Page 27 of Loving Kai

“Wow.”

“Will everyone find out now?”

“Nah.”

“Hmm.”

The door opened, and a couple with two kids came inside, shaking off water and stomping their feet.

“Come on in, folks.”

The woman removed the children’s coats. “I can’t believe you’re open.”

“Full menu. Sit wherever you want.”

Maggie followed them to a table. “The only thing not working is the soda fountain, but we have a small selection of soft drinks, beer, and iced tea.”

Abe headed to the kitchen to prepare some dough. The fire from the pizza oven warmed the restaurant, and he went to the propane stove to check the potato soup. Another pot was bubbling with pizza sauce. Both filled the room with an interesting mix of bacon, garlic, and seasoned tomato sauce.

Abe tasted the soup, then added some salt and pepper before moving to the dough counter. Luke was setting up the prep station and filling the various topping bins.

Maggie approached the counter opposite Abe. “I need a large vegetarian and a small cheesy breadsticks.”

“I’m on it.”

Maggie smiled. “Thank you!”

She left the counter to greet three more people coming through the door, and Luke came up beside Abe. “All good, my ass.”

The three customers were followed by more, and by noon, they were almost full. But the customers were grateful Rocco’s was open, so they were patient and didn’t complain about the wait.

Abe and Luke worked well together, and with Maggie helping when she could, they managed to stay on top of the orders without too much of a delay.

The rain continued throughout the day, but the lightning and thunder didn’t return. They got bits and pieces of news about the flooding, and so far, it seemed, Maggie’s neighborhood was safe.

They closed at seven, mostly to discourage anyone from driving in the storm after the sun went down. Maggie was sweeping when Abe brought out the mop and bucket. Luke came out of the kitchen.

“If you guys got this, I’m going to go. I want to check on Mom and Dad.”

“Drive safe, brother.”

“You too. Gentry should be in tomorrow no matter what the weather is doing. But I’ll check in if the phones aren’t up yet.”

“Thanks, Luke.”

Maggie waved. “See you.”

He gave her a nod, then pulled open the front door, letting in a gust of wind and a spray of rain. Abe went over the wet area with the mop, then cleaned the rest of the floor.

Maggie sat in a booth and watched him. “You do good work, bossman.”

“I think I was a janitor in another life.” He finished the floor and put the mop away. After taking two beers from the walk-in, he brought them to the table and handed one to Maggie. “You earned this.”

She held up the bottle. “To rainy days, no power, and grateful customers.”

Abe took a drink. “Did you get enough to eat today? Probably not much to eat at my place.”

“Yes. I think I’ll be fine.”