Page 10 of Locked Down In Watch Hill
Now meant eating whatever I liked. Within reason.
I flipped open the box and found a note taped to the top of the inside. Curious, I tore it off the cardboard.
Hope you enjoy the pizza bread. We’re trying out a new recipe and would love your feedback. Thanks for the support. Kyle.
I read the message at least five times. Three simple sentences, no big deal at all, and probably something he wrote to the rest of the patrons he served. I still loved seeing Kyle’s scrawled handwriting on the paper.
I also thought about what Seth said not even half an hour earlier. Kyle was a good man and hoped to keep the restaurant going during what was one of the most challenging times in decades, a time when just saying afloat was a miracle. He also wasn’t using this time to stop him from helping others. That counted for something too.
I took my phone from the nearby counter and opened the Instagram app. I had a knack for taking photos and had somehow amassed a following of over three thousand, even though I wasn’t famous or even locally influential. Most of my photos before the pandemic centered on artful images that showcased what I wanted my life to be, something that resembled Carrie Bradshaw’s fromSex and the City, but with a modern twist. Now, I didn’t allow myself to look at those. They hurt too much.
Instead, I arranged the pizza bread, chicken wings, tabletop flowers, glass of red wine, and remaining bottle into what looked like an interesting-but-somehow-glamorous-too representation of what would be a decent night during a time in history when everyone was told to stay at home.
Quarantine cuisine,I typed into the caption box once I snapped a photo that satisfied me.Wouldn’t have it any other way, and the new pizza bread from Watch Hill Pizza makes the red wine go down smooth.
Smiling, I tagged their account, posted the image, and relocked my phone. There. That was one way to show my appreciation.
FIVE
KYLE
“I’m telling you, man, I really appreciate these extra hours.”
Seth unzipped his black quilted jacket and slid onto the seat across from me. We were at a table in what used to count as the main dining room. It was just a few tables and a couple booths alongside a lonely case of cold sodas, craft beers, and bottled pizza sauce. Technically, I could have kept the space for limited indoor dining but doing so hadn’t felt right. I wanted my customers to know I was doing everything I could to keep away, and the best way to show that was to keep the place open and serving only takeout and delivery.
“Don’t mention it,” I replied. “You’re the one who is helping me.”
“We did good tonight.” Seth glanced around the space. Tyler had already gone home, leaving us the only people in the whole place. “I know you said you were busy out here, but wow, you’re a lot busier than I thought.”
“People like pizza.” I shrugged. “But I really think it’s the menu changes. Word is finally getting out and feedback has been good.”
“This restaurant has a lot of potential.” My friend studied the walls and the décor as he adjusted his mask across his nose. “And it looks good now, but after ... after we get back to normal, well, you can really do a lot with what you already have.”
“I’ve been thinking about that.” I got up and moved to the cold-storage case. “Hey, since we did so good tonight, why don’t we have a beer? I could use one.”
“Sounds good to me.”
