service industry. I don’t usually serve people.”
“Oh, okay. Well, I think you’re going to like it, as long as you enjoy being around people. Customer service can be very rewarding. Tell me... how is it that you found your way to us?”
She was trying, gently, to furrow out the meaning of Sebastian’s assignment. It seemed strange that he’d been assigned for work at her store from all the way over in Florence. What was the meaning of his appointment? Why was he here?
“I just... well... I was traveling some and that came to an end, rather abruptly.” he said. “And here I am. Lucky me.”
The last bit sounded somewhat sarcastic, which Bridget didn’t like. His answer was entirely too vague, too.
She held all this in. I’m going to handle this carefully, she coached herself mentally. If corporate headquarters wants me to employ this guy, then that’s what I have to do. I just have to roll with it, like Shelby said.
She smiled as she lifted an apron off of a hook. “Here you go, this one can be yours. I’ll print up a name tag for you in just a minute.” She reached for a shirt out of a milk crate on the floor below the aprons. “And here’s your uniform shirt. I’ll send you home with another two. Each employee gets three to start out with. In the fall, as the weather gets chilly, I’ll issue a long sleeve shirt to you, and I’ll give you a fleece when winter comes around.”
Usually, new employees said “thank you” at that point, but Sebastian said nothing as he accepted the shirt. Instead, he held it up and examined it. “Awful,” he said, with a shake of his head. “Just awful. You’re saying I have to wear this?”
Bridget thought his response was odd, given the unstylish assortment of clothes he had on—seriously, who was he to judge? He didn’t seem to care about appearances at all. But again, she let it slide.
“Yep, I expect you to wear that, along with a pair of khakis or black pants—no jeans, please—to each shift. What you have on now will be perfect.” She motioned to his khakis.
“I’d hardly call these perfect,” Sebastian said, eying his pants with disgust.
Bridget shook her head. Sebastian sure was an odd duck. “Get changed up and meet me out front,” she said. “I’ll give you a tour of the bar area, and then I’ll have you make up a few drinks as practice. I think you’re going to like it here, Sebastian! It’s a really pleasant place to work. I always enjoy coming in. We’re glad you’re here.”
She wasn’t one hundred percent sure, but she thought she heard him say, “That makes one of us,” under his breath as she walked away.
3
Beauty
It was five o’clock, and Bridget was helping her crew with the clean up duties when her father, Danny Belvue, walked in.
“Dad!” She leaned over the counter to deliver a kiss to his cheek.
He was grinning. “Hello, Pumpkin,” he said, with a twinkle in his eye. His gray hair was even more of a wild mess than usual, his spectacles were smudged, and there was an ink stain on his worn blue sweater.
“Good day, hm?” she guessed, judging by his disheveled look. Usually his messy appearance indicated he’d had a good day in his science lab. He held a manilla folder in his hands, and it was filled with a thick stack of papers.
“You first,” he said. “How goes it here?”
Bridget picked up a nearby rag and started wiping down the countertops. She was constantly telling her staff not to stand idle and chitchat with friends and family, and she was always careful to lead by example.
“Pretty good,” she said. “We had a new guy join our staff today. His name is Sebastian. Corporate sent him over. Someone near the top must have called in a favor for a family friend or something—that’s all I can guess. I sent him home already, and he’s supposed to be back for the 11-6 shift tomorrow. We’ll see if he shows.”
“Good guy?” Danny asked.
Bridget paused, just briefly. “Kind of rough around the edges, actually,” she said. “He doesn’t have a great attitude so far about work, and he’s got zero people skills. I’m hoping he was just having an off day.”
“We all have them,” Danny said.
“Well, you’re not having an off day today,” she said, giving him a bright smile. “You look like you’ve been getting some work done.” She motioned with