launched a hundred muffin tins clattering to the ground. Chef rescued the tins then cleared the obstacle course I’d invented for myself. He held the back door open for me. I wasn’t sure if he was being polite or giving me a nice shove out of harm’s way. We stood awkwardly in the parking lot, looking down at our shoes.
“Sorry I made you come all the way out here for nothing. I didn’t think Arnie was scheduled to clean today.”
“He works part time at Save-A-Lots, nights mostly. So it makes good sense. He probably stopped by on his way home this morning.”
Chef nodded. “Well, the rest of my day is actually free. How about you?”
“I’ve got to pick up my Santa Sparkle from Lickety Split. If the power comes back on, I might get my Santa’s Sidekick shift back. And I’m kinda hoping I hear from James.”
“Oh.”
“He hasn’t given me a lot of work lately. But he’s been very busy with his Stressed Shoppers station at the mall. So I’m hoping he’s picked up some new clients.”
“Oh, that James.”
I looked at him. “What other James would I mean?”
“Sorry. Must have confused him with someone else.” Chef smiled back brightly.
I rubbed my arms to keep from shivering. “Well, I’d better get going. It’s a little brisk out here.”
“Brisk? Oh, yes.”
“See you.”
“Mina?”
“Yes?”
“If there’s anything I can help you with, just let me know, okay ? I’ve got most of the day open.”
“You’ve got nothing to do?” I was incredulous. I always have something to do. It doesn’t mean that I actually do anything. It’s just that I’ve got miles of things on lists to which I pay little attention. They keep the paint swatches company.
“Well, yes and no. I might go through a box of recipe books I should have unpacked long ago. But that’s about it until the dinner party later.”
I considered it. Chef’s recipe books had to be real recipe books. Professional. It was very tempting. Then I remembered Trixie and her love-lorn laundry. A promise is a promise.
“I told Trixie she could do laundry at my house. From the sound of it, it could last all day.” Or all month, I thought.
“All day?”
“It seems she hasn’t done any since July.”
He shook his head. “You’re a real trooper. I hope Santa brings you everything you want for Christmas. Any wishes?”
“Do you think he does vans?”
“Doubtful.”
We smiled hesitantly at each other. “Thanks anyway. Although I’d rather look at recipe books than dirty duds any day.”
“Call me if you need an excuse.”
“Thanks. But this is sympathy laundry.”
“Who died?”
“Her boyfriend.”
“What?”
“For the moment, anyway. It’s complicated.”
“That’s a shame. You know, not all relationships have to be complicated.” He looked down at me, his blue eyes sparkling in the bright winter light. My feet tingled and I stomped them.
“Geez, you are cold! You better get going.” He held open the door for me, and I hopped in. Well, that was that.
I drove away, wondering if I was reading too much into a nice guy’s polite conversation. I pushed away the double entendre thoughts beginning to form – it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to fantasize about a part-time boss. It would get in the way of my fantasizing about my other part-time boss.
My thoughts and the steering wheel turned in the direction of ransoming my vest from the cleaners.
My luck abruptly changed for the better, when I slid – literally – into a parking space right in front of Lickety Split . I hopped out, only to find the door locked. A sign read, “7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.” I certainly was in the ballpark. I banged on the door. I waited. Then I banged some more. How the heck was I going to get my vest?
Some scuttling sounds came from inside, and the door opened a crack.
“Mina?”
“Fen?”
“Quick – come in!” She opened the door to let me in. She glanced furtively around outside, then shut and
“Sorry I made you come all the way out here for nothing. I didn’t think Arnie was scheduled to clean today.”
“He works part time at Save-A-Lots, nights mostly. So it makes good sense. He probably stopped by on his way home this morning.”
Chef nodded. “Well, the rest of my day is actually free. How about you?”
“I’ve got to pick up my Santa Sparkle from Lickety Split. If the power comes back on, I might get my Santa’s Sidekick shift back. And I’m kinda hoping I hear from James.”
“Oh.”
“He hasn’t given me a lot of work lately. But he’s been very busy with his Stressed Shoppers station at the mall. So I’m hoping he’s picked up some new clients.”
“Oh, that James.”
I looked at him. “What other James would I mean?”
“Sorry. Must have confused him with someone else.” Chef smiled back brightly.
I rubbed my arms to keep from shivering. “Well, I’d better get going. It’s a little brisk out here.”
“Brisk? Oh, yes.”
“See you.”
“Mina?”
“Yes?”
“If there’s anything I can help you with, just let me know, okay ? I’ve got most of the day open.”
“You’ve got nothing to do?” I was incredulous. I always have something to do. It doesn’t mean that I actually do anything. It’s just that I’ve got miles of things on lists to which I pay little attention. They keep the paint swatches company.
“Well, yes and no. I might go through a box of recipe books I should have unpacked long ago. But that’s about it until the dinner party later.”
I considered it. Chef’s recipe books had to be real recipe books. Professional. It was very tempting. Then I remembered Trixie and her love-lorn laundry. A promise is a promise.
“I told Trixie she could do laundry at my house. From the sound of it, it could last all day.” Or all month, I thought.
“All day?”
“It seems she hasn’t done any since July.”
He shook his head. “You’re a real trooper. I hope Santa brings you everything you want for Christmas. Any wishes?”
“Do you think he does vans?”
“Doubtful.”
We smiled hesitantly at each other. “Thanks anyway. Although I’d rather look at recipe books than dirty duds any day.”
“Call me if you need an excuse.”
“Thanks. But this is sympathy laundry.”
“Who died?”
“Her boyfriend.”
“What?”
“For the moment, anyway. It’s complicated.”
“That’s a shame. You know, not all relationships have to be complicated.” He looked down at me, his blue eyes sparkling in the bright winter light. My feet tingled and I stomped them.
“Geez, you are cold! You better get going.” He held open the door for me, and I hopped in. Well, that was that.
I drove away, wondering if I was reading too much into a nice guy’s polite conversation. I pushed away the double entendre thoughts beginning to form – it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to fantasize about a part-time boss. It would get in the way of my fantasizing about my other part-time boss.
My thoughts and the steering wheel turned in the direction of ransoming my vest from the cleaners.
My luck abruptly changed for the better, when I slid – literally – into a parking space right in front of Lickety Split . I hopped out, only to find the door locked. A sign read, “7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.” I certainly was in the ballpark. I banged on the door. I waited. Then I banged some more. How the heck was I going to get my vest?
Some scuttling sounds came from inside, and the door opened a crack.
“Mina?”
“Fen?”
“Quick – come in!” She opened the door to let me in. She glanced furtively around outside, then shut and
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