floor he crawled beneath the covers and went back to sleep.
Chapter 8
Grace stretched lazily before either her alarm or the wake-up call came. The sky outside the window was beginning to lighten. Heavy gray clouds hung low in the sky and threatened another day of rain. The phone jangled beside the bed and Grace answered the automated call telling her it was 5:30 AM. Swinging her legs out of bed she switched off the alarm on her phone before it could buzz.
Within half an hour she was washed, brushed, and dressed. After debating and deciding against having a cup of packaged hotel coffee she went down to the lobby. A young man had taken Sandy’s place and he merely nodded as she crossed to the front door.
The sky had lightened a little more and while the clouds still threatened rain it was dry at the moment. Traffic was light as she dashed across the road to the restaurant parking lot. The service station had not opened yet and she couldn’t see any sign of her car. There were a few cars in the restaurant lot as she hurried up the steps and into the lobby. The scent of fresh brewed coffee and warm toast hit her at once and she regretted her earlier decision to skip the coffee.
An older woman stood at the hostess station and looked up with a smile as she entered.
“Just one?” she asked as she pulled a menu from the stack at her side.
Grace returned the smile. “Actually I’m supposed to start work today.”
The woman’s eyes flicked over Grace and she nodded briefly. Still smiling, she extended her hand. “Welcome. I have to say I’m glad to meet you; these early hours are killing me.” As they shook hands she continued. “I have some paperwork for you to fill out. Then I’ll show you what you’ll be doing. Have you ever worked in a restaurant before?”
“A very long time ago,” Grace admitted as she sat down at the table and began looking through the forms.
The smile slipped slightly but she regained her composure quickly. “Well get started on these papers and I’ll let Jack know you’re here.” She cast a quick glance at the front as she hurried to the kitchen.
Grace pulled her driver’s license and social security card out of her wallet and began filling out the employment forms. She was halfway through the first form when she noticed an older couple standing at the hostess station. Looking toward the kitchen she didn’t see the woman who had greeted her. After a couple of minutes she got up and went to greet the couple. “The hostess will be back to seat you in a moment.”
Just then Jack came up beside her, the hostess trailing him. “I’m so sorry,” she apologized, pulling two menus from the stack. As she led the couple to a table she shot Grace a look of gratitude and mouthed a thank you.
Jack chuckled as he led Grace back to the table so she could complete her paperwork. “I told you I needed someone.” He slid into the seat across from Grace. “The mornings can be hectic or quiet. There doesn’t seem to be a pattern.” He pulled the application across and glanced at it quickly. “Mostly you’ll be the hostess and helping out serving and prepping the dining room for the next day.” Grinning at her he continued. “Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?”
Returning his grin Grace said, “It sounds like a job and I need one. I can also serve if you need me to. I really appreciate you going out on a limb for me. And I promise I won’t leave you in the lurch.”
With that he stood up. “I appreciate that Grace. Let’s get you started so we can give old Molly a break.”
With that Grace’s first day at the diner started; a day that turned out to be very interesting before it was over.
Chapter 9
While Grace was being indoctrinated into the world of Riddle dining, Kort was getting ready for his job interview and his meeting with his parole officer. Although he knew the job was guaranteed he took special care with his appearance. Studying himself in the bathroom mirror
Chapter 8
Grace stretched lazily before either her alarm or the wake-up call came. The sky outside the window was beginning to lighten. Heavy gray clouds hung low in the sky and threatened another day of rain. The phone jangled beside the bed and Grace answered the automated call telling her it was 5:30 AM. Swinging her legs out of bed she switched off the alarm on her phone before it could buzz.
Within half an hour she was washed, brushed, and dressed. After debating and deciding against having a cup of packaged hotel coffee she went down to the lobby. A young man had taken Sandy’s place and he merely nodded as she crossed to the front door.
The sky had lightened a little more and while the clouds still threatened rain it was dry at the moment. Traffic was light as she dashed across the road to the restaurant parking lot. The service station had not opened yet and she couldn’t see any sign of her car. There were a few cars in the restaurant lot as she hurried up the steps and into the lobby. The scent of fresh brewed coffee and warm toast hit her at once and she regretted her earlier decision to skip the coffee.
An older woman stood at the hostess station and looked up with a smile as she entered.
“Just one?” she asked as she pulled a menu from the stack at her side.
Grace returned the smile. “Actually I’m supposed to start work today.”
The woman’s eyes flicked over Grace and she nodded briefly. Still smiling, she extended her hand. “Welcome. I have to say I’m glad to meet you; these early hours are killing me.” As they shook hands she continued. “I have some paperwork for you to fill out. Then I’ll show you what you’ll be doing. Have you ever worked in a restaurant before?”
“A very long time ago,” Grace admitted as she sat down at the table and began looking through the forms.
The smile slipped slightly but she regained her composure quickly. “Well get started on these papers and I’ll let Jack know you’re here.” She cast a quick glance at the front as she hurried to the kitchen.
Grace pulled her driver’s license and social security card out of her wallet and began filling out the employment forms. She was halfway through the first form when she noticed an older couple standing at the hostess station. Looking toward the kitchen she didn’t see the woman who had greeted her. After a couple of minutes she got up and went to greet the couple. “The hostess will be back to seat you in a moment.”
Just then Jack came up beside her, the hostess trailing him. “I’m so sorry,” she apologized, pulling two menus from the stack. As she led the couple to a table she shot Grace a look of gratitude and mouthed a thank you.
Jack chuckled as he led Grace back to the table so she could complete her paperwork. “I told you I needed someone.” He slid into the seat across from Grace. “The mornings can be hectic or quiet. There doesn’t seem to be a pattern.” He pulled the application across and glanced at it quickly. “Mostly you’ll be the hostess and helping out serving and prepping the dining room for the next day.” Grinning at her he continued. “Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?”
Returning his grin Grace said, “It sounds like a job and I need one. I can also serve if you need me to. I really appreciate you going out on a limb for me. And I promise I won’t leave you in the lurch.”
With that he stood up. “I appreciate that Grace. Let’s get you started so we can give old Molly a break.”
With that Grace’s first day at the diner started; a day that turned out to be very interesting before it was over.
Chapter 9
While Grace was being indoctrinated into the world of Riddle dining, Kort was getting ready for his job interview and his meeting with his parole officer. Although he knew the job was guaranteed he took special care with his appearance. Studying himself in the bathroom mirror
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