Maxie turned and looked out of the window. Customers were
lining up outside waiting for her to open. She suddenly panicked that she may
not have purchased enough fish.
Michael
picked up on her anxiety and calmly said, “I knew this was going to happen.
People do not pass up all you can eat, so I increased your order.”
Maxie
gave him a small smile. He always knew what to do. Hiring him was a blessing
and even though she had doubts at times because his cooking was very gourmet,
he was always the savior in the end.
“Well I
guess we better get busy, so we can invite our guests in. I will greet them as
they walk in. I want plates on trays for the waitresses and everything ready in
twenty minutes. So, I guess you better get to frying,” she said with a tease.
Everything
started off great. Salads with, various dressings were placed on the tables,
and plates of food were being set on trays as Maxie unlocked the door and
greeted guests. All ages of guests were arriving as the restaurant filled up. More guests were standing outside waiting to be
seated for a platet. Everyone was polite as they ate and waited in line. Maxie
found it hard to work the cash register and continue to greet guests. This was
a dream come true for her. Although, she did find herself looking at each man
in his thirties wondering if he wrote the letter in the bottle.
Closing
was later than usual that night to accommodate everyone waiting. There was just
enough fish left that she sent plate with Lacey over to her father, knowing
that he probably wouldn’t eat it. With the busy night, that was the first
chance she had to send Lacey over. When Lacey arrived back, Maxie and the staff
fixed their plates and sat down around table to eat.
“I want
to thank everyone for making this night go smoothly. I want to try this again.
I think it worked out. Also, since we are all together, I want to have a small
meeting while we eat. We have a big job coming up. We are going to have to
close the restaurant for an entire day maybe two days. I only know we are
having a wedding here and catering the reception. I won’t have the details for
a few days, but everyone will have to work.”
Lacey
looked down because she knew she wouldn’t be able to attend. She knew about the
wedding because she’s a bridesmaid. Guilt swelled up in her because she wanted
to be loyal to Maxie, but Nicole was a good friend to her.
Michael
spoke up, “I know you’re talking about Zach and Nicole’s wedding. There may be
a small problem. I’m the best man, and Lacey is one of the bridesmaids.”
“Oh
boy,” Maxie replied with a heavy sigh. “Just how big do you think this wedding
is going to be?”
“No one
knows yet. Nicole’s mom is keeping everyone in the dark, like they are
celebrities,” Lacey replied sadly as placed her thin muscular arms on the
table. Her dark brown eyes showed signs of being tired.
Maxie
looked away from Lacey. “Well everyone eat and let’s get everything cleaned up.
I’ll bring in a temporary chef from the school and hire some temporary wait
staff. I’m assuming everyone here is friends or related to this family and will
need to attend the wedding.”
Maxie
thought to herself, I bet Nicole planned it this way to see if I would fail.
Maxie never did like her because Nicole always made her feel insecure. She
tried to shake the feeling for years, but she felt very beneath her. It didn’t
help that Nicole was a user and good at dictating things, instead of asking.
Michael
and Maxie were the last ones left after everything was cleaned up. Michael walked Maxie to her car. He was right
on her tail. When Maxie turned to thank him, they were face to face. She could
feel his hot breath on her face. Her stomach started to twitch. She wanted him
to kiss her.
“Thank you,
Michael, for all of your help and a great night,” she said softly as she licked
her lips.
“You’re
welcome Miss Maxie. I love working for you.”
“Good,
because you are the best chef ever.”
She
leaned to unlock her door. When she pulled her key out, their hands grazed as
he reached to open it for her. She got in and he shut the door and gave a small
wave.
A year ago,
Maxie was supposed to get married. Two weeks before the wedding her fiancé was
killed by a drunk driver. She threw herself into the restaurant and didn’t
think about moving on until she found the letter in the bottle. Michael made
her heart flutter, but she never considered anything until now.
When
Maxie got home, she found her father in his recliner asleep with an empty plate
on his lap. Sam, her black cat was laying on the back of the recliner. Maxie
reached for the plate with one hand and scratched Sam on top of his head with
the other.
“Well
boy, do we wake dad up, or let him sleep in this old chair tonight?”
He let
out a soft meow. Maxie smiled and said, “I think so too, let him sleep in the
chair.”
She
took the plate into the kitchen, then walked down the long dark hallway to her
room. She slipped off her shoes and walked barefoot across her tan plush carpet
to her queen size bed. She pulled back her pink comforter and sat on the bed to
unzip the back of her dress. She slipped it off and remembered the note. She put
on her pajama pants and a sweatshirt. She pulled open the drawer on the white
end table next to her bed and pulled out a pen and paper.
Dear Love in a bottle,
I
found your letter. I am twenty-eight years old and single. I live in the
village. I would love to know more about you.
Signed,
Single woman in the village
Maxie
rolled up the note, placed it in the bottle, and replaced the cork with dot
showing. She left to go back to the ocean. When she arrived at the exact spot, she
threw the bottle in the ocean next to the rocks.
She jogged
back to the house because the ground was cold on her bare feet. She didn’t
think to put on some shoes when she left the house.
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