Michaela recalled thinking, when she first started to work at Angel’s Roadhouse half a year ago, that it was an amazing thing she’d been hired, since her last name hadn’t been Benedict. She’d been certain just from observing them that all these wonderful women must have known and loved each other all their lives. She hadn’t known what the connection was with Angela Stone, who owned the place, but the roadhouse had felt as if it were a family business.
What a shock to learn that hadn’t been the case at all. And how pleased she’d been at the ease with which she’d slipped into good, solid friendships with each of her coworkers.
Michaela had some good friends in Austin—or believed she had. She’d only heard from one of them, Julie Rogers, since she’d come home to take care of her dad and decided to stay.
Somehow, Michaela had the sense that if she had to move back to Austin, she’d hear from these women on a regular basis and for the rest of her life.
Patrick Riley, the man in charge of all things yummy in the kitchen, had arrived ahead of them. The scent of something very mouthwatering wafted into the dining room. She inhaled deeply and her mind told her chili.
“Good party last night,” Bailey said. She, like Michaela, had just inspected her section, pulling chairs off the tables in the first step toward opening.
“It was!” She smiled at Bailey. “I had a really good time. I think everyone who attended did.”
“Looked like you were having a very good time—after those two new Montanan cousins sat down with you between them.” Bailey raised her eyebrows twice in rapid succession and followed that up with an overplayed wink and an elbow nudge. All those gestures were delivered with the glee of a cartoon character.
Michaela laughed, because she knew Bailey’s teasing really was good-natured.
“I’m hoping the fact that y’all had your heads together that way meant…. Well…” Bailey turned to her and huffed out a breath. “I’ve noticed, as have others, that you were giving those two a wide berth since they arrived. I was wondering if you’ve decided to try them on for a bit. Or did they just finally push their way in?”
“There was no real pushing involved. I haven’t been the only one giving anything between us a wide berth, either. Lewis was, too. I think last night we just more or less came to the same conclusion. I’d been avoiding them—or rather, getting too close to them—because they will eventually move on. They’ve been upfront about that since they arrived. And I think Lewis, especially, felt the same way.”
“They have been up front about their intentions. I also happen to know all the guys have been subtly…no, scratch subtly. They’re all men and not capable of being subtle.” She grinned, and Michaela laughed.
“You’re telling me that the guys like Lewis and Randy and wouldn’t mind seeing them stick around.” They turned toward the large tray of cutlery. Working together, they began to wrap knives and forks in the large square paper napkins that Angela ordered in especially for that purpose. Extra, different, napkins were provided guests if requested. These good, sturdy yet soft ones were just for this purpose.
“Yes, they would. But that’s got nothing to do with you.” Bailey nodded. “It’s likely, when those two find this place of theirs they’ve been talking about, it won’t be very far away. Certainly, it’ll be a lot closer to Lusty than Montana is.”
“I can see how they’d all maybe see something new in people they’ve known all their lives. Maybe what they’re feeling is that with all of them removed from everything that’s familiar in Montana, they’ve all gotten to know each other again without any of those blinders.”
“I think you’re right,” Bailey said. “And from everything I know, it’s likely that coming here—to the way that family is treated here—has changed them, those that have been here for a while. Healed some wounds and opened some minds.”
“It probably has.” Michaela recalled the evening that Jenny told her a bit about what her guys went through before they came to Texas. Then she’d said that the way people were here, in Parker’s words, “was the answer to their most cherished dream.”
Maddie, one of the summer students who worked with Patrick in the kitchen, waved as she came in the back door and headed straight there.
With cleaning cloths and a baskets filled with the now wrapped cutlery, Michaela and Bailey wiped tables, set out the wrapped sets, and saw to it the dining room was ready for guests. Then they headed into the kitchen to discover what the soup of the day would be and to have a quick cup of coffee—with their usual five minutes to spare.
Bailey turned on the sound system and ensured it wasn’t too loud. Setting their cups in the dishwasher, they headed out to unlock the front door. Within five minutes, the first guests arrived.
And we’re off and running.
Michaela had avoided thinking about her evening ahead because it made her twitchy to think about it. Lewis and Randy were meeting her at seven tonight. Since
