Page 23 of Changing Tides
Joey groaned and leaned back against the door. “I need you to keep buying from me at the volume you do now. It would help me out, too.”
Kasia pinned them with her sharp stare. “If she’s interested in the job, I’ll interview her.”
They stood to attention. “What? Really?”
“For you, Joey. And she’d better not mess me around.”
Joey folded Kasia in their arms, something they didn’t get to do so much anymore. “Thank you. I’ll talk to her.”
Kasia leaned into their chest for a moment before pulling back. “I don’t want her to fuck you about, either.”
“She won’t. We’re friends, that’s all.”
“Hmm. Don’t get pulled in Joey, please. She has to sort her own life out.”
Joey gave her a last squeeze. “Thank you for this. I’ll let you know.”
Out in the car park, their dad was waiting in the front of the car and Marianne and Denny’s faces were visible in the dark of the back seat.
“Is everything okay?” Marianne’s brow was furrowed.
“It’s all good. I’ll explain later, if you want a quick nightcap on the deck?”
“If I can get Denny down and keep my eyes open, that’s a plan.”
Joey rushed to get their dad home and settled so they could share the news with Marianne.
“Don’t think I can’t see you fawning over that woman.” Their dad had refused to go to bed, instead settling back in his chair.
“Please don’t be saying things like that in front of her, Dad.”
He just laughed as Joey left. “Don’t be coming back at all hours and disturbing me.”
“I’ll be half an hour.”
They slipped out and around to the deck, where it was still warm enough to sit. They pulled out a couple of rugs in case Marianne was cold.
The door opened and Marianne came out, smiling. “He’s out like a light. Perhaps I should take him out every evening.” She dropped onto the couch and curled her legs up under her.
Joey opened the refrigerator. “I’ve mostly got beer. There’s a bottle of white wine here, but I don’t think it’s a good one.” They knew it wasn’t. It would have been whatever was available in the small island shop. They’d seen the type of wine Marianne liked to drink.
“If it’s cold and wet, I’ll have it.” Marianne leaned her head back on the sofa. “Ugh. I need to sort myself out, Joey.”
They handed her the glass. “You’ll figure it all out eventually. Don’t be too hard on yourself.” They sat on the chair opposite and made the most of watching her sitting on their deck. She might not be around for long.
“So, what was bothering Kasia tonight? She seemed tense.”
“She can’t find a suitable replacement for her head chef. He leaves at the end of the week.”
Marianne’s head lifted. “It’s difficult to find good staff. Especially when you want them to relocate.”
Joey decided not to beat about the bush. “So, I wondered if it might be something you would consider? Temporarily, obviously.”
Marianne’s surprise was clear even in the half light from the bulbs strung up around the deck. “It’s not really my kind of restaurant, Joey. I’m not sure the remuneration would be what I’d be used to.”
“No, it wouldn’t, but it’s cheaper to live here, and you said you didn’t want to go back to all the ridiculous hype just yet.” They ran a finger around the top of their beer bottle. “It was justan idea. You could talk it through with Kasia and see if it might work.”
“I’m not sure she’d entertain me. She doesn’t seem the type to make irrational decisions.”
