Semi-Psychic Life (Glimmer Lake #2) - Elizabeth Hunter Page 0,9
was a nice thought, but Jackson had no idea. No idea at all.
The boys did come into the restaurant, but only long enough to grab egg sandwiches before they sped off to school. Ramon was at the grill, Val was at the register and the coffee station, and Max was doing his best to keep the plates going in and out.
Unfortunately, because Val was pulling double duty, her customers at the counter were a little neglected. “Sorry, Dad.”
Vincent Costa waved a hand. “I’m fine. I got my coffee, and Philip here is keeping me company.”
Val glanced up and saw Robin’s dad sitting next to hers at the counter. “Hey, Mr. Lewis, how are you this morning?”
She didn’t catch his answer because the phone started ringing.
Don’t cry. There’s no crying in baseball. Or restaurants.
She picked it up. “Misfit Mountain Coffee Shop. We do not take orders or reservations over the phone.” Val found it best to start every phone call with disclaimers.
“It’s Monica. I was wondering if you’d had time—”
Val started to laugh hysterically. “I haven’t had time to pee since seven a.m. JoJo called in, so I’m short a barista and a server.”
“That sounds uncomfortable for everyone. Want me to come help?”
“Are you a barista?”
“No, but I can work a register and serve breakfast, smart-ass.”
Good enough.
Val snapped, “You’re hired. Be here an hour ago. I love you forever.” She hung up when another customer walked up to the register. “Hey, what can I get you?”
Monica walked in fifteen minutes later.
“You’re my best friend,” Val shouted across the restaurant. “Robin lost her title.”
“I thought we were both your best friends.”
“Yeah, but she made me brownies last week, so she’d pulled ahead slightly.”
“Brownies?” Monica stashed her purse under the counter. “You’re a cheap date. Apron?”
Val ducked down and grabbed one, tossed it to Monica, and pointed to the counter. “These two plates are for Jeanie and her friend.” She pointed to the two women at the end of the short counter. “You’re on the register and taking care of the counter. You know how to use this kind of register?”
“Same one Robin has.” Monica tied on the apron and walked behind the digital register, shoving Val to the side. “Go. Make coffee and write snarky comments on cups. I got this. Hi, Ramon!”
“Hey, Monica. You hungry?”
“Not yet, but I expect onion rings for lunch.”
“I’ll be happy to make some when I get some damn onions.”
“I can’t help that Don still isn’t here,” Val snapped. “I told you to go to the market!”
“Have you seen the sad produce at Granger’s?”
“Sad onions or no onions! I’m not a miracle worker.” Val turned and saw Sully standing at the counter. “Hi.”
He frowned. “Sad onions?”
She nodded to the kitchen. “Ask my prima donna cook back there. You need coffee?”
“And a pastrami sandwich.”
Monica said, “Hey Sully! How are you? Did you come in just to talk to Val? Because I would not find that at all surprising.”
Val froze, but bless him, Sully took it in stride. “I came in for coffee and pastrami.” He glanced at Val. “I don’t think either of those have onions.”
Monica smiled. “If you want to hang around and visit with Val, I’m sure we could get some.” She punched in the order, and Sully held out a card to pay.
“Shut up, Monica,” Val said, sliding a coffee cup toward Sully. “Here you go.”
He grabbed the empty cup and looked at it for a second. Then he looked back at Val. Then at Monica. “Right.”
He turned abruptly and walked to the coffee station, leaving Val glaring at Monica.
You’re the worst, she mouthed silently.
“I thought I was your best friend.”
“You need to cut it out,” she whispered. “Nothing is going to happen there.”
Something already did happen, not that Monica or Robin needed to know the details.
Ramon made the sandwich, Sully grabbed it and walked out without another glance in Val’s direction, and the morning sped by with hardly a second to catch her breath before eleven o’clock.
They took advantage of a lull and stepped out to the screened porch off the back of the restaurant to catch some fresh air. Val sat at the picnic table and flipped on the small space heater they kept for employee breaks.
The forest around them was blanketed in snow, and several feet of it were piled along the borders of the parking lot. They’d had a pretty average year for snow, but the temperatures had stayed frigid at night, which meant not much had melted since the last