Page 42 of Sea Glass Serenade

She laughed. “No, it’s just—well, you’re used to working for a prestigious company. Are you sure you’re up for getting your hands dirty like that?”

“You just watch me.” He smiled at her, and she smiled back.

They parked outside the pub and went inside. The Lighthouse Grill was due to open for lunch in an hour, and so far, no employees besides Alexis had arrived. Grayson looked around the cheerful, pleasant-smelling restaurant and smiled, finding it odd to see it so quiet and empty.

“The calm before the storm, huh?” he teased her.

She shook her head. “It’s not a storm, it’s a rollercoaster. Come and help me unload the supplies into the pantry.”

They unloaded everything they’d purchased at the grocery store, and then Alexis guided Grayson through helping her put away all the clean dishes that had been washed the night before.

“Have you ever shown up and found dirty dishes in the sink?” Grayson asked, mostly teasing, but as soon as he saw Alexis’s expression, he knew that there was a story about to be told.

“I wasn’t there,” she said, “but when I was in high school, they had this guy from the football team working here. He was supposed to finish washing the dishes and lock up, but then some friends of his showed up and he just ditched. Dad walked into the kitchen the next morning, saw all the dishes that this guy didn’t finish, and immediately fired him.”

“Wow. Your dad didn’t mess around.”

“Not about his restaurant!” Alexis laughed, but he noticed that her eyes looked sad, and he guessed that she missed her father. “I guess the guy was planning on waking up early to finish them before anyone else got here. But he slept through his alarm and then Dad got here way before he expected him to. The funny thing was, I’d kind of had a crush on that guy until I heard the story. Then I was never interested in him again.”

Grayson laughed. “You don’t mess around either. I’ll have to be careful to never leave any dirty dishes here overnight.”

She chuckled as she set the last stack of plates onto the shelf. “Don’t worry, I would still be interested in you.”

She didn’t look at him after she said the words, but he saw her blush a little. His heart warmed, and he wanted to ask her if he could hug her, but in the next instant she went over to a cupboard and took out a couple of baskets. One was filled with white napkins and light blue paper napkin bands, and the other was filled with silverware. Grayson hurried forward when he saw her struggling to lift the basket filled with clean silverware.

“I got it,” she told him, laughing. “It’s heavy, but it’s not too heavy. Go ahead and carry that other basket out to the dining room. This is easier if we do it at a booth.”

They took the baskets out to one of the booths and sat across from each other as they started to roll silverware. It was amindless task, easy to repeat over and over again, and Grayson found it a little fun.

“I love working here,” Alexis said with a pleased sigh as she set down another finished roll. “It’s new every day, but also filled with lots of little rituals that I enjoy doing. Things like this. I like being a part of keeping the pub going strong.”

He nodded, but he didn’t understand how she could feel that way. After all, she’d been a model once, and lived a glamorous life in L.A. Was she really content to be here in this little town, rolling silverware and getting chapped hands?

“Do you really feel fulfilled being a waitress?” he asked her.

“I really do.” She paused in her work to look up at him and smile. “I never thought I would, but I do. I think everyone, at some point in their lives, should have a job where good old-fashioned teamwork and a hometown feel are the focus.”

“Huh.” Grayson considered her words, pondering them as he continued to roll silverware. He thought about his first job, which had been for a Mom-and-Pop ice cream shop during high school. At the time, he’d felt impatient to move on and get a better job. He’d underestimated how precious and formative that sort of experience could have been for him, if he’d let it shape him. He remembered wise things that the owners had said to him now and again as they were training him, and he wished he’d paid their words more heed.

He looked up at his wife as she worked, and he thought to himself that he still had a lot to learn. He had a feeling that the woman sitting across from him was going to teach him a great deal.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Hazel stepped back from the mirror in her bedroom and turned slowly from side to side, inspecting her appearance. She’d done her hair simply but effectively and had put on a little more makeup than usual. She was wearing a light green dress paired with a leather jacket and heels, and she felt wonderful in the outfit.

“I’m ready,” she mouthed to her reflection. “I’m ready with my gift. I’m ready to tell Jacob how I feel about him.”

She took a deep breath, smiled at herself, and then stepped out of the room and made her way downstairs.

“You ready?” Alexis was perched on the end of the couch and she grinned at her sister. “You look incredible!”

“Thanks.” Hazel blushed. “Yes, I’m ready. Thanks for coming with me into town.”

“Of course! I know you need the moral support, and I’m only too happy to give it. I can’t wait to hear about how this goes. It’s going to be amazing.”

Hazel blew out a breath and then grabbed her purse. “Okay, let’s go. I need to keep moving or I might chicken out.”

They stepped out of the house and climbed into Hazel’s car. As they began to drive into town, Alexis continued to hype her up.

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