Chapter Two
A few minutes later, we had a momentary lull in the action. All our customers were served and seemed content, and nobody new had arrived. Howard had returned to his table after Karinde departed. Clicks of flatware on porcelain, pops of sausages, and the murmur of conversation combined to make my favorite soundtrack.
I looked up at Danna, who was more than half a foot taller than me. Today she was working in a red cotton sweater, an Indian-print wraparound skirt, orange tights, and black Doc Martens, with a green scarf wrapped around her reddish-gold dreadlocks. Plus a store apron, of course, whose royal blue didn’t match any of the rest of her outfit. Me, I settled for a long-sleeved store tee and jeans under my apron. I paired it with blue tennies and threaded my thick curly ponytail through a store ball cap. The store part of the country store did a surprisingly brisk business in the blue shirts and caps. The logo featured a cast-iron griddle held by a grinning stack of pancakes.
“So, how do you know Jed Greenberg?” I asked Danna.
She raised one pierced eyebrow. “My mom doesn’t like him at all.”
Danna’s mom being Corrine Beedle, mayor of South Lick, our town nestled in scenic Brown County, Indiana.
“He owned some piece of real estate, and Mom said he was trying to, like, avoid paying taxes on it or something. She introduced me one time we were out and I hated the way he looked at me. I was only fifteen and it was like I was a piece of meat or something.” She shuddered. “Ick.”
“Ick is right.”
“Plus, I heard a rumor he had some connection with a place where they breed dogs and cats in really terrible conditions.”
“That sounds awful.” I grabbed a rag and wiped down the counter above the grill and then the one next to it. “Connection meaning he owned it, or he worked at it?”
“I’m not sure. I think Mom said nobody found any, like, real evidence to connect him to it, but I’d have to ask her.”
I spied Howard approaching us. “Everything all right with the meal?” I asked.
“Absolutely, Robbie. Delicious, as always. Good morning, Danna.”
“Hey, Mr. O’Neill.” Danna smiled. “How’s the AP bio class this year?”
I knew Abe’s father taught science at South Lick High School, but I hadn’t realized that included advanced placement biology.
“Not as good as when you were in it,” Howard said. “Any college applications in the works?”
“Nah. I’m doing what I love.”
Danna had told me when I’d hired her over a year ago as a recent high school graduate that all she wanted to do was cook. Her mom and her teachers had urged her to continue her academic education, but Danna was firm in her choice to work for me, at least for a while. I couldn’t be happier to have her, even though I knew I’d lose her to either culinary school or a higher-end restaurant one day. I was a decade older and fully regarded her as my equal.
“Good.” Howard turned to me. “Robbie, my wife and I would like to invite you and Abraham to dinner tonight. Can you make it? Fredericka has the house all decorated and wants to share it.”
“That sounds lovely. Have you checked with Abe?” I took a swig from my rapidly cooling mug of coffee.
“Not yet, but I will. I wanted to be sure you were free.”
“I know I am, and I’m pretty sure he is, too. What can we bring?”
“Let’s see. I’m making beef Bourguignon, and there will be six of us. How about a bottle of red?”
“You got it.” I’d been the beneficiary of Howard’s excellent cooking before.
He glanced over at Sean. “And you can meet his Christmas present.”
“Oh?” I asked.
“That blond woman who came in? She rescues dogs, and she has a puppy for us that we’re giving Sean. She’s going to bring it over tonight.”
Aha. I hadn’t known that about Karinde. “And it’s a surprise?” No wonder Howard wanted to talk with her away from the table where Sean sat.
“Trying to keep it one. Freddy’s idea, of course.” He shook his head, a fond look on his face. “It’s a chocolate Lab.”
A customer held his coffee mug in the air, and a family of six dressed in their church clothes, with ruddy cheeks from the cold, pushed in.
“Thanks for the invitation. I’d better get back to work.”
“Great. See you at six tonight, then. Oh, and I wanted to buy some of your Mexican hot chocolate packs for stocking stuffers.” He gestured toward the display near the door. “Can you add six to my ticket? I’ll pay for Jed’s breakfast, too.”
“Of course. Enjoy the rest of your day and we’ll see you tonight.”