Finally Found You

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

“Amber!” Jeff knocked on my door a few days after Christmas. “Wake up!”

“Amber!” Jeff continued pestering me when I didn’t respond. It was early in the morning in a vacation though, what did he expect?

No matter how long I decided to stay in bed though, I knew he wouldn’t give up. Jeff really didn’t like to wake me up unless it was important. So, with a heavy sigh, I decided to get up.

I knew I didn’t look pretty in the morning. My hair always stood straight out. I hadn’t bothered to remove my makeup from last night, so I guessed it would be all smudged up. I didn’t bother do to anything about my appearance though. If I was lucky, maybe I scared Jeff enough, so that he would never wake me up again. It was worth a shot at least.

Unfortunately, my looks didn’t affect my father in any way. He barely even glanced at me before he said, “I need you to work at the café.”

It looked like it physically pained him to say that sentence. Not that the idea appealed to me, either.

“What? Why?” I asked.

I really didn’t want to step foot in that part of the gallery ever again.

“Please Amber. Madge called in sick and I can’t get a hold of anyone else. Isaac will come later, but not until noon. I’m begging you, Amber,” Jeff pleaded.

How could I say no to the face he pulled on me? He had a puppy-dog face that could challenge Puss in Boots. So, with a groan, I agreed.

So an hour later, I was placed behind the counter with a bright smile on my face. I knew there were a lot of people who stopped by this place for their morning coffee. That’s why I was pretty happy when I saw one of the older workers, who solely worked in the kitchen part, baking and making coffee, was also here. That meant I didn’t even have to get close to the coffee machine.

I swear that thing hated me.

The hours dragged on. I really didn’t like this. The only thing I did was stand behind the counter, taking orders and managing the check out. It was a boring day. To top it off, the other worker was in a bad mood today. It wasn’t until that moment that I remembered that the few times I worked at the café this summer, I only worked with Isaac.

Isaac always made it fun to work, unlike the moody woman that was behind me now. Exactly at twelve o’clock, Isaac stepped into the gallery, a cold wind swishing from the December air outside.

Immediately, the woman hung up her apron and walked outside. With a smile, I thought I was also off to go, but Isaac stopped me the second I started to untie my apron.

“No, you’re going to work and keep me company, Amber,” Isaac said a small smirk on his face.

He knew how much I hated to work here. He did that on purpose. So with a groan I stepped back to the counter and pasted on a fake smile on my face. I helped a few more customers as Isaac started to work in the kitchen.

This was totally unfair. How come I, the one who actually doesn’t work here at all, have to work a double shift, while the woman who had worked here ever since Jeff started it up got to leave? In my mind it didn’t make sense.

The bell on the door jingled again. I didn’t really pay much attention. Right now, I was too busy glaring at Isaac with my back turned to the counter.

I never said I was good with customers. It’s Jeff’s own fault if gets a low income today. He was the one who placed me hear.

The person, who I assumed had just walked inside, cleared his throat behind me. I pasted on a fake smile and as I spun around I started to say: “Hey and welcome to Wilson’s Gallery. How may I…”