Page 6 of The Marriage Mission

"I can't change the city code for you. No matter how much I depend on you for my meals."

The warmth in Bunny's words wrapped around Jacqui like a comforting embrace, reminding her that despite the battles she faced daily, she wasn't alone. The strength she drew from her friendship with Bunny was a beacon guiding her through the storm.

"And I'm willing to bet the turnover isn't all the staff's fault."

Did she say beacon? Scratch that. Her bestie was more like the storm. "If only I could find competent people."

"If only you would give mediocre people a chance to become better."

"Let them cut their teeth in somebody else's kitchen and come to mine when they're polished."

Bunny smiled. "Give me your spreadsheets."

Jacquie kept her face straight. She'd thought it would take more arm twisting to get Bunny to agree. But like her, Bunny didn't like to waste time. Jacqui pulled her bullet journal out of her purse.

"No." Bunny held up her hands. "If you pass me that bujo, I will find some actual bullets to shoot you with."

"You know I'm allergic to Excel."

"Maybe that's the reason you're an accounting nightmare."

Jacqui lovingly placed the bullet journal on her friend's desk and petted the cover. "This is what relaxes me."

"Stickers and colored pencils won't get you out of this mess."

"I'm not in a mess. Dad left the money. It's Nãinai that won't release it to me or my sisters. She thinks we need to be married."

"So get married. Haven't you been dating Jason for a few months?"

"Mason. And I'm not sure we're dating any more. He hasn't returned my texts."

"In how long?"

Jacqui shrugged. She'd meant to look at the text back in her office. Then she'd gotten distracted by the lights. Then there had been that mishap with the electrician and all his muscles.

Wait. What were they talking about again? Oh yeah, whether or not she was still dating Mason. She'd figure that out later.

"I just need to find the money to get the rewiring done. The guy has already started. And I can't tell him to stop because I need the job done. I can't keep using Jules' kitchen. A bakery kitchen can't handle my menu."

Her sister's bakery was a new addition and had the proper, up-to-code rewiring done. Jacqui had used her profits to take care of her baby sister first. She was still funding the middle sister Jami's dreams of being a world traveling food critic. But Jami's traveling served Jacqui's business when her sister came back with exotic dishes to add to the menu. And Jami technically worked for Chow Town by supplying all of the desserts.

"Thankfully, I still have access to your online account." Bunny let out a low sigh as she tapped on her desktop keyboard.

"I have an online account?"

"You don't have the money to spare. You're one disaster away from it getting ugly. You've used up all of your credit. Maybe if you call Jami home, then?—"

"No, I'm not doing that."

It was a testament to how much Bunny knew Jacqui that she didn't argue. Bunny gave her younger siblings the world, too. Meanwhile, she worked her fingers to the bone in a thankless job for an unqualified playboy mayor.

"Okay, maybe we can move some other things around," said Bunny.

As they delved into the specifics, plotting a course through the bureaucratic red tape and discussing potential solutions for the restaurant's challenges, Jacqui felt a glimmer of hope. She just also had to hope there wouldn't be any disasters on the horizon.

ChapterFive

Noah knelt down, his toolbox open beside him, as he examined the network of wires hidden behind the walls of the restaurant. The task ahead, which he had initially anticipated to be a daunting overhaul, was turning out to be less of a challenge than expected. Whoever had installed the wiring twenty years ago had clear knowledge of what they were doing. The job just hadn't been updated since then.

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