“Perfect. Dessert?”
He regarded her with dismay. “I’ve got nothing. It hadn’t even crossed my mind. I’ve had to concentrate totally on this mental checklist I’ve been going over for the main dishes and the sides.”
For a pastry chef, that was an admission of just how stressed out he was. “Warm walnut brownies with ice cream,” she suggested, knowing it was something he could prepare in his sleep. “One big batch cut into squares and you’re done. I think there’s one of your apple pies in the freezer, too. I’ll grab it now, so it can get to room temperature by the time we open for dinner. Pop a slice in the oven, add a scoop of cinnamon ice cream to that and we’re set.”
Erik didn’t argue, though normally he would have fought her over serving something that hadn’t been prepared that day. “Do we have any of the cinnamon ice cream left?” he asked.
“If we don’t, vanilla will do. I know we have that,” Dana Sue said. It was such a staple that she made sure they never ran out. Even so, she double-checked while she was at the freezer.
“Why didn’t you call me the second you heard from Karen?” she asked as she retrieved the pie and set it on the dessert rack to thaw.
“You have enough on your plate,” Erik said. “I thought I could handle this. It’s one night and not even one of our busiest ones. It shouldn’t be a big deal.”
She grinned at him. “There’s a reason we have an assistant,” she commented. “Sometimes there’s even a need for all three of us to be here. You know that. You’re not Supercook. And this place is my responsibility. Next time there’s a crisis, call me.”
“Believe me, I will,” he said, looking a bit less harried as he began the more familiar task of mixing the ingredients for his moist, decadent brownies. “There’s one other thing you probably should know.”
“Oh?”
“One of the waitstaff called in sick two minutes before you walked in the door. I haven’t had time to phone around for a replacement yet.”
“Which one?” she asked.
“Paul.”
Dana Sue winced, trying to envision the staffing chart. Midweek they often got by with just two waitstaff, plus the busboys. Paul could handle a crowd on his own. No one else could. “That means Brenda’s it, right? She’s been here awhile, but just part-time, and always with someone more experienced. Darn, this couldn’t have happened on a worse night, with Karen off, too. I won’t be able to pitch in on the floor.”
“Tell me about it,” Erik commiserated.
“I’ll figure something out,” Dana Sue promised, just as she glanced up and spotted Ronnie in the doorway. She studied him with a narrowed gaze and made an impulsive decision that would save some time. She’d worry later about whether it was smart.
“I know you haven’t done it since we were kids, but do you remember anything at all about waiting tables?” she asked him.
“Get the orders right and don’t spill the food on the customers,” he said, regarding her with a puzzled expression. “Is this a test? Did I pass?”
“Close enough,” she said. “Grab a menu and study it. I’ll show you which tables to cover in a few minutes.”
“You want me to wait tables here? Tonight?” he asked incredulously, though he didn’t turn tail and run.
Erik appeared to be equally dismayed. “Are you sure, Dana Sue?”
“He’s a warm body and he’s here,” she said crisply. “And he owes me.”
“Now there’s a criteria for staffing I’ve never heard before,” Erik commented, then shut up in response to Dana Sue’s wilting look.
“Why?” Ronnie asked, though he’d already grabbed a menu that had been left in a rack by the door. He pulled a pair of reading glasses from his pocket and put them on.
“Crisis,” she told him, refraining from commenting about the glasses. “If you’re not sure about something, ask me, or better yet, ask Brenda.”
“That kid who waited on us last time I was here?” he asked.
Dana Sue grinned. “Tonight that kid is only one step below me on the totem pole, pal. Do whatever she tells you.”
Ronnie shrugged. “If you say so.”
For once, Dana Sue was grateful for his laid-back personality.
When most of the prep work was finally under control and Erik no longer looked so frazzled, she ducked into her office and called Annie.
“Hey, sweetie,” she said when her daughter picked up the phone.
“Hi, Mom. Where are you?”
“At the restaurant. We have a little crisis over here tonight, so I’m not going to be able to get by to see you. I’m so sorry. I’m sure either Helen or Maddie will drop in later. How are you doing?”
“Better,” Annie said, and for once she actually sounded as if that were the truth. “Ty came by today.”
“Really?”
“I’ll tell you about it when I see you,” Annie promised. “He said a lot of stuff that made sense.”
“I’m glad.”
“Do you know where Dad is? He hasn’t been here this afternoon, either.”
“Actually, he’s with me,” Dana Sue said. “I’ve got him waiting tables.”
Annie laughed. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope. He looks kinda cute with an apron tied around his waist.” She lowered her voice. “You know something else?”
“What?” Annie asked, obviously intrigued.
“He put on reading glasses to check out the menu,” she confided.
“No way!”
“He looked cute.”
“You thought so?” Annie was obviously encouraged.
Dana Sue considered censoring herself to avoid giving her daughter false hope, but decided just this once to be candid. “Even if he is your dad and I’m still annoyed with him, it doesn’t mean I can’t see what a hottie he is.”
Annie giggled. “Mom, you’re so funny.”
Satisfied that she’d been able to make Annie laugh, she said, “I have to go, sweetie. If it’s not too late, I’ll call you when things slow down for the night. Otherwise, I’ll be by first thing in the morning.”
“Love you,” Annie said. “Tell Dad I love him, too.”
“Will do,” Dana Sue promised, then hung up.
