gonna be making a lot of tips at a place like Holly Hanson’s.” Though exhaustion nearly consumed her, the smile wouldn’t leave Nikki’s face. So this chapter was closing. She felt certain a new one would open for her the same way Ang had found a job at Holly Hanson’s, the premier restaurant in the city.
Nikki had entertained the idea of applying at Holly Hanson’s for about point-four seconds. But they had real chefs with tall white hats and pieces of paper testifying to their skill with a knife, spices, and flavor combinations.
“It’s definitely a perk,” Angela said. “But I am going to miss working with you, though.”
“And I’m going to miss working.” Nikki tucked her reddish-brown hair behind her ear. “I didn’t get the job at Café Rouge.”
Angela was kind enough to look shocked. She even sounded it when she said, “I thought they really liked you.”
Nikki’s smile faded. “They did, but they just don’t like that I don’t have a culinary degree.” No one liked that, it seemed.
“That is so unfair.” Her light eyes flashed with indignation. “You are, hands down, the best cook I know. And I’ve worked at a lot of restaurants.”
Nikki shrugged and tried not to focus on the negative. She glanced around the restaurant that had become her refuge, grateful for the time she’d had here. “I sure am going to miss this place. They just don’t make diners like this anymore.”
Gus sidled over as Angela took her bin of dishes and trash into the kitchen, the rest of the employees finally slipping away into the night. “Not too late to take it on. I’m telling ya, someone is gonna come in and turn the place into a juice bar or something.” He looked horrified at the thought, as if juice were the wrong liquid to consume at all, ever.
Sympathy settled in Nikki’s heart. “Oh, Gus. You know I wish I could.” And she’d never meant anything more sincerely. But working as a cook and making her own way in the city didn’t leave her much money to buy a restaurant. “It certainly is a dream of mine to own a place like this one day.” She watched as a waitress took the bunch of balloons floating outside the diner and walked away from Gus’s. “But I don’t have the money. Not to mention the lack of business experience.”
“Business can be learned,” Gus said in his wise voice. “But talent? That’s something that just comes as a gift to you. And you, kiddo—you are talented. So you just keep your eye on the prize, and someday I’m sure you’ll get your dream.”
Nikki’s smile returned in full force. She’d been lucky to know Gus, and she hoped she’d see him around the city after today. In fact, she made a mental note to make sure she did.
“Just don’t forget to let me know when that happens.” Gus leaned forward, his face open and kind. “I may be retiring, but I’ll never be too old to come and have some of your chili.” He covered both of her hands with one of his. Nikki’s heartstrings squeezed, and she masked her tears behind an affectionate smile.
“Speaking of chili,” he said. “Will you finally tell me what your secret ingredient is?”
Nikki gave a little chuckle and tilted her head to the side. “Cinnamon candy.”
“The ones I keep by the cash register for the customers?”
“Those are the ones,” Nikki singsonged.
Gus chuckled and shook his head. “Well, that would explain why the jar was always empty.”
As they laughed together, he switched off the last of the lights in the diner.
Nikki admired the framed menu of Gus’s Kitchen she’d just picked up from the custom art shop down the street. She hung it next to the menu from King of the Court and above Alfredo & Sons.
Gus’s made five framed menus, and Nikki took a moment to think about her time at each restaurant. She possessed experience in spades. Surely, someone would see that. Soon.
Sunlight streamed through the front windows of the apartment, declaring another day had begun. Another day without a job. Another day closer to Valentine’s Day. She banished the thoughts of her least favorite holiday before they could infringe on her good mood.
Angela came out of her bedroom and stalled at the sight of the bright red toaster on the table. She eyed it for a moment and then sat down. “Another toaster? Where’d you get this one?”
Nikki admired it. “Got it at the flea market yesterday. Beautiful, isn’t it?” She really didn’t have a lot of money to be spending on frivolous things like toasters, but she did have a lot of time on her hands. And if wandering through Lakeside and looking at antiques made her happy, why shouldn’t she do it?
Angela poured herself a cup of coffee and returned to the table. “So, what’s wrong with modern toasters?” She took a sip and glanced at Nikki like she already knew the answer.
Nikki shrugged, her voice much too high when she said, “Nothing. The older ones just brown more evenly.”
Angela only barely refrained from rolling her eyes. “Right. You do know that our place is starting to look like a diner museum, don’t you?” Her playful tone told Nikki that she didn’t really care that it appeared as if a fifties diner had thrown up in their apartment.
“I’m sorry,” Nikki said, a plea in her voice. “It’s that I see all these things, and I just can’t help but picture them in my own restaurant one day. I can’t help myself.” She nudged the frame a bit to the right and cocked her head to see if the menu was straight. She pushed it left again and backed away from it.
But now some of the others looked crooked. “So how was work yesterday?” She made minute adjustments to each frame.
Angela exhaled. “Tense. Going from Gus’s Kitchen to Holly Hanson’s is definitely a challenge. Last night, she yelled at me for carrying too many plates on my arm.” She spoke with an incredulous note in her voice and took another sip from her mug.
Nikki thought for a moment. “Well, Holly Hanson’s is formal dining, so I kinda see her point.” Not that she’d ever been a waitress. Or eaten often in such a ritzy setting. Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything.
Angela gave her a look that said she was going to let that comment pass because of their friendship. “Listen, hate to break it to you, but your favorite chef isn’t the nicest chef in town.” She tossed her dark brown hair over her shoulder.
Nikki abandoned the fruitless quest to ensure all the menus hung in perfectly straight lines. Disbelief tore through her. “Really?”
Angela looked a bit pained. “Really.” She sighed in an I-can’t-believe-I-have-to-go-back-there-tonight kind of way. “She’s condescending, and she’s got this diva quality about her. And to tell you the truth, you’re a better chef than her.”
“No, I’m a cook, not a chef.” Nikki shook her head and picked up her favorite coffee mug, a tall green piece of stoneware with hand-painted red and purple flowers on it.
“Tomato, tomahto. Point is, her recipes aren’t even that great.”
Nikki
