“Baby, how can you leave our family business so easily?”
Mama’s question brings me up short. I’ve never thought of it as a family business. Wyatt and I have supported Mama’s dream for as long as I can remember, even as teenagers. It’s never been my goal to work the remainder of my life in a soul food cafe. “I want to put my degree to good use, Mama. I’m not abandoning you. Sue is just as capable, and she’ll make you a fabulous head chef. I think she’s demonstrated that the past couple of months when we’ve left her here completely on her own. You’ve never even left me completely on my own.”
I study Sue’s face. She’s glowing in my praise, but her eyes are sad. “And Sue, I know you want to expand the menu, and it’s not really possible here, but working here full time as a head chef will be much better than the other job you have on the table. This restaurant is established, thanks in part to your efforts, and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.” I throw out my hands. “It’s head chef, girl.”
She chuckles and rolls her eyes. “Of course I want it. I just don’t know how I feel working here without you.” She turns toward Mama. “How do you feel about it, Ms. Lillie? Do you want me?”
Mama grabs Sue’s hands and squeezes. “If my daughter is determined to leave, I’m blessed to have you.”
Sue’s eyes shine and she squeezes Mama’s hands back.
They both turn to me, eyes equally glistening.
“It’s settled then.” I’ve already started the process with a headhunter. Six years out of culinary school won’t guarantee me a head chef job even though it was the best one in the country, but the last six years as head chef here at Smothered in Love should give me an edge. Hopefully I’ll be able to go somewhere that will at least let me have input. Somewhere that will let me create. Then some day when I’m ready, I’ll secure backing the old-fashioned way for a restaurant of my own.
*
When I step onto the quiet street, the morning greets me with heat I’m not quite ready for. I wipe the sweat I’ve already accrued from my forehead and prepare to unlock the front door of the restaurant. The envelope blocking the keyhole is unexpected, but it’s addressed to Lillie so I pull it off and stick it in my backpack to give her later.
I deposit my backpack in Mama’s office, and there’s a knock on the back-porch door. I peek through one of the kitchen windows then unlock the door, letting Wyatt and Hannah in.
“You two are here early.”
Wyatt slams his bag down on the counter. “I wanted to buy a new power drill and some plumbing supplies from Arrow Hardware so I don’t have to come back on this side of town on my day off tomorrow. I’ve got some projects at the house.”
Hannah shakes a warning head at me. I can’t resist though. “Okay. Why are you mad?”
“There is no Arrow Hardware anymore. It’s closed forever because they’ve been kicked out, and there’s now going to be a handy dandy vegan bakery.” He tears open a package of pecans and pours some in his hand. “Who the fuck eats that shit?”
I shrug. “I dunno. People who have dairy allergies?”
“Rowan, this is getting out of hand. Arrow Hardware has been in this neighborhood since before we were born. And now, just because some whi–” He glances at Hannah before finishing that bit of foolery. “Just because people who can qualify for bigger loans to start a business and pay larger leases decide they want a whack-ass bakery, a family-owned business that’s been a mainstay of this neighborhood for nearly thirty years is out on the street.”
Gentrification here has been a problem for a while and it’s only getting worse. Wyatt has a point, and I wish I could get as worked up as he is but the truth is, I’ve never had a reason to set foot in Arrow Hardware nor do I know the owners. I hate that it’s happening, but I have my own problems.
“I’m sorry, Wyatt. It really sucks.”
He strolls through the door into the dining room without another word.
I turn to Hannah and smile.
She grins back. “I tried to warn you not to ask.”
I snort. “As if that would have stopped him from ranting.” I wash my hands at the sink before continuing. “How’s everything else going? Have you started wedding planning?”
“Goodness no. We have plenty of time for that.” She walks into the freezer and comes back with a box. “May as well get a jump on the day since we’re here early.”
Hannah really is a great employee and I’m glad Mama will have her when I’m gone. I’ve finally gotten out of my own head and realized that she’ll make a great addition to our family as well. She’s been nothing short of life-saving since we’ve been preoccupied with all our restaurant problems as well as how much I’ve been away. She and Sue work well together and will both have Mama’s back.
I smile at her, grateful, and ask her more wedding questions while we work.
We do all the prep for lunch and are about to open when Mama finally makes it in. Already not a big woman, she appears to have lost some weight since I last saw her a few days ago. She’s also moving a little slower than usual.
“How are you, Mama?”
“I’ve been better, baby. Just so tired.” She sets her purse in the office off the kitchen, and sits in the chair behind her desk.
She vowed to include me and Wyatt in her
