In Search of Tomorrow ✓

Twenty-Two

It was three thirty when I arrived at Skyport Café the following afternoon. Belinda was standing behind the counter, taking a customer's order while smiling broadly.

"Good afternoon, Evelyn!" she called when I slipped behind the counter and set my bags out of sight of the customers. "Go on and grab your apron from the back and as soon as I finish here I'll show you the ropes."

It didn't take long for me to find an apron with "Skyport Café" embroidered in cursive letters on the front. I realized with a pang of regret that it looked better on me than Katie's cow aprons—I missed the creamery already.

While Belinda whipped up a grilled cheese in the kitchen for a customer who had just ordered, she told me to pour a Sprite from the soda fountain and bring it over. I finished tying my apron and then got the drink, making sure to fill it with lots of crushed ice and secure the top carefully.

"Here you go," I chirped, handing the drink across the counter to the customer, who smiled and took the cup and wrapped straw.

The afternoon passed in a steady rhythm. It wasn't hard work, and before long I was taking customers' orders while Belinda made food in the kitchen. The café was actually bustling—I hadn't expected it to be as busy as it was. When I took a quick break for a snack, I surprised myself by relishing in the homemade chocolate chip cookie Belinda offered me.

At five thirty, I hung my apron back on the hook and thanked Belinda before grabbing my things and heading out. All of the tables were nearly full with customers, and I wondered how Belinda would manage them all by herself until a girl around my age entered with an apron draped around her arm.

"No need to worry," said Belinda, squeezing my shoulder. "Melissa here will help me for the evening shift."

I smiled at Melissa, who smiled back, and then shoved open the glass door out into the parking lot. I had just unlocked my car and was trying to pry the door open when my phone rang.

"Hey, Cameron," I said, finally forcing the door away from the car and climbing into the driver's seat. I buckled my seatbelt but didn't stick the key in the ignition, overcautious about any distractions while I was driving.

"Evelyn Caverly!" I could tell Cameron was smiling even though I couldn't see him, and just hearing his happy voice made me want to smile. "What's up?"

"I just finished my first day of work for your aunt," I said. "She's literally the sweetest person ever."

"It's all natural in the Maddox family. Hey, mind if I come over? Are you at home?"

I checked my watch and then did some quick mental calculations. "I will be in about half an hour," I said. "I still have to pick Maddie and Clare up. Why?"

"I just thought we could hang out a little," said Cameron innocently. "I've barely seen you all week."

"Sounds fine to me. Why don't you come over at six? You can stay for dinner."

We exchanged a few minutes of small talk and then I hung up, setting my phone in the cup holder and turning on the car.

I'd arrived at Maddie and Clare's after-school care in fifteen minutes, and in five more I'd herded them into the car. As I was driving home, I realized I had nothing suitable to cook for dinner, but as it was already five till six I knew I didn't have time to stop at the grocery store. Cameron would just have to be satisfied with frozen food.