Katie's Cafe

9

The new girl Gemma arrives at the cafe the next morning and she seems enthusiastic compared to the usual people that want to work in a place like this.

"So you wrote down on your application form that you have previous experience working in a cafe?"

"I worked at my dad's cafe over on Leather Lane for just over six years before he decided to retire and sold it on a few months ago".

"Well you tell your dad from me that his cafe had the best pies I've ever tasted".

"I actually made all the pies myself," she looks happy that I've accidentally complimented her.

"Really? They were so good".

"Just between me and you, my dad was always seething with jealousy that the reviews for this place online always got higher rated than his," she laughs.

"I'm going to take that as a good thing. So you also put down that you're pretty much willing to work whenever I need you to at the moment?"

"This might seem a bit forward, but I really need the money. Me and my husband are going in for another round of IVF so losing my job when my dad sold up kind of ate into our savings a bit. It's hard to find work these days when your only experience is waitressing and every young person in the city is willing to do the exact same job for less money".

"I completely understand and I can assure you that my wages are the same no matter who I hire. Not to mention that every single teenager I've ever given a chance to except Hannah has quit on me because they can't handle a hard days work".

"I promise, I won't ever do that to you".

"So Hannah is going to show you where everything is before we open up while I head out to the shop. The milkman didn't show up again this morning so I'm going to have to go out and get it myself".

"Thank you so much for this opportunity, Sara. I won't let you down".

"You're more than welcome. Tell the moody teenager that I'll be back soon".

I reach the shop shortly after it opens, but the sudden sound of a large dog barking when I approach scares the absolute shit out of me.

It seems friendly enough though, sitting there all majestically outside, so I naturally assume the owner must be inside the shop buying something.

I've always been a sucker for a big dog so I can't help myself but stop to give it some love.

"Who are you waiting for, gorgeous?"

I kneel down in front of it to give it lots of affectionate chest scratches while it happily wags its tail and licks my face.

"You are such a good....boy!" I say as I check what's happening down there.

"Should I be jealous?" a man's voice asks unexpectedly.

I look up and see Tom standing there, seemingly amused with this morning's newspaper already neatly tucked under his arm.

"This is your dog, isn't it?"

I realise then that this is the very same dog he had previously shown me a picture of on his phone. How I didn't notice sooner is beyond me. Even the tag on his collar has Max engraved on it.

"He is, and I see that you two have already met in my absence".

"Sorry, but I couldn't resist giving him a quick cuddle. He's just too handsome".

I give Max a quick kiss on the nose before I get up off the ground.

"Are you not working this morning?"