Page 20 of Grateful in Watch Hill
And someone to help that along...
“That’s what she needs.”
Kyle tapped the doorframe twice, a sort of signal that the conversation was over, and moved into the public part of the restaurant. I set my mind to making the pizzas as fast as I could, something that made me proud. Over the last few months, I’d become the fastest pizza maker on staff. Add that unexpected skill to the list of things I’d learned since the beginning of the pandemic.
I was on my tenth order when Kyle rushed back into the kitchen.
“You should come out here,” he said, his eyes wide, his expression tight. “Right now.”
“But I’m in the middle of this.”
“I’ll take care of it.” He crossed closer to the preparation station. “Just go on out there.”
“Okay. Whatever you say.”
Confused, I ran my hands under the water at the sink, wiped them on a paper towel, and wandered into the dining room. Kendra stood at the far end of it, her arms crossed over her chest as she glared at me.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“Is something wrong?” Everything about her body language told me that something was, but I asked the question anyway. “You look upset.”
Kendra took a deep breath. “I am.”
I glanced at my watch. It was already after two. The pizza orders had kept me so busy that the hour or so I’d been at work passed quickly. Still, if it was after two... “Your interview with Nancy must be over.”
“Yep. It’s over.”
“How did it go?”
“Fine.” Her tone of voice told me that no, it wasn’t fine at all. I’d been around enough women to hear the telltale edge in her voice. “It was fine.”
“Why don’t you tell me what’s upsetting you, then?”
“Nothing’s upsetting me.”
“You’ve got anger written all over your face.”
She sighed. “Why did you do that?”
I threw up a hand, feigning ignorance. I could guess what she was talking about, and part of me was surprised she seemed so angry. Did the meeting with Nancy go badly? “Do what?”
“Call her. Talk to her.” Kendra shifted her weight. “Tell Nancy that she should hire me.”
“Because she could use someone like you. Would there be any other reason?”
Kendra tightened her shoulders, her body language growing more stressed instead of less. “She said you reached out to her and gave her the idea. That you approached her about me.”
“Not really.” I cocked my head. “We keep in touch because I think it’s a good thing to have a vast network. That’s it.”
“I don’t need charity.” She practically spat the words. “I don’t need a job from someone who feels sorry for me.”
“Was that what she said it was?”
“No, but—”
“Then what’s the problem? I’d think working for Nancy would be a huge opportunity for you. She’s an enormously powerful woman in this community, and her dance company is very well respected around here. Besides, you...” I broke off instead of adding the words on the tip of my tongue, need the money. She knew what I was talking about. Kendra was a smart woman. She could guess.
