Page 24 of Secrets of Riverside

He offered a tight smile in return. ‘Morning, Millie.’ Disappearing into the coldroom, he then reappeared with a box of fresh produce.

He’d gotten her name right, which was as good a start as any – it gave her hope that things could only get better. ‘Would you like me to make a start with that lot?’ She peered into the box as he passed her: the capsicums, tomatoes, avocados and fresh herbs looked divine. She was going to be able to make some lovely omelettes and frittatas to pop in the hotbox out front, for those that wanted breakfast on the run.

‘That’d be good, but before you do …’ He plonked the box on the stainless-steel bench, beside a mountain of packaged bacon and ham, and glanced over his shoulder. ‘… can you go and let the girls out of their pen, and grab their eggs while you’re at it.’

‘Yes, sure can.’ He was being civil, nice, almost – maybe Jarrah had spoken with him? Or maybe he’d just gotten out of the right side of the bed, for once.

‘We can add whatever bum nuggets you get to this lot.’ Crouching down, he grabbed a few cartons of eggs from the lower shelf and then placed them on the counter. ‘The collection bucket is hanging from the hook near the door.’ He gestured to it with a tip of his head. ‘I’m going to go and get the front of house sorted.’

‘Right you are.’ She made her way outside and, bucket in hand, hurried towards the chook pen to collect, as Tommy amusingly put it, bum nuggets. Clearly he did have a sense of humour in there, hiding somewhere.

She was excited to make a start on her hotbox menu, and after that, she was going to get baking and make some fresh cakes and muffins, too. Although she’d only been at Riverside Acres for three nights, she already felt as if she’d been there for three weeks. It was as if time seemed to stretch and loiter without the constant hubbub of the city to distract her from being able to live within each moment. The peace and tranquillity here had offered her that luxury, and she was extremely grateful.

Reaching the chicken coop, she greeted the huddle of cackling hens. ‘Good morning, ladies.’ Twenty-five chooks raced towards her and formed a scrum on the opposite side of the door.

Stepping aside, she unlatched the lock and flung the door wide, laughing at the frenzy of feathered sprinters as the chooks made their zigzagging ways to a full day of sunshine and insect pecking. With it now safe to enter, she plucked the eggs from the line of laying crates and carefully placed each one into the bucket. There were twenty-four all up. She’d use the cartons of eggs for scrambling and frying; these little beauties were going to make a very nice pavlova, a baked cheesecake, some mulberry muffins and a few jars of lemon butter.

Carefully making her way back to the commercial kitchen, she strapped on her apron, popped a hair net over her bun, washed her hands then got to work. Three hours zoomed past her in a flurry of chopping, frying, stirring, roasting, whipping and flipping. The scent of sizzling bacon wafted, as did the delicious aromas of her three-inch-high chorizo, potato and capsicum frittatas – the number-one seller for the morning. The hustle and bustle of the front of house had carried into the kitchen, as did the hurried footsteps of the fifty-something twin waitresses, Jenny and Penny, who dutifully collected plates, then returned them. Millie noted all the dishes were coming back empty, which hopefully meant that bellies were satisfyingly full.

Having cleaned up after breakfast, and with the lunch rush just around the corner, she was busy preparing large bowls of salads – there’d be no frozen veggies or packaged salads on her watch. Her chunky guacamole, creamy potato salad and zesty coleslaw, along with a large freshly prepared vegetable bake, would accompany her specials of lasagne or chicken pot pies. Humming to the Adam Brand song chiming from the radio, she slid the knife along the chopping board, adding the eighth avocado into the bowl, along with chopped red onion, quartered sweet cherry tomatoes, fresh coriander, the juice of three limes and a splash of jalapeño sauce. Placing the bowl alongside the others she’d already prepared, she tapped her bell to let the front of house know that she was ready for them, and then took a moment to mop her brow with some paper towel.

Tommy appeared, soon followed by Jenny and Penny, who she’d been told had been working there since the very first opening day.

