, so I can only assume you’re smart in other areas as well.”

Her giggle burst through her fingers as she shook her head.

“Oh, you’re gonna be a reality check for a lot of staff here,” she said.

I wasn’t sure what she meant by her statement, but I really enjoyed the sound of that giggle of hers.