Chapter 28

 

A teenager wearing purple tights, a pink T-shirt down to her hips, and a short puffy jacket sat on the top porch step at the chocolate production house when Sam arrived the next morning. The girl’s dark hair was held up in a clip, with a number of wild strands wisping around her face. She stood and dusted her bottom when Sam got out of the van.

“Hi, I’m Lisa. Aunt Becky told me to come.” A bicycle leaned against the railing.

“Lisa, hi. Sorry I wasn’t here already. I had no idea you’d get here so early.” It was just past seven o’clock and the sun hadn’t quite peeked over the top of the mountain yet.

“Yeah, well. I have to be at my other job by noon, and Aunt Becky said you like to start pretty early.” She shrugged. “I figured you’d want to get as much done as possible.”

“Absolutely. This is perfect.” Sam led the way to the side door. “We’d better get inside where it’s warm. What’s your other job? Becky didn’t say.”

“Oh, I work for a seed company. We’re harvesting organic grasses and pollens right now. For next spring. That’s why it’s part time. We’re nearly finished with this year’s crop so I’ll be completely free in another couple weeks.”

Sam couldn’t quite wrap her head around what that job would entail. She needed coffee.

“So, anyways, I work out there from noon to five every day but Sundays, so that’s why Aunt Becky thought I could maybe help you here in the mornings. If it goes good, I could be full-time after Thanksgiving. I mean, if you like my work and all.”

Sam nodded, concentrating on measuring coffee into the basket and starting the machine. Her sleepless night left her a little fuddled this morning and she didn’t want to begin a task that involved measuring ingredients or making decisions. Silly thing, dreams about noises in the night. She needed to adjust to the new surroundings and get her mind sharply focused on her work again.

“Hang your coat there near the back door and wash your hands at the kitchen sink.”

“Oh, yeah, I guess cleanliness is super important here,” Lisa said. They washed up together.

“Let’s go in here,” Sam told her new assistant, indicating the boxing room.

The racks of finished chocolates sat in beautiful rows—darks, milks, whites, creams. The early-day light sparkled off the iridescent highlights Sam had dusted over them.

“Oh! These are gorgeous.” Lisa stared. “I mean, I knew your shop made very cool cakes and all. But, wow!”

Sam smiled. “You’ll have plenty of chances to sample but only the ones I approve, okay? We always end up with a few boo-boos, but the perfect ones must go to the customer.”

“Got it.”

Sam held out a box of disposable gloves.

“Clean, clean, clean at all times,” Lisa said. “Got it.”

Sam showed her where the various-sized gift boxes were, how to line them up on the table and which chocolates fitted the spaces inside. “Top them with the lids and set the finished ones down at the other end of the table. We’ll tie bows on when we have no trace of chocolate on our fingers. The finished boxes go into these cartons for shipping.”

“Organized. I like it.” Lisa began setting out more boxes.

“Inspect each piece of candy before putting it into a box,” Sam told her. “I give them a look before they leave the kitchen but it’s good to have a second pair of eyes watching as well.”

She showed Lisa what to watch for—bubbles which left holes, missing coatings or leaks in the cream fillings—and these went into a discard bowl. Lisa immediately began checking and setting candies in place. They worked alongside each other until Sam felt confident the girl could do the task alone. It wasn’t rocket science, but attention to detail was important.

“I’ll be in the kitchen now,” Sam said. “Anything you have a question about, either set it aside or come get me.”

“Okay.” Lisa didn’t take her eyes from the table. Already, her hands were moving quickly as she examined and placed the pieces.

Sam had nearly forgotten the coffee so she helped herself to a mug before pulling out the ingredients for her next batch. The kitchen felt bright and welcoming this morning and, once again, she wondered at her over-active imagination last night. Surely the box had not actually reacted to the house. Crazy idea.

She reviewed Bookman’s order and realized she would probably have another late night ahead of her if she hoped to make the deadline and get everything to the airport tomorrow. At least this week, Lisa’s help would lessen the load. She debated taking the box from her pack to gain energy from it, but with a new employee on site it wouldn’t be smart. When Lisa left at noon, Sam would be free to do whatever she wanted.

She went ahead with the cooking and tempering before she checked on her helper.

“I’ve done all those,” Lisa said, pointing to an impressive stack of satin boxes at the end of the table. “I’m running out of space to put them.”

Sam demonstrated how she liked the bows tied. Lisa removed her plastic gloves and copied her moves, having to start over a couple of times but eventually getting the technique.

“So, I imagine harvesting grass seed is pretty seasonal,” Sam said as she turned over the bow-tying to the girl. “What other types of work have you done to fill in?”

“A little of everything. My dad, Aunt Becky’s brother, wants me to think about either college or beauty school. Neither of those interests me much, so I figure if I can stay employed with something else, he can’t say much.”

“Well, college would lead to something that pays better.”

“Yeah, that’s what they all say. I graduated high school two years ahead of my class because I got bored with school and just wanted to get it over with, you know? I can’t see signing up for more study.”

Sam remembered how she’d been at that age, expected to marry the local football jock in Texas, instead escaping to Alaska to end up working as a cook in a pipeline camp. It wasn’t always about getting the most prestigious job or impressive salary. Sometimes, you had go try a few things and discover where your heart took you.

“I figure I could go to beauty school any time, that or something like it.” She tied another perfect bow. “Aunt Becky loves working at your shop, decorating cakes, and I think that sounds pretty cool.”

“I never had formal training,” Sam said, “just went with my imagination and found some good recipes.” And one valuable teacher.

“There are some great pastry schools out there. At your age, that’s what I’d have done. I understand there are huge opportunities out there for kids with degrees in the culinary arts. It’s a thought, anyhow.”

Lisa gave an enigmatic smile. “Something to consider. Sure sounds like it beats working retail at the Christmas season. You wouldn’t believe the grouchy customers you deal with, not to mention the hours and how it kills your feet by the end of shift. Part-timers always get the crappy hours and the pay is the worst.”

As Lisa tied bows on the small boxes, Sam picked them up and stacked them in cartons. By noon, all the product Sam had made the previous night was packed and ready to go.

“I’ll have some employment paperwork for you tomorrow,” Sam said, handing Lisa her coat from the rack. “Assuming you liked the work well enough to come back?”

“It’s a cool place,” Lisa said. “I do like it.”

Sam watched her ride away on her bicycle, wondering if she’d still be as enthusiastic when there was snow on the ground and the temperature hit the teens. Oh well. She’d learned not to second-guess her employees’ motives. So far, it looked as if Lisa Gurule might work out just fine.