Page 27 of Reuniting with Lucy
Lucy smiled. “Yes, Jack mentioned you’d be coming by. Come on, we can talk at one of the back tables. Would you like coffee? It’s on the house.”
“No, thank you,” Kenny said. “My stomach couldn’t take that right now. I’m nervous enough as it is.”
“Don’t be.” She patted his arm. “Just think of this as a conversation between friends.”
He relaxed a little and followed her to a small table for two.
“I’ll be honest with you,” she said. “I do almost all of my hiring off recommendations, and since Jack recommended you, you’re pretty much golden.”
“I am a very hard worker,” he said earnestly. “And I’m an Eagle Scout.”
“That’s great.”
“Um, there’s just one thing,” he said slowly, wiping his hands on his pant legs.
“Yes?” she prompted.
“I don’t drink coffee.”
She laughed out loud. “So, what makes you want to work in a coffee shop?”
“Oh, well, I want to make some spending money. Jack also said a job would teach me about life and give me confidence. It was his idea for me to work here.”
His honesty was sweet and sincere, and Lucy’s heart melted over the fact that Jack seemed to have taken this gangly nervous wreck under his wing.
“How ‘bout you start out busing tables and doing dishes, and we’ll work you up to a spot helping customers.”
“Are you saying I’m hired?” His eyes widened in surprise.
“Yep. We’ll do a trial basis first—that’s what I do with all my employees. After four weeks, we’ll re-evaluate and go from there. When can you start?”
“Oh, wow,” he said. “This is so great. Wait till I tell Jack. I can start whenever you want me to.”
“I understand you’re still in school. Could you come in at three o’clock on Friday?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be here early. Jack says it’s best to be early to things. That if you’re only on time, you’re late.”
“Jack’s a pretty smart guy,” she said, chuckling at Kenny’s enthusiasm.
After Kenny left, Lucy returned to her office, thinking about Jack. He came off as a tough guy but clearly had a soft spot. Smart, sweet, good-looking. She knew there was always a honeymoon period when you first met someone, but so far, she couldn’t find any flaws.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Adam had warned Jack that the holidays around the Parker household were no joke. And that Halloween was no exception. Apparently, every year, Edward and Sophie threw the party of all parties and invited the who’s who of New Bern. Lucy and her sisters had come early to help with decorations and food, so Jack had arrived solo. He prayed Lucy hadn’t been messing with him about the seriousness of a stellar costume because he felt ridiculous in the tights he wore. After parking his truck in the designated area, he let himself in through the open front door, taking care not to bang his shield into anything.
Graveyard markers lined the front walkway, and a giant furry spider hovered above the drink table in the living room. Jack-o’-lanterns covered tables, and bats hung from the ceiling. A life-sized skeleton sat at the dining room table, fork in hand, preparing to eat.
He was relieved to see that Lucy had been serious about the superhero theme. Lucy and Lizzie were dressed as the Wonder Twins—fitting. Both were the girl one, both wore matching wigs, and without the hair color difference, damned if he could tell who was who. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Incredible. Adam and Kate were Batman and Catwoman. Dirk and Emma were Clark Kent and Lois Lane.
Jack was heading toward who he thought was Lucy, when her grandmother came down the stairs, and all heads turned.
“Mom!” Edward said. “What are you wearing? Or should I say, not wearing?”
Nana wore a skimpy Wonder Woman costume—a low-cut leotard and knee-high, high-heeled boots. A black wig covered her hair, and a golden lasso hung at her hip.
Lucy and her sisters snickered.
“Rockin’ it, Nana,” Lizzie said.