Page 21 of Unloaded
“Yes, she’s raising her twin brothers,” Shelby answers.
“Twins, you say?” the woman asks, stepping closer. “How old?”
“They’re teenagers, nearly grown,” Shelby answers. “They can pretty much take care of themselves, but Rachel still worries about them. She’s done a great job raising them after their mother died tragically in a car accident.”
“Oh, how awful,” the woman cries. “I can’t imagine her working and caring for small children. I never worked when my boys were growing up. I only began doing charity work once they’d gone off to college. I had to find something to occupy my free time.”
“Are you ladies about finished?” I inquire, deciding it’s time to intercede. I can tell both Marley and Shelby are worn out and need to get off their feet.
These old biddies who’ve never worked a day in their lives would stand around gabbing all day because they don’t have anything better to do. They can go somewhere else to chatter. It’s time to close this place down, and get the women home so they can put their feet up for a while.
“The cleaning crew is here,” I say, stretching the truth a little. They will be here in fifteen minutes, but it’ll probably take that long to herd this bunch out the door. Thankfully I don’t have to say anything else. The guest and hostess exchange hugs and platitudes with each other and with Marley and Shelby before finally exiting out the front entrance.
“Thanks, Rosco,” Marley sighs, giving me a hug. “I just knew we’d be here another hour and a half trying to get them out the door.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” I pat her back and kiss the top of her head. Marley holds a special place in my heart. I’d almost ruined hers and Luke’s relationship before it’s gotten started. I’d spent a lot of time with her trying to fix my mistake, and we’d bonded in a close friendship. “You and Shelby go on and get out of here. I can tell you’re dead on your feet. I’ll help Rachel and Cindy finish up in the kitchen.”
“Thanks,” Shelby smiles gratefully and gives me a hug, too. “We owe you one.” I roll my eyes and shake my head. Someday she’ll figure out family doesn’t keep up with favors, and who owes who.
Around mid-day Monday morning,Luke, Bo, and I stop byBaby Girl’s. We’re going to grab some lunch before we head back to the office to meet a new client. Marley is on a call when we arrive, but she waves us into her office anyway.
“I have a garden party coming up soon, and I need you to cater it for me,” a woman demands, her voice coming from the speaker of Marley’s desk phone. “I can’t let Lucinda out do me. I’d never hear the end of it if my party is a disaster.”
“When is your event?” Marley asks, clicking on her computer, pulling up the business’s event calendar. “How many guests are you expecting?”
“Two months from Friday,” the woman says. “There will be around two hundred in attendance give or take twenty or thirty. I prefer to plan for more. Let’s say, two hundred and fifty? I refuse to be seen as a cheapskate.”
Rachel comes into the office to take our order to go. She looks at Marley curiously. She must have heard the end of that.
“Oh, I’m sorry, but Shelby and I will both be on maturity leave. We couldn’t possibly take on such a large event.”
“Oh, you just have to do this for me!” a woman insists. “I’m desperate!” Marley rolls her eyes and opens her mouth, but the woman continues on oblivious to Marley’s attempt to dissuade her. “Our regular caterer is already double booked, not to mention her best pastry chef suffered a bad fall and broke her arm.
“What about the girl who works for you?” the woman continues, hardly pausing to take a breath. “What was her name again, Rachel? Can’t she do it? Surely you can hire her some extra help. You said yourself she’s excellent, and you couldn’t do it without her. I’ll gladly pay double your normal fee, of course.”
Marley looks up at us with wide eyes, then glances at Rachel who is looking as shocked as Marley.
“Um, let me see what I can work out, Mrs. Winthrop. I’ll give you a call back in a couple of days to let you know if I can find enough staff to pull this off.”
“Excellent!” Mrs. Winthrop exclaims. “I’ll get the invitations ready and mail them out tomorrow. You won’t regret this, my dear. I’ll makeBaby Girl’sa household name. You’ll be so busy after this you’ll have to hire double the staff. Good-bye for now, darling!” The call ends. Marley’s mouth has been gaping open like a fish as she’d attempted to interrupt the woman, but was unable to get a word in edgewise.
“Damn, Rachel,” Marley chuckles. “Looks like you’re going to have your hands full in a couple of months.” Rachel gives Marley a nervous, but excited smile. I want to tell her not to be nervous, that she’ll be great, but I don’t. I have no doubt she’ll handle everything with flying colors, but after our intense interactions at Mrs. Cruise’s event, I’m trying to keep my distance. I’m mostly successful.
9
RACHEL
Two months later…
The summer sun is shining so bright this morning, like the world knows today is a special day. I slip out of bed and stretch as I hurry to the bathroom. I’m so excited I’m almost beside myself.
Marley is trusting me to oversee the large catering event for Mrs. Winthrop, the client who had been at Mrs. Cruise’s event a of couple months ago. The woman had called the next day and insisted Marley allow her to book this event. She hadn’t cared that Marley and Shelby would both be out of maternity leave.
All I want to do is make Marley proud that she gave me this opportunity. I’ve worked hard since the day she hired me just over eight months ago. There’s no way I can let her down.
I’d began cooking at three years old. Mom would let me stand on a chair and help her prepare meals, desserts, and treats. She’d always let me help, even when I’d known I was more of a hindrance than a help. I smile even as tears form in my eyes.
Those are the best memories. The ones before my father died and she’d married my stepfather who turned out to be in the mob. A sob escapes me as I remember when we were alltogether, but I force myself to shake off my melancholy mood. I’m going to stay focused and do this event perfectly.
