Page 42 of Winter at Wishington Bay
‘You know that doesn’t always mean someone isn’t married.’
‘No, I know. But please, Sophia?’
‘What’s going on?’ Eloise bustled up, hooking the pager on her apron as she did so.
‘I’m taking one of Sophia’s tables to help her out,’ Corinne explained, airily.
Eloise gave us both a look. ‘That’s not like you to not keep up, Soph. You OK?’
Great, now it looked like I was bad at my job. Thanks, Corinne. And I hadn’t actually agreed to anything yet, but my fellow waitress was young and pretty and used to getting her way.
I didn’t answer. Suddenly my pager went off and I headed back towards the kitchen to collect my order. Coming back out, laden with plates, I wound my way through to the table next to Nate’s. Corinne was already at his side, smiling, with her wide, heavily lashed eyes focused entirely on him. I handed out the order, checking that my table had everything they needed and making a note to bring two more glasses of house white before turning away. As I did, Nate looked past Corinne and caught my eye. I returned his smile, gave him a brief wave and headed over to the bar to get the drinks. As I poured the second one, Corinne appeared at my side, snatching a bottle of some locally brewed beer from the fridge.
‘What are you doing?’ she hissed at me.
I turned, her tone surprising me. ‘Sorry?’
‘What are you doing?’
‘Umm, pouring wine.’
She gave an exaggerated huff, the kind girls her age excelled in, and then looked at me.
‘I saw you. At the table. I told you – he’s mine.’
I didn’t have time for her petulance today. The restaurant was busy and she’d already made it look like I couldn’t keep up with my job. Also, I’d never actually agreed to her taking Nate’s table despite it being in my section. She’d just assumed. I’d let that go but I was in no mood to put up with her spoilt childishness.
‘Actually, you said nothing of the sort and I don’t think you can just go around claiming strangers for your own. I also don’t appreciate you telling Eloise that you were doing it because I couldn’t keep up. That doesn’t exactly make me look good.’
Corinne inspected her fingernails, either unbothered, or not listening, or possibly both.
I gave up. Grabbing the glasses, I stood them on a bar tray and made to leave.
‘Sophia?’ Her voice was softer now. Maybe there was hope after all.
‘Yes?’
‘Can you open this beer for me? I don’t want to break my nails.’
Hope evaporated. I opened the beer, picked up my tray and walked off.
‘Hi,’ Nate said as I turned, having handed over the wine to the table next to him.
‘Hi,’ I replied. ‘How are you?’
‘Good thanks. Busy in here today.’
‘Yes. Sunday always pulls the crowds.’
He nodded. ‘I was sort of hoping you might be serving me.’
I smiled but said nothing.
‘I just… thought that maybe I could ask—’
‘Here we are!’ Corinne appeared, placing herself purposefully between me and Nate, and putting his beer down in front of him with a flourish. I noticed she bent a bit lower than she needed to, and an extra button on her blouse was now undone. Nate glanced up to thank her and got an eyeful of pert, twenty-two-year-old cleavage. He sat back a little. Corinne gave me a brief triumphant look, completely missing Nate’s discomfort and positioned herself so that I was out of sight completely. I looked up to see another diner trying to catch my eye and headed over to the table.
‘Hi. Can I help?’
