Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Her mother was an exceptional cook. She just needed time for her parents to get here.
Opening the pack of buns, she placed them down on the grill to warm them. Marty might have been a terrible father, but he had taught her how to make hamburgers and fries.
Pulling the fries out of the oil, she seasoned them under the warming lights, then took the buns off the grill and started to assemble the hamburgers before placing them on plates. Once she was done, she added a hefty portion of fries to each plate.
She was about to carry two plates out to the men after placing three in the window when she saw Jody remove the three plates.
“I thought you could use some help,” he said with a grin.
With the window empty, she placed the two she was holding there before picking up the last three. As she carried them through the kitchen door, she saw another man taking the ones from the window.
Jody met her halfway, taking the two plates she was holding on one arm.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He set one of the plates down in front of the man who was sitting next to his empty chair. Then Jody sat down at the table.
“Can I get any of you some more drinks?”
The older man, who had convinced her to make them something to eat, motioned to one of the men. “Jacob topped all our drinks off already. Please, sit with us as we eat.”
One of the other men motioned to a wedged-in empty chair next to the man who seemed to be the spokesman for the family.
Since there was no one else in the restaurant, she sat down with the group of men, telling herself that she needed to be friendly with her customers if she was going to make a living out of the restaurant, conveniently forgetting she had decided to sell the restaurant before the men had arrived.
“You must think we’re heathens for not introducing ourselves.” The oldest one smiled at her. “I’m Silas Coleman, and these are my brothers, Matthew, Isaac, Jody—whom I believe you’ve already met—Jacob, Moses, and Ezra.”
Sophie stared around the table as Silas pointed at each brother as he introduced them.
“It’s nice to meet you all. I’m Sophie.”
Jody stared pointedly at her nametag. “I knew the name on your uniform didn’t fit.”
“I found the top out back. I ordered a nametag; it hasn’t come yet.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Silas responded then frowned down at the food in front of him.
“Is something wrong with the food?” She bit her lip, noticing he hadn’t touched his.
Silas’ frown cleared. “Not at all, ma’am. It’s just … I seem to have lost my appetite. Here.” He slid his plate in front of her. “You mind joining us for lunch? I’ll just grab a cup of coffee, if you don’t mind.”
“I can—” Sophie started to get up, but Silas placed a hand on her shoulder. “I can get it myself. Eat the burger before it gets cold.”
Hearing the command in his voice, she picked up the hamburger as Silas got up from the table. The men didn’t start eating until she picked up hers.
Across the table, her eyes met Jody’s. She blushed and lowered her eyes to the burger as she took a bite.
All she had eaten yesterday was ramen noodles, sick to her stomach at how the day had gone. Today, she had meant to eat some toast but didn’t have the stomach for it, knowing she was going to have to fire George.
Silas resumed his seat, holding a cup of coffee. “Everyone in town has been anxious for the diner to reopen,” he told her. “King makes a good steak, but his hamburgers are too thick, and he doesn’t open for breakfast.”
Sophie swallowed her bite of food. “I won’t be able to, either, until I can find a cook. No one else has applied. I can cook a few things, like hamburgers and fries. But most of the things people want to eat here are country cooking. I’ve worked in restaurants before, but they’ve been mainly fast food places. I was so anxious to open the restaurant that I didn’t think it through,” she revealed without knowing why she was confiding to a group of strangers. Their sympathetic gazes had her continuing.
“My mother can cook anything. Her mom had a restaurant, and she used to own one when she was married to Marty. When she comes to town, she and my stepfather will be able to help me manage the restaurant.”
“That sounds like a fine plan.” Silas nodded, taking a sip of his coffee.
“Except I’ll be bankrupt before they get here. I was thinking of calling a realtor.”
“You shouldn’t make any hasty decisions,” Jody blurted out from across the table.
Sophie saw Silas giving Jody a quelling look.