about what she saw with Charlie and me earlier. Shit, I have to come up with something plausible. “There’s just the chili and this mac and cheese, and we’re done in here.”
“Okay, do you want me to take the chili out?”
“Thank you.” I nod to Elle.
Elle walks ahead with the pot of chili, and I let out a sigh of relief. She didn’t ask, and I’m grateful I didn’t have to lie or make anything up. Taking the mac and cheese out, I place it a bit further down the huge table.
“Hey Tabitha, this looks great,” Murray says as he scoops some onto his plate.
“Thank you.” I offer Murray a smile, then walk back to where Aunt May is. There’s a seat beside her that’s empty, so I pull it out and sit.
“You eating, sweetheart?” she asks.
“I’m not really hungry, Aunt May.”
Aunt May leans over to scoop some of the chili onto her plate. “You’d think you would’ve worked up an appetite with what you’ve been doing.”
I feel my face burn, because I know she’s talking about what she saw with Charlie and myself. “What do you mean?” I ask, my voice cracking.
“You’ve been burning the candle at both ends, between the B&B and here. You’ve been coming home late and leaving early, seven days a week.”
I relax my shoulders and let out my held breath. I thought she was going to say something about Charlie. “I enjoy it, Aunt May. I like being needed; it makes me feel good.” And it doesn’t allow me any time to think about things I don’t want to relive.
“You’re a good kid, Tabby. Perhaps one day, you’ll find yourself a good boy…” she pauses. Oh no, here it comes. “Like Charlie.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” I stand, and walk back into the café to start cleaning the kitchen.
Charlie and I are friends with benefits. That’s it.
That’s all we’ll ever be.
“Thank you for everything you’ve been doing, Tabitha,” Hope says once she’s thanked one of the guests who’s leaving the B&B. “I need coffee.” She smacks her inner arm and looks over to the coffee pot. “Coffee, stat,” she says.
“Hey, I’m your chef, not your servant,” I reply jokingly as I grab a mug and fill it with coffee.
“I’ve gotta find someone to run this place. It’s too much on all of us. I need someone here full time. Now we’ve finished converting the gymnasium into the homeless shelter, I have to pull my finger out of my ass, and get designs finalized for the houses over on Oak Tree Parade in Faith Haven.”
“I take it you’re inundated with work. I can step up more if you like.”
“River, Charlie, and the team are over there now doing demo, and I’m missing out on the fun.” She leans against the counter and breathes out a long sigh. “I love demo days. It’s one of my favorite parts, other than doing the designs of course.” She places her mug on the counter, and runs her hand across the sleek granite counter tops. “I love designing so much too.”
I make sure Hope’s watching as I half shrug. “Meh,” I say teasingly. “You’re alright at it I suppose.”
Hope’s lips pick up into a smile, as her eyes widen. “I think I should increase your hours to twenty a day,” she playfully retorts.
“Oh yeah, like what I’m working now then?”
“Snap.” She clicks her fingers in front of her face. Her features quickly soften, and I notice something’s bothering her. “I really need to find someone to run this place so we’re not all working our asses off. Unless you want to run it and I can get Elle in here to cook?”
“No, thanks. I don’t mind helping with office stuff, but I’m not cut out to do that. My domain is in here.” I extend my arms on the granite counter top. “I forgot to tell you too. I got a phone call from one of the businesses over in Faith Haven. They’ve got some kind of team building lunch thing, and they want to come here and use the outdoor space.”
“Really?” Hope’s eyes widen with excitement. “When, who?”
“I wrote it down; it’s out on the front desk. Anyway, I’m thinking, if things like that start happening more often, then I won’t have time to help out the front.”
The front door opens, and an older man walks in. He’s wearing jeans, and a tailored t-shirt but judging by the toned stomach and broad shoulders, he’s quite buff