Read Online Second Hearts (The Wishes Series) by GJ Walker-Smith - Free Book Online
Authors: GJ Walker-Smith
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growing and tables were turning over much slower than usual.
Since my morning shift the day before, Nellie’s restaurant had undergone changes. Every spare surface had been decorated. A huge pine wreath hung from the balustrade; a herd of gold Papier Mache reindeers took pride of place near the foot of the stairs and pine garlands hung from the ceiling. The crisp white table linen had been replaced with bottle green tablecloths and red napkins.
I had to admit it looked festive. It just meant nothing to me. I was too far from home and the people I loved to even consider getting into the Christmas spirit.
Waitressing was a lot like being a fly on the wall. Moseying around the dining room allowed me to catch snippets of all sorts of conversations. Travelling under the radar and eavesdropping wasn’t going to happen today. I was expected to go about my work looking like an obese Kewpie doll with a drinking problem. The taffeta dress was far too big and I had to keep hitching it back onto my shoulders. Adding to my troubles was the halo. I just couldn’t keep it on straight – proving something I’d known for years. I was never meant to wear a halo.
“You look wonderful,” praised Paolo, clapping his hands together loudly.
“Err, thanks.”
Grabbing a fistful of my puffy sleeve, he pulled me to one side. “I’m giving you one table. It’s a party of six. Do you think you can handle it?”
“I’ll manage,” I told him, shrugging free. “What do you want me to do until then?”
His wily grin made me uncomfortable. “Mingle. It’s Christmas.”
I had no intention of mingling. My table wasn’t due in until two. I had an hour to kill and no desire to be seen in my angel suit, so I retreated up to the mezzanine floor to hide. Every now and then I’d peek over the balustrade. It was busier than I’d ever seen it.
I was still spying from the top floor when Taylor, the Christmas gnome, started seating people at my table. A well-dressed woman and an elderly lady took their seats and Paolo rushed over to them. I could tell by his over-the-top gestures that he was going out of his way to welcome them. That should have been the moment that I headed down the stairs to tend to them. I could see Paolo swinging his head from left to right, looking for me. He gave up searching when his focus shifted to another couple coming through the door. My heart began thumping. The couple on the receiving end of Paolo’s royal welcome were Adam and the brunette. I hadn’t seen him since the disastrous day outside his apartment building weeks ago. And that was how it was supposed to be.
The decision to stay put came quickly. Self-preservation was more important than keeping my job. I pulled out a chair and sat down.
I couldn’t help staring at them, studying their every move. Adam politely pulled out a chair and brunette girl swept down the back of her black knee-length dress before sitting down.
I thought brunette girl was pretty. Not outstandingly beautiful like Phoebe or Gabrielle, but pretty nonetheless. She clearly adored Adam. She was constantly glancing across and smiling at him. Part of me was glad that he was happy. Another part of me wanted to pick up a saltshaker and drill it at brunette girl’s head.
Another woman soon joined the table, but from the get-go she seemed on the outer. After greeting her, no one seemed to pay her any more attention. The out-of-place woman with short platinum blonde hair spent the next few minutes talking into her phone.
The sight of Elvis walking through the door was a welcome distraction. I wondered why he was in for lunch rather than breakfast. It became painfully clear a few seconds later when he walked to Adam’s table, kissed the platinum blonde on the cheek and sat down.
My head exploded with information. No wonder I’d felt such a kinship to Elvis. There had always been a familiarity about him. The reason why was now screaming at me. He was a darker, broodier, older version
Since my morning shift the day before, Nellie’s restaurant had undergone changes. Every spare surface had been decorated. A huge pine wreath hung from the balustrade; a herd of gold Papier Mache reindeers took pride of place near the foot of the stairs and pine garlands hung from the ceiling. The crisp white table linen had been replaced with bottle green tablecloths and red napkins.
I had to admit it looked festive. It just meant nothing to me. I was too far from home and the people I loved to even consider getting into the Christmas spirit.
Waitressing was a lot like being a fly on the wall. Moseying around the dining room allowed me to catch snippets of all sorts of conversations. Travelling under the radar and eavesdropping wasn’t going to happen today. I was expected to go about my work looking like an obese Kewpie doll with a drinking problem. The taffeta dress was far too big and I had to keep hitching it back onto my shoulders. Adding to my troubles was the halo. I just couldn’t keep it on straight – proving something I’d known for years. I was never meant to wear a halo.
“You look wonderful,” praised Paolo, clapping his hands together loudly.
“Err, thanks.”
Grabbing a fistful of my puffy sleeve, he pulled me to one side. “I’m giving you one table. It’s a party of six. Do you think you can handle it?”
“I’ll manage,” I told him, shrugging free. “What do you want me to do until then?”
His wily grin made me uncomfortable. “Mingle. It’s Christmas.”
I had no intention of mingling. My table wasn’t due in until two. I had an hour to kill and no desire to be seen in my angel suit, so I retreated up to the mezzanine floor to hide. Every now and then I’d peek over the balustrade. It was busier than I’d ever seen it.
I was still spying from the top floor when Taylor, the Christmas gnome, started seating people at my table. A well-dressed woman and an elderly lady took their seats and Paolo rushed over to them. I could tell by his over-the-top gestures that he was going out of his way to welcome them. That should have been the moment that I headed down the stairs to tend to them. I could see Paolo swinging his head from left to right, looking for me. He gave up searching when his focus shifted to another couple coming through the door. My heart began thumping. The couple on the receiving end of Paolo’s royal welcome were Adam and the brunette. I hadn’t seen him since the disastrous day outside his apartment building weeks ago. And that was how it was supposed to be.
The decision to stay put came quickly. Self-preservation was more important than keeping my job. I pulled out a chair and sat down.
I couldn’t help staring at them, studying their every move. Adam politely pulled out a chair and brunette girl swept down the back of her black knee-length dress before sitting down.
I thought brunette girl was pretty. Not outstandingly beautiful like Phoebe or Gabrielle, but pretty nonetheless. She clearly adored Adam. She was constantly glancing across and smiling at him. Part of me was glad that he was happy. Another part of me wanted to pick up a saltshaker and drill it at brunette girl’s head.
Another woman soon joined the table, but from the get-go she seemed on the outer. After greeting her, no one seemed to pay her any more attention. The out-of-place woman with short platinum blonde hair spent the next few minutes talking into her phone.
The sight of Elvis walking through the door was a welcome distraction. I wondered why he was in for lunch rather than breakfast. It became painfully clear a few seconds later when he walked to Adam’s table, kissed the platinum blonde on the cheek and sat down.
My head exploded with information. No wonder I’d felt such a kinship to Elvis. There had always been a familiarity about him. The reason why was now screaming at me. He was a darker, broodier, older version
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