Page 17 of Tacos & Toboggans
Jaelyn patted her shoulder as Honor walked up to them. “I know you do, and that’s why you have everyone’s respect on the truck.”
“Everything okay?” Honor asked, and Jaelyn smiled.
“It is now. I’ll let AJ fill you in. I’d better get back to my guest before he thinks I’m a bad host. See you tomorrow, AJ.”
With a wave, she left them to discuss the changes in the schedule and slid back into the booth, a smile on her face.
“You’re something else,” I said, to which she just shrugged.
“I’ve been dreading that conversation, but I should have thought about the customer appreciation angle sooner. Sometimes you need to be on the spot, I guess.”
“What are you going to do about being shorthanded? You know the truck will likely be extra busy since it’s the last day for the season.”
“I work at The Nightingale Diner, so it’s nothing I’m not used to. I’m confident I’ll figure it out. The kids already have clearance to be out the entire afternoon, so if we need to stay longer to serve everyone, we will.”
Dramatically, I pulled out my phone and held up my finger as I poked around on the screen before I slid it back into my pocket. “My schedule is open, so I’ll be your extra man.”
“What? Major, no,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re a doctor, not a food truck worker. You must have patients to see.”
“Nope, tomorrow is my day off since I’m on call later this week. I’d love the chance to work on a food truck for the day. I know it’s a lot of work, but you always seem to be having a great time. Sometimes, work should be fun.”
Sitting quietly, I let her roll the idea around in her head, but getting a read on Jaelyn Riba was hard. It was as though she always had something to hide and had to run every situation through multiple lenses before she could agree or disagree. I’d kept enough secrets to know when someone else was keeping a few of their own, and Jaelyn definitely had secrets.
“You’re sure?” she asked, her brows in the air.
“As positive as AJ was about handing out cupcakes. You know I can’t cook, but I can take direction and run a cash register.”
She stuck her hand out across the booth. “Congratulations, you’re hired. We pay in Spanish rice and smiles.”
“Sounds like heaven,” I promised, the feel of her soft, warm palm against mine comforting and invigorating at the same time.
Secrets or no secrets, I wanted to get to know this woman better, and if that meant working a taco truck on a Tuesday afternoon, then that’s what I’d do. It was only after a momentthat I realized she hadn’t released my hand, so I cupped hers with my other hand and lowered it to the table, our gazes locked together and a smile on both of our faces.
Chapter Seven
“Hey, hey, the gang’s all here,” I muttered when I pulled into the parking lot at Evergreen Acres. Cameron had owned the tree farm for years, but the school-to-work program had only been in operation for about four or five years. The program continued to grow and had been a resounding success. It had become a blueprint of sorts for other communities that wanted to start a similar program. Bells Pass was fortunate to have a private benefactor to bankroll it, which most communities didn’t have. However, those communities had found creative ways to fund their programs.
To say I was confused about this meeting was an understatement, at least until last night when Eden had spilled the tea. Truthfully, I owed her one because I had twelve hours to get over the shock. Lance had worked at the diner for more than a decade, so this would usher in a new era in the diner’s evolution. It also meant training new staff right before one of our busiest seasons. While that part was above my pay grade, the changes would still roll down onto my shoulders. Would I make a big deal about it? Absolutely not. That said, the changes could make my schedule more fluid, which would be harder while commuting from Saginaw. Since I hadn’t found a place to rent in Bells Pass, and November 1st was coming quickly, working early mornings and late nights was going tobe difficult no matter what. I banged my head on the headrest a couple of times in frustration. This was getting me nowhere other than to a bout of heartburn. Besides, I still didn’t know why I had been beckoned to the farm. I suspected it was so they could let me down easily about no longer requiring my services with the food truck. I’d be sad about it but would understand completely. Considering the truck’s success, I could see where the school-to-work program could operate the truck all summer during the week and at fairs and events.
There was a knock on the window, and I jumped, hitting the horn by accident while Ivy bent over, laughing and slapping her leg. Because, of course, she thought it was hilarious. I pushed the door open and gave her a stink eye.
“I was worried you’d died in there,” she said when I straightened. “Turns out you were just lost in thought.”
“You could say I was aligning my chakras before I went into a meeting that I didn’t have the agenda for.”
She shoulder-bumped me as we walked toward the farm store and test kitchen. “Eden came to me this morning and said she’d told you last night that Lance was leaving. When she learned you didn’t know, she was worried you were hurt, and I was going to be mad.”
“I told her it was fine,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m happy for Lance.”
“But you were still hurt that you didn’t know before everyone else,” Ivy said, pulling me up short. “I didn’t think you’d hear before our meeting today, but I should have known better in Bells Pass.”
“Don’t think another thing of it,” I said, wanting to move on with the day. “You know I’ve got your back, so anything you need, I’m here to help with no matter what.”
Ivy put her arm around me and squeezed. Once inside the farm store, it smelled of cinnamon and evergreens. It always felt like home the moment you walked in. I stopped by the store’s checkout counter when I noticed the new display. “Where did these gorgeous mums come from?”
“The Poinsettia Parlor,” Ivy answered while bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Turning to her, I lifted a brow. “How? They closed last year after Scarlet passed away.”
