Read Online Wishing on Willows: A Novel by Katie Ganshert - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Katie Ganshert
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thankful you don’t have a mortgage to pay. It could always be worse.”
True. She had it better than many businesses along the riverfront, especially on the south end. There was no reason to worry. She’d told Mr. McKay she wouldn’t sell. End of story.
Megan set three plates of steaming food on the table. Today she wore a purple T-shirt that said
The Bell Jar
. “A stack of hot cakes, eggs and bacon, and one ham-and-cheese skillet.”
The salty-sweet aroma of bacon and syrup wafted up Robin’s nose, filling her with renewed optimism. She picked up her fork and cut a tick-tack-toe into Caleb’s pancakes while he bounced in his seat. “Thanks, Megan. It smells great.”
“Can I get you anything else? Water refills? Coffee?”
Amanda tapped the white mug and saucer set in front of her. “I’ll take a refill.”
As soon as the waitress left for the coffeepot, Robin leaned over the table. “You do realize you’re part of the problem. Even my accountant doesn’t mind a cup of overcooked Folgers.”
“Hey, if you’re genuinely concerned, you know what I think you should do?” Amanda pointed her butter knife at Robin. “Open the café on Sundays. That would help business.”
“I was kidding about the coffee.”
“I think it’s a good suggestion. Worthy of consideration, at least. You could close the café early on Saturday like you do every other afternoon and open Sunday morning instead.” Amanda shoved a forkful of ham, egg, and melted cheese into her mouth.
Caleb drenched his plate with blueberry syrup. Robin stopped him before he poured the entire bottle onto his breakfast. “I’m not asking anyone to give up their Sunday and there’s no way I’m shuffling Caleb off to daycare another day of the week.” Her son looked up from his food with sticky lips and round eyes. A glob of pancake fell from his fork and landed on his plate.
“I could watch the little rug rat,” Amanda said.
Robin shook her head. Caleb would never forgive her, and she’d never forgive herself.
“I’m just saying. Willow Tree is struggling, and you close your doors on the one day that people are most likely to go out for a relaxing cup of coffee. It’s not exactly an intelligent move.”
“Sorry. Not doing it.”
Amanda lifted her shoulder and speared a piece of ham. “You’re opening this afternoon.”
“That’s different. It’s a special occasion. I want to introduce folks to the new director of One Life. If I sneak in a little business while I’m doing it, then that’s a double bonus.”
“I thought you weren’t charging.”
“I’m not.”
“So how do you figure you’re going to ‘sneak in a little business’?”
“I’ll wow everyone with amazing food and drink, and they’ll come back the next time as paying customers.”
“Or”—another bite of egg and cheese paused near Amanda’s lips—“you could charge your guests today and they become paying customers without you having to lose money first.”
Megan stepped up to the side of their table and poured black liquid into Amanda’s cup. Robin dipped a slice of buttered toast into her egg yolk and took a bite. The greasy combination slid over her tongue, crunchy and warm.
Pulling at her messy knot of hair, Megan leaned close. “I’ve never done this before but I’ve always wanted to. Nine o’clock.” She mumbled the words from the corner of her mouth.
“What?”
Megan jerked her head toward the front door. “Nine o’clock.”
Robin glanced off toward the left. The food in her mouth lost its flavor. She forced the lump down and watched Ian McKay, looking just as polishedas he had an hour ago, stroll through the front doors of Val’s Diner. Good grief, the guy was everywhere.
Megan scurried behind the counter. Robin dabbed her lips with one corner of her napkin and turned her attention to Caleb, who had a pterodactyl in one hand, his fork in the other. She saved the plastic creature from the plate of sticky pancakes as
True. She had it better than many businesses along the riverfront, especially on the south end. There was no reason to worry. She’d told Mr. McKay she wouldn’t sell. End of story.
Megan set three plates of steaming food on the table. Today she wore a purple T-shirt that said
The Bell Jar
. “A stack of hot cakes, eggs and bacon, and one ham-and-cheese skillet.”
The salty-sweet aroma of bacon and syrup wafted up Robin’s nose, filling her with renewed optimism. She picked up her fork and cut a tick-tack-toe into Caleb’s pancakes while he bounced in his seat. “Thanks, Megan. It smells great.”
“Can I get you anything else? Water refills? Coffee?”
Amanda tapped the white mug and saucer set in front of her. “I’ll take a refill.”
As soon as the waitress left for the coffeepot, Robin leaned over the table. “You do realize you’re part of the problem. Even my accountant doesn’t mind a cup of overcooked Folgers.”
“Hey, if you’re genuinely concerned, you know what I think you should do?” Amanda pointed her butter knife at Robin. “Open the café on Sundays. That would help business.”
“I was kidding about the coffee.”
“I think it’s a good suggestion. Worthy of consideration, at least. You could close the café early on Saturday like you do every other afternoon and open Sunday morning instead.” Amanda shoved a forkful of ham, egg, and melted cheese into her mouth.
Caleb drenched his plate with blueberry syrup. Robin stopped him before he poured the entire bottle onto his breakfast. “I’m not asking anyone to give up their Sunday and there’s no way I’m shuffling Caleb off to daycare another day of the week.” Her son looked up from his food with sticky lips and round eyes. A glob of pancake fell from his fork and landed on his plate.
“I could watch the little rug rat,” Amanda said.
Robin shook her head. Caleb would never forgive her, and she’d never forgive herself.
“I’m just saying. Willow Tree is struggling, and you close your doors on the one day that people are most likely to go out for a relaxing cup of coffee. It’s not exactly an intelligent move.”
“Sorry. Not doing it.”
Amanda lifted her shoulder and speared a piece of ham. “You’re opening this afternoon.”
“That’s different. It’s a special occasion. I want to introduce folks to the new director of One Life. If I sneak in a little business while I’m doing it, then that’s a double bonus.”
“I thought you weren’t charging.”
“I’m not.”
“So how do you figure you’re going to ‘sneak in a little business’?”
“I’ll wow everyone with amazing food and drink, and they’ll come back the next time as paying customers.”
“Or”—another bite of egg and cheese paused near Amanda’s lips—“you could charge your guests today and they become paying customers without you having to lose money first.”
Megan stepped up to the side of their table and poured black liquid into Amanda’s cup. Robin dipped a slice of buttered toast into her egg yolk and took a bite. The greasy combination slid over her tongue, crunchy and warm.
Pulling at her messy knot of hair, Megan leaned close. “I’ve never done this before but I’ve always wanted to. Nine o’clock.” She mumbled the words from the corner of her mouth.
“What?”
Megan jerked her head toward the front door. “Nine o’clock.”
Robin glanced off toward the left. The food in her mouth lost its flavor. She forced the lump down and watched Ian McKay, looking just as polishedas he had an hour ago, stroll through the front doors of Val’s Diner. Good grief, the guy was everywhere.
Megan scurried behind the counter. Robin dabbed her lips with one corner of her napkin and turned her attention to Caleb, who had a pterodactyl in one hand, his fork in the other. She saved the plastic creature from the plate of sticky pancakes as
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