Read Online Livvie's Song by Sharlene MacLaren - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sharlene MacLaren
Tags: General Fiction
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special and have a kettle o’ soup on hand, but you and Livvie can discuss that goin’ forward. You did real good in that breakfast rush. I kept an eye on you, and you really got a knack for stayin’ calm and handlin’ yourself under pressure.”
Will laughed. “I was just thinking the opposite. I guess you didn’t see the sweat rolling off my brow.”
“And into that forest on your face, I suppose,” Livvie muttered as she came around the corner, carrying a stack of dirty dishes. It was the first time she’d spoken to him all morning, not counting her initial greeting. “I hope you didn’t shed whiskers on anybody’s breakfast.” She set down the plates and topped them with a collection of silverware she pulled from her apron pocket. Then, she wiped her hands on her apron and turned to face him. “You didn’t, did you?”
Man, she could be a killjoy. “Not that I know of, ma’am. I suspect they’d blend in pretty well, though.” Those pursed, plump lips produced a shallow dimple in each cheek. Rather cute, actually. If he ever managed to get a good smile out of her, he might even see them at their peak.
The front door opened, and Will and Livvie both looked over to see a lone customer walk in. Cora Mae greeted the man and got him situated at a small table, where she stood and chatted with him. Hardly missing a beat, Joe went to the icebox and started shuffling things around, while Livvie stood over the trash bin and began scraping off what remained on the dirty dishes.
Will stepped closer to her and lowered his face within inches of her petite ear. “Do I detect some disgust at my facial hair?”
She scoured the plate in her hand even harder. “It doesn’t do anything for me, if that’s what you mean.”
“Well, I’m not out to impress you, madam.”
“Humph. I gathered that. Besides, I don’t impress easily.”
“You’re just itching to see what I look like, aren’t you? Admit it.”
She paused and glared up at him. “I should say not. I don’t care if you have the face of a toad. At this establishment, we uphold the highest standard of sanitation, and the idea of your—your whiskers falling into somebody’s soup makes me shudder. That, Mr. Taylor, is the only reason I’d like you to shave. Or, at the very least, give some shape to that carpet.”
He tugged on his beard, which had grown well below the second button of his dress shirt. “Shaggy” probably didn’t come close to describing it. Heck, he couldn’t recall the last time he’d seen his clean-shaven face. He probably wouldn’t recognize himself. And he would have been lying to say he wasn’t curious to see how much he’d visibly aged in the past ten years.
But this woman’s telling him what to do ignited a spark of rebellion, never mind that she was his boss. “Now, see, that would require me to visit a barber, and, since I haven’t received my first paycheck, well, I’m rather strapped for cash.” Of course, he had more than enough money for a shave and a haircut, now that he could expect some pay soon, but he preferred to make her think otherwise. “If you’ll recall, we did agree on a small stipend.”
“Which you will receive in two weeks, provided you prove yourself a capable cook.”
“Ah. Well then, I guess you’ll have to put up with my shaggy appearance for a while longer.”
“Livvie cuts her boys’ hair,” offered Joe, who had finally emerged from the icebox with a couple of defeathered chickens in hand. “Bet she could make quick work o’ that beard o’ yours.”
Will folded his arms. “I bet you’re right, Joe.” He looked at Livvie and arched his eyebrows. “I’m just not sure I’d trust her with a razor.”
“Well, that’s good, because I wouldn’t come anywhere near that bird’s nest,” Livvie retorted, then turned on her heel, marched out of the kitchen, and resumed clearing tables.
Cora Mae approached the counter and plopped down a piece of paper, directing her
Will laughed. “I was just thinking the opposite. I guess you didn’t see the sweat rolling off my brow.”
“And into that forest on your face, I suppose,” Livvie muttered as she came around the corner, carrying a stack of dirty dishes. It was the first time she’d spoken to him all morning, not counting her initial greeting. “I hope you didn’t shed whiskers on anybody’s breakfast.” She set down the plates and topped them with a collection of silverware she pulled from her apron pocket. Then, she wiped her hands on her apron and turned to face him. “You didn’t, did you?”
Man, she could be a killjoy. “Not that I know of, ma’am. I suspect they’d blend in pretty well, though.” Those pursed, plump lips produced a shallow dimple in each cheek. Rather cute, actually. If he ever managed to get a good smile out of her, he might even see them at their peak.
The front door opened, and Will and Livvie both looked over to see a lone customer walk in. Cora Mae greeted the man and got him situated at a small table, where she stood and chatted with him. Hardly missing a beat, Joe went to the icebox and started shuffling things around, while Livvie stood over the trash bin and began scraping off what remained on the dirty dishes.
Will stepped closer to her and lowered his face within inches of her petite ear. “Do I detect some disgust at my facial hair?”
She scoured the plate in her hand even harder. “It doesn’t do anything for me, if that’s what you mean.”
“Well, I’m not out to impress you, madam.”
“Humph. I gathered that. Besides, I don’t impress easily.”
“You’re just itching to see what I look like, aren’t you? Admit it.”
She paused and glared up at him. “I should say not. I don’t care if you have the face of a toad. At this establishment, we uphold the highest standard of sanitation, and the idea of your—your whiskers falling into somebody’s soup makes me shudder. That, Mr. Taylor, is the only reason I’d like you to shave. Or, at the very least, give some shape to that carpet.”
He tugged on his beard, which had grown well below the second button of his dress shirt. “Shaggy” probably didn’t come close to describing it. Heck, he couldn’t recall the last time he’d seen his clean-shaven face. He probably wouldn’t recognize himself. And he would have been lying to say he wasn’t curious to see how much he’d visibly aged in the past ten years.
But this woman’s telling him what to do ignited a spark of rebellion, never mind that she was his boss. “Now, see, that would require me to visit a barber, and, since I haven’t received my first paycheck, well, I’m rather strapped for cash.” Of course, he had more than enough money for a shave and a haircut, now that he could expect some pay soon, but he preferred to make her think otherwise. “If you’ll recall, we did agree on a small stipend.”
“Which you will receive in two weeks, provided you prove yourself a capable cook.”
“Ah. Well then, I guess you’ll have to put up with my shaggy appearance for a while longer.”
“Livvie cuts her boys’ hair,” offered Joe, who had finally emerged from the icebox with a couple of defeathered chickens in hand. “Bet she could make quick work o’ that beard o’ yours.”
Will folded his arms. “I bet you’re right, Joe.” He looked at Livvie and arched his eyebrows. “I’m just not sure I’d trust her with a razor.”
“Well, that’s good, because I wouldn’t come anywhere near that bird’s nest,” Livvie retorted, then turned on her heel, marched out of the kitchen, and resumed clearing tables.
Cora Mae approached the counter and plopped down a piece of paper, directing her
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