Page 55 of The Beach Shack Artists 3
“Artistic license.”
“Very artistic. Very... structurally creative.” Joey grinned and continued with his own folding. “You know what’s funny? During the napkin crisis, Mrs. Henderson asked if we werehaving ‘creative difficulties’ because she found me folding paper towels into flowers at table six.”
Anna laughed. “What did you tell her?”
“That we were exploring new frontiers in table presentation. She seemed satisfied with that answer.” Joey finished another perfect napkin and added it to his growing pile. “Though I think she may have left a bigger tip out of sympathy.”
Anna attempted another crane, this one slightly more successful. “I really am sorry about disrupting everything. I got so caught up in making things better that I forgot to ask if anyone wanted them better.”
“Apology accepted. Though for the record, your salt organization system is actually brilliant. Color temperature gradient—genius.” Joey picked up Anna’s attempt and studied it seriously. “This crane has character. Very expressive wings.”
“It’s definitely something.”
“Art doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful, right? That’s what you always tell us.”
Anna felt her throat tighten slightly. Even while apologizing, Joey was being kind to her. “You’re too generous.”
“Nah, just honest. Plus, if I can learn to fold napkins into birds, you can learn to ask before you relocate entire systems.” Joey demonstrated the final steps of his peacock. “Deal?”
“Deal.” Anna managed to complete her crane—lopsided but recognizably bird-like. “Though I may need more practice.”
“That’s what tomorrow’s prep is for.”
Joey’s pile grew steadily while Anna slowly improved her technique. There was something satisfying about the repetitive motion, the focus required to get each fold right.
“Joey?” Anna said as they finished the last of the napkins.
“Yeah?”
“Next time I have an idea about improving something, I’m going to ask for your input first. Before I change anything.”
“Does this mean I get veto power?”
“You get consultation power.”
“I’ll take it.” Joey held up his latest creation—a perfectly folded napkin peacock, complete with fanned tail. “Success! Turns out crisis management is great for developing hidden talents.”
Anna gathered her own attempts—a collection of increasingly successful but still quirky birds. “Think these are good enough for customer tables?”
Joey studied them with mock seriousness. “I think customers would appreciate the... individuality. Very avant-garde.”
“Staff table napkins it is.”
As they cleaned up and headed back to the dining room, Anna felt lighter than she had in days. Maybe Florence had taught her about art, but Joey had just reminded her about something equally important—how to be part of a team instead of just leading one.
They passed Margo in the hallway, and she caught Anna’s eye with a small, knowing smile that suggested she’d heard at least part of their conversation.
“Feeling better?” Margo asked quietly.
“Getting there,” Anna said. “One apology at a time.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Tyler found Stella sprawled across the couch at six-thirty, camera in her lap and the expression of someone who’d been thinking too hard about uncomfortable things.
“Pizza?” he offered, holding up his phone. “I was about to order.”
“It’s barely dinner time.”
