“Can you believe there’s already azaleas and peonies blooming? Spring sure happened fast this time,” I said to Sadie.
“I waited forever for those yellow ones and then, boom!” she said. “Flowers everywhere!”
“Exactly. Spring just exploded on us. Now what brings you in early?”
“I forgot my lunchbox and it was fish on the tray,” she said, making a face. “Daddy said we could come here as a treat, and he said, ‘member my lunch next time.”
“Good advice,” I said. Then I supplied her with crayons and the coloring book I keep tucked away for her. “What can I get you for supper?”
Max looked at me, “I may need a minute.”
“Okay. Could I speak to you for a second?” I asked.
He looked startled, but he checked in with his daughter and said he’d be right over by the counter. We both watched her color for a second and then stepped away.
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. I had an idea, and it could solve your problem with childcare and my problem with—money.”
“You have a problem with money?”
“That’s not the point. You told me the other day that your sitter was quitting. I know summer vacation’s coming up, and that’s gonna be a problem for you with no childcare lined up. That’s also the time of year when our high school and college kids like the day shift, and I could adjust my schedule to work here evenings and weekends while I watched Sadie during the day.”
“You want to watch Sadie?”
“Yes. I do. You’ve seen how we get along, and she’s a really fun kid. We could have a great time this summer, and besides the fact that I’d love to watch her for you, I could use the cash. Hugh is going to retire and sell this place, and I want him to sell it to me. Which means I need a down payment. I’ve got most of it saved because I’ve been working toward this for years, but it came up sooner than I expected. I have to raise a lot of money in a short time, and a second job is the most logical way to do that,” I told him.
“Okay, well, I don’t know your qualifications. I’m not saying no, exactly, I just don’t know what to think. I can’t say I expected to come in here for supper and for you to offer to babysit my daughter all summer. I’ll consider it and speak to you soon.” He was stiff, formal, and hurried back to the table.
I did not feel like he was warming to the idea of me watching Sadie at all. Maybe he had another option lined up already, or maybe he just thought I was a pushy waitress and a little bit nuts. Also, he smelled good. Standing close to him, whispering, had made me lightheaded. Not just from being anxious and excited about talking to him. From the smell of, I don’t know, pine forests in the springtime or whatever delicious scent clung to his skin. Oh, God, I should not have thought about his skin. He had nice skin, especially for a guy.
I went and got iced tea for a customer and checked back for Max and Sadie’s order. She was having a grilled cheese and some carrots with ranch, and I teased her about liking the vegetables now.
“I still pick out the mushrooms when we have noodles.”
“But you cut them up all by yourself and helped me cook,” Max said with a smile. She lit up under his praise and nodded.
“I smushed one,” she said confidentially.
“That’s okay. I bet it was still good.”
“It was,” she assured me proudly.
I went and turned in their order and tended to my other tables, checked out a to-go order, and then ferried their food out to the table.
“It’ll be lemonade season before long. I know you love my fresh lemonade,” I said to Sadie.
“It’s so good and puckery! I don’t like sugary lemonade,” she said loyally.
“Me neither,” I told her. She dunked a carrot into the ranch and licked the dressing off. “Hey, girl, you gotta eat the carrot part, too,” I said. Sheepishly she took a bite and chewed it.
A group of ten came in and they kept me busy for a while. By the time Max and Sadie were done eating, I slid their check on the table and cleared the plates in a rush.
“I’ll let you know,” Max said to me, clearing his throat. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” I said. “Bye bye, girlie.” Sadie gave me a wave and they left.
I pocketed the tip and put the money for the bill in the register. The rest of the night was busy, and I silently took inventory of the workers I had now, and which ones would want more hours as soon as school let out. I could make this work if he’d give me a chance.
8 Max
Sadie and I went out for ice cream. Summer vacation was coming up soon, and we always had a weekly ice cream date in summer. It was something we both looked forward to, me especially because the longer work hours meant I got less time with her in the summer than what I’d like. We ate our ice cream while I drove us home. She was covered in chocolate from the tip of her nose down to her neck by the time we got out of the car.
“Did you eat any of it?” I teased, trying to mop up her sticky face with a napkin.
“Yeah,” she giggled. “It was melty.”
“Go start your bath water and grab some pj’s. Do NOT get in the tub. I’ll be right there.”
“I know, Daddy!” she sang out as she ran to her room to pick out pajamas.
“And don’t leave stuff hanging out of the drawer!” I called after her.
As soon as her bath was ready, I checked the temperature, cooled it off a little
