Page 16 of Tacos & Toboggans
She scurried off while we dug into our meals. The potato salad was just how I liked it: mustard and celery seed with a zing from a bit of apple cider vinegar. I was nearly finished with my food when I noticed Jaelyn wasn’t as into hers, so I put my fork down and grasped her hand on the table. “You’re upset.”
“No, not at all. Just thinking about how that changes the schedule here and what Lance will be doing out there. It took me by surprise, but I’m happy for them all. I didn’t mean to be bad company.”
“You aren’t,” I assured her, releasing her hand when I realized I was still holding it. That was a very bad idea. “You always seem to have a lot on your mind.”
“My life has been a bit of a trainwreck the last few years,” she answered as the bell rang. She glanced up, and a smile lifted her lips, so I turned around to see AJ crutching into the diner. She wasn’t allowed touchdown weight-bearing with her foot yet, so I was happy to see her adhering to the guidelines.
“Hi, AJ and Honor,” Jaelyn said, waving them over. “You’re out late.”
“Hey, Jaelyn,” AJ said as she crutched toward us, probably not realizing I was sitting there. “I had madrigals practice tonight. We’re already starting the music for the tree lighting.” When AJ stopped by the booth, my presence took her by surprise. “Oh, Dr. Warren. I didn’t know you were here, too.”
“Hey, AJ, I was just knocking back a plate of this schnitzel. It’s almost as good as the Spanish Rooster.”
Jaelyn snorted, but AJ grinned. “The schnitzel is my dad’s favorite. It took him a few tries, but he even convinced my mom to give it a try. She loved it, and she’s a picky eater.”
“I’m not a picky eater when someone else is cooking,” I assured her. “I’ll add it to my favorites from the diner, but I won’t pass up the Spanish Rooster when it comes around. Oh, that’s tomorrow, isn’t it?” I asked, gleefully rubbing my hands together.
The look on Jaelyn’s face at the mention of it was like she sucked on my spent lemon. “Yes, speaking of, excuse me for just a moment?” she asked, and I nodded.
She motioned AJ over to the counter, where Honor was ordering a pie to-go, and had the girl sit on a stool. I tried not to eavesdrop, but it was impossible when the conditions were this tight.
“Ivy and I talked, and we’ve decided you can’t be on the food truck tomorrow,” Jaelyn said. “It’s not safe when you can’t put any weight on your leg.”
“No!” AJ exclaimed. “That’s not fair! I’ve worked on the truck the entire season with Grady, and if I’m not there, he can’t be either. It’s the last one for the year.”
The poor girl. She was distraught, and I felt bad for my part in it, even if it hadn’t been my fault.
“I know, but there’s no way for you to get into the truck, and it’s not safe to have the crutches in there when it’s already tight quarters. Someone could trip on one, and then you’d both go down. We can’t risk it.”
“This seriously bites,” she cried, wiping away a tear. “Grady is going to be so upset. You could have told me sooner.”
“I apologize for the late notice. That’s on me. I meant to call you earlier, and the day got away from me. Maybe you can talk to Grady at school tomorrow? If you’d rather, I can call him.”
“I’d rather we worked on the truck for the final time of the season. I get being punished, but he shouldn’t be.”
“You’re not being punished,” Jaelyn said with a sigh. “If there was a way, we’d do it. Everyone’s safety is important, but yours is the most important. We can’t risk something happening to the foot now that it’s been repaired. You’re only seventeen, and you don’t want problems with it for the rest of your life.”
AJ stared at the wall over Jaelyn’s shoulder as a tear streaked down her cheek. “Can’t say I’m not tired of this life lesson.”
Jaelyn put her arms around the girl and hugged her. I noticed Honor looking on, but she didn’t intervene. Good on her. She saw this for what it was and understood that this was not the time for her to step in.
“You know what,” Jaelyn said, stepping back. “What if I had something else you could do?”
“At the food truck?” AJ asked. I could hear the hope in her voice, though she kept her expression measured, probably afraid to be disappointed again.
“Yes!” Jaelyn exclaimed. “Since it’s the last day of the season, we’re doing free cupcakes and cookies as customer appreciation. We were going to ask people if they wanted a cookie or cupcake when they ordered and include it with their food, but what if we had a table to the side where people could stop once they got their order? That way, you could sit, and Grady could grab refills from the cooler when needed. I think it would be more personable as well. We could have literature about Evergreen Acres and how to support the school-to-work program at the bakery. Would you be down with that?”
“Yes!” AJ exclaimed, her tears drying instantly. “At least Grady wouldn’t get left out due to my circumstances. He’s come so far, and I hate to take that away from him.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Jaelyn said with a smile. “Plan on that. We’re going to park somewhere without grass, so it’s easier for you to move around. I don’t want you to use crutches on the grass. Dr. Warren would have words for me if you got hurt due to my bright ideas.”
I bit back the snort, so she didn’t hear me, but she was too dang cute. She was also brilliant in how she dealt with people, always trying to meet them where they were rather than holding a hard and fast line with no room for give. She understood people and their emotions in a way that even I, as a physician, didn't. That thought made me wonder how she’d feel about my situation, should I share it with her. I immediately shut that idea down.
“That will leave you short on the food truck, though,” AJ said. “Maybe Becca, Cameron, or Lance can help?”
“Don’t worry about that,” Jaelyn assured her. “I was going to be shorthanded already since you and Grady weren't going to be there. I’ll have to prep ahead and figure it out. I’m so glad we found a solution!”
“Me too,” AJ said, drying the last of her tears. “Thanks for understanding. I couldn’t stand the thought of how upset Grady would be to learn he couldn’t be there because of my situation. I take my job as a mentor very seriously and don’t like to disappoint him.”
