Page 23 of Silver Sinner

Luckily, Maddie's enamored with her new friend and happily colors for another hour, which makes her the perfect quiet guest when my boss Amanda arrives to check how things are.

"Heard from the cook?" she asks as she strides through to the kitchen.

"She's okay last I heard. The scald isn't serious, but she's going to need a couple of days."

"Understood." Amanda keeps walking through the kitchen until she reaches the far wall near the fire exit detailing the rota. "We can manage two days without her if we keep the menu cold. People will just have to understand."

"Can we get extra staff then?" I ask cautiously. "We could call in Craig or Denise. Just because having to make the food will reduce the amount of time we can spend out there with the customers."

Amanda scans the chart, tapping her fingers against her crossed arms for a few seconds. "No, it'll be fine."

It definitely won't be fine, but arguing right now really isn't the battle I want to pick. "Okay."

"Can you switch with Taylor?" Amanda taps the rota. "I want you to close."

My heart sinks. "I'm not on close."

"I know. That's why I'm asking you to switch."

"I can't. I have Maddie here and I closed a couple of nights ago."

"Did you?" Amanda taps the rota. "It says Taylor closed."

"We swapped because…" My stomach clenches and I cut myself off. Divulging what happened with that rude customer leaves me open to admitting I poured ice water all over them, so I quickly change tactics. "I have Maddie with me. I can't work the close."

"Who is Maddie?" Amanda turns to me with a frown so deep that her brows melt into the top of her glasses.

"My daughter? I-I texted you about it this morning. You said it was fine?"

Amanda pulls her phone out of her skirt and keeps one eye on me as she scrolls through her messages, almost as if she's eager to catch me out. Luckily, she locates our messages and sighs. "Right. Forgot about that." After a beat, she strides past me and pats my shoulder. "You'll work something out."

"What?"

"Taylor! You're off close."

"What?" Taylor's yell rises from somewhere deeper in the kitchen. "Why?"

"Because I don't trust you."

"Bitch!"

Amanda laughs sharply and strides out of the kitchen.

I rush after her, but by the time I reach the counter she's already back out in the parking lot, clearly satisfied that she's solved the issues.

My shoulders sag as Taylor appears at my side.

"What happened?"

"She wants me to close."

"Did I do something?" Taylor squints at me.

I shake my head. "No. She thinks you closed the other night, so she probably thinks she's being fair in making us swap."

Taylor tosses a towel over her shoulder. "Didn't you tell her we swapped?"

I shake my head. "Not exactly."