The Deucalion Restaurant

🥐Chapter 15🥐

Morrigan scanned the restaurant as she slowly walked between tables. Table 23, she looked back down at the piece of the paper with the order, checking it for what could have been the hundredth time. She knew it, but she just didn't want to stuff up – Cadence would never leave her alone if she got fired on her fourth shift... and Ivy, Morrigan winced just imagining the woman's reaction if she came back home with a "hey, Mum! I got fired!"

Looking across the room, Morrigan spotted Noelle, smiling cheerfully as she placed down plates of food fresh from the kitchen in front of a group of elderly friends. She had to admit, Noelle seemed to be good with all this people stuff.

It made the brunette all the more annoying.

Morrigan sighed, shaking her head and looking back to the task at hand – finding table 23!

A minute or so later, Morrigan's eyes lit up triumphantly. Tucked away in a corner of the restaurant sat an older lady alone at a table. A table with a stand with a golden 23.

Replaying the words Jack had instructed her to use in her head and ignoring the coil of nervousness in her stomach, Morrigan walked up to the table, smiling as the woman looked up expectantly.

"A Wunder Burger with a Whispering Salad?"

"Oh, yes, thank you so much, miss."

Morrigan grinned, "Sorry it took me a while to find you."

"Oh, it's fine – don't worry about it, dearie! Are you new here? I don't think I've seen you around before."

"Yeah, today's my fourth shift," Morrigan said, trying her best to not make things awkward – old people were nice. Fairly easy to talk to.

"Oh, really? I never would have realised! They've got a good team here; I'm sure they're treating you well."

"Yeah, they're pretty great," Morrigan nodded, looking back at the restaurant over her shoulder at the other employees.

Kedgeree was at the door giving people seats, Fen was at the bar, and Martha was behind the café counter. Frank was most likely with Jupiter in one of the backrooms, while Noelle was still with the group of elderly people, and Jack was... walking towards a table next to her, balancing four plates of food between the two arms he has with expertise.

The older lady turned to look at the young waiter as he reached the table beside hers and began handing over the meals to the two young couples at the table.

"Well, good afternoon, young Jack," she smiled brightly.

"Afternoon, Gertha," the waiter smiled back, "ah, I see you've met one of our new employees?" He nodded at Morrigan.

"Oh, yes. She's lovely," Gertha smiled sweetly at her.

"Are you here spying on Margaret and Susan again?"

"What? No! Of course not!" Gertha's eyes widened as a hand came to rest on her chest. She looked accusingly at Jack, who just bemusedly rolled his eyes, muttering something about 'old ladies' and 'ruining parties'.

"Yeah, sure. Just don't start any drama again, okay?" Jack said before turning his attention back to the two couples. "Is that all for today? Yes? Well, I hope you enjoy dining here at the Deucalion. Have a good day."

"Well, I should let the two of you get back to work. Tell your uncle that the Christmas lights outside are a nice festive touch, Jack. So very nice." Gertha smiled at them, eyes briefly sliding over the older women at the other table.

Jack followed her gaze and sighed. "Yup, will do. Have a good rest of your day, Gertie. Don't get up to any mischief."

Morrigan nodded, wishing the older woman a good day as she followed Jack back through the restaurant.