‘Wow, Millie, this is absolutely amazing.’ Jenny’s eyes devoured the line-up of food. ‘It all looks so bright and fresh.’ She regarded Millie with an appreciative smile. ‘You’re certainly raising the bar with this spread, love; it’s about time someone actually cared about the food being served.’

‘Hasn’t she ever.’ Popping her pen behind her ear, Penny saddled in beside her identical sister. ‘You’re going to win some customers’ hearts today, Millie, that’s for sure.’

‘Oh, come on, you two, stop trying to win brownie points with the new cook, will you.’ Tommy huffed at their looks of disbelief. ‘What?’ He shrugged. ‘Anyone would think you’ve never seen good food before.’

‘You’re being a little snappy lately, Tommy.’ Jenny scowled. ‘What’s gotten into you?’

‘Nothing’s gotten into me.’ Put on the spot, and in his place, Tommy shot her a cautionary glance. ‘I know you’re good friends with Jarrah, and I may be way younger than you, but please don’t step over the boundaries, Jenny, because I’m still your boss, and I can fire you for disrespecting me.’

Penny gasped. ‘I will not stand here and let you speak to my sister like that, Tommy, no matter who you are. She works extremely hard, and you know that.’ She sucked in a sharp breath and took a moment. ‘We know you don’t like the fact that Jasmine was fired, but it’s not our fault, and you shouldn’t be taking it out on your staff.’ Penny’s tone was unsympathetic. ‘I think I might have to have a chat with Jarrah if this continues to be an issue.’

‘You do that, Penny.’ Tommy pushed the bowls of salad towards them. ‘Best get these into the display fridge and get the hot food out of the oven and into the bain-marie, don’t you think?’

‘There’ll be no need coming to talk to me, Penny, I’ve just heard enough, and I’m sorry to both of you for my nephew’s behaviour.’ Shifting his kind eyes from the twins, Jarrah stepped out of the doorway and cut a steely glance in Tommy’s direction. ‘Please come and see me after the lunch rush, Tommy.’

Tommy didn’t respond. Millie swore she could see smoke coming from his ears as he stormed past them all and out of the kitchen. Grabbing the bowls, Jenny and Penny got back to work.

‘That kind of behaviour is not acceptable. I’m so sorry, Millie.’ Jarrah shook his head. ‘I’m at my wits end with him, to be honest.’

‘I don’t know what I’ve done to make him dislike me so much.’

‘You’ve done absolutely nothing.’ He huffed out a breath. ‘This is between me and him, and trust me when I say, come hell or high water, I’m going to get to the bottom of it.’

Unable to feel like this had nothing to do with her, Millie swallowed down her rising suspicions that Tommy was the author of her letter. ‘Okay then.’ Not wanting to appear like a nosey person, and needing to catch her anxious breath, she refrained from saying any more. ‘Is it okay if I nip to the toilet before the lunch rush?’

‘Of course, yes, go for it.’ He stepped back to let her past. ‘Oh, and Millie.’ He waited for her to pause and look back at him. ‘Thank you for the effort you’ve put in today. The food looks, and smells, amazing.’

‘My pleasure.’ She flashed him a smile then quickly made her way outside into the fresh air, where she gulped it down while trying to slow her racing heart.

Still deep within her thoughts while sitting on the loo, she felt something wet and sticky land on her back. Screaming blue murder, she shot from the confines of the toilet, stumbling sideways while still hitching up her pants. Spinning in circles, she tried to remove whatever had landed on her shoulder. But it wasn’t budging. And there was no way in hell she was going to try and swipe it away. What if it was venomous and it bit her and she died? Oh. My. God. So, spinning in circles, she screamed, and then screamed some more. So strident were her pleas for help, it wouldn’t have surprised her if the entire community of Banshee Bay came to her aid.

‘Millie.’ Jarrah came running from the kitchen, his face etched with concern. ‘What’s happened?’

‘Please, help me.’ Eyes as wide as saucers, she clutched his arm, terrified he would vanish into thin air. ‘There’s something on my back.’

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