Paper Lanterns

Chapter 10 Φ

Chapter 10 Φ

The following day, I brought my resume to Café 27. The place was filled with customers, so I took a seat and waited for Gina to be available.

As I was waiting, my eyes traced back to Mr. Harold Stevenson's house. I couldn't believe everything I'd found out—the well-established facts about him; all the things that indicated he wasn't the Mr. Steve that I knew.

There was one way to deal with all this. I couldn't pretend not knowing, after everything that came to light. However, I hadn't been able to compose that letter last night. There were too many questions, doubts and confusion. So I had put down the pen and turned off the lights, calling it a day.

When Gina passed by after she had placed a note on the café's door, she noticed me from the corner of her eyes and looked back again to make sure of it. Instantly recognizing me, her lips pulled into a quick smile. "Hi! I'll be with you in a minute."

I smiled back and waited for her as she endorsed something to one of her staff. After that, she went back to me. Standing up, I extended my hand and she warmly shook it, "I'm Anna. I hope the part-timer's position is still available."

"Of course! Did you bring your resume?" she asked. I took it out of my bag and handed it to her. Gina started reading through the things I'd written on my resume. "I thought you were younger, like in high school."

"I graduated a few weeks ago," I replied.

"Are you going to attend uni this coming semester?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm taking the year off and see what happens next."

"Great. Let's go take a seat on the couch," Gina said. After we got settled in, she continued, "I also took two years off after my high school graduation. Now I'm in my third year in NWU. Business administration."

"Oh."

"Thinking that I was also too young to be managing this place?" she hinted with a smile.

"No." I promptly shook my head. "Of course not."

"Parents are loaded. They asked me what I wanted to do with my life, and here we are," Gina explained. "But enough about me. Do you want to take the position?"

"Yes, I do," I answered.

"It's yours," Gina finalized. "Are you okay to start today?"

"Today?"

"We're a bit short on staff."

"Yes, I can start today," I told her. "I haven't got much planned."

"Great! I'll find someone who can train you for today..." Gina looked around, and I followed her gaze. Well, aside from the barista that was also here yesterday morning, there was only one person around. After a moment, she added, "Ah, Tim would be perfect."

Tim was already looking at us before Gina had called him over. He went over to where we were standing. Tidying his messy chestnut hair, he said, "Hi. Someone needs my help?"

"You're a mind-reader, Tim," Gina replied. She turned to me, saying, "He'll show you how it works around here."

"Hello," I greeted Tim.

Tim smiled. "Nice to meet you, um, stranger. What's your name?"

"Anna."

"It's Chelsea Anne on her resume. She got a pretty name, don't you think?" Gina said, sort of teasing us. "Well, I'll leave the two of you alone. If you need anything, I'll be in my office until ten."