Hollie leaned back and sipped her coffee. It was a very satisfying meal, and she felt happy and relaxed, just sitting in Joe’s Diner, chatting with Kyle and soaking in the atmosphere.
The diner was beginning to fill up. The buzz of conversation was getting louder and all the tables and booths were occupied.
Maria was rushing in and out of the kitchen, looking increasingly frazzled. The other waitress, Lucy, was equally busy, and the whole place was a hum of activity. Kyle informed Hollie that Lucy was a single mom who worked part-time at the diner. Lucy would finish her shift by the afternoon so she could pick her kid up from school.
As Maria hurried past their booth, she stopped and said breathlessly, “Lunch time is always busy for us. But this past week has been crazy. Joe’s the only one in the kitchen, so...”
“What happened to Joe’s assistant cook? Gavin, right?” Kyle asked.
“Gavin went back to his hometown last week. His dad is really sick, so Gavin went back to take care of his dad’s business.” Maria blew out a breath. “We really need a new cook, but we can’t find a replacement at such short notice...”
“I can cook,” Hollie said suddenly.
Maria and Kyle stared at her.
“I mean...I know how to cook, and I can cook pretty well,” she said nervously.
A slow smile spread across Kyle’s face. “Yes. Hollie was a cook in the Black Blade pack. She’s really smart and hardworking.”
Maria turned to Hollie. “Do you want to work here, Hollie? Some of the young cooks we hired in the past complained that there’s too much to do, and the pay isn’t great...”
Hollie let out a mirthless laugh. “I used to work sixteen hour days and I did everything, from cleaning to chopping to cooking...”
“Sixteen hours! That’s...that’s...” Maria spluttered, looking horrified and outraged.
“I’ve always wanted to work in a real kitchen,” Hollie said eagerly. “In an eatery, a diner, where I can see people enjoying the food I prepared...”
“We can’t afford to pay you much though.” Maria told Hollie the salary that they were willing to pay her and Hollie almost fell off her seat.
“That’s ten times what I was paid!” Hollie exclaimed.
Maria and Kyle exchanged a look. Neither of them looked pleased. In fact, they looked like they were trying to control their anger.
“If you want the job,” Maria told Hollie gently. “It’s yours.”
“Thank you!” Hollie jumped up. “The pack didn’t allow us to work for anyone else. We had to work for the pack. You’ve given me my first real job! Thank you, thank you!”
Hollie rubbed her hands with glee and asked, “When can I start?”
When Maria blinked at her and didn’t answer straight away, Hollie suddenly realized that she might have been too forward and presumptuous. Maybe Maria was having second thoughts. Maria had every right to change her mind. She had to think about her own safety and the safety of the diner. If she hired Hollie, she might be putting herself in the cross hairs of the Black Blade pack.
Hollie winced and stammered, “I...I’m sorry. You don’t have to give me the job. The Black Blade pack didn’t let me go willingly, so they might come and make trouble for you. I...”
“No,” Maria answered firmly. “You can start today. Right now.”
Linking her arm through Hollie’s, she said brightly, “Come on. Let’s go to the kitchen and meet Joe.”