“Zoe told me about the break-and-enter. Please be safe, Mom.”
“You know your old mom. Nothing can get to me.”
Zac didn’t even crack a smile. “I’m being serious.”
“So am I. I’m fine, really.” Sophia held the phone up and pointed it at Teddy, who was snoring softly, his feet kicking in the air. “Your dad asked me to foster a dog so he can keep an eye on me.”
Zac peered into the screen. “He looks too nice. What’s his name?”
“Teddy,” Sophia replied defensively. “And he is nice, but he’s also protective. I’m sure he’d do a good job if anyone tries to break in again.”
“Yeah, because the name Teddy strikes fear into the hearts of men.”
Sophia swung the camera back around, saw some of the tightness on Zac’s face disappear, and some of the knots in her stomach unfurled. “How do you know I didn’t choose the name on purpose to lure the robbers into a false sense of security?”
Zac snorted. “Did you?”
“No, but I could’ve.”
Zac threw his head back and laughed. “Sure, Mom. Whatever you say. Well, I should get back to things. I miss you. Love you, Mom.”
“Okay, honey. Be safe. I love you, too.”
“I’m going to be making a lot of changes here when I take over,” Valerie said before casting a meaningful glance in Sophia’s direction. “Not that Nora isn’t great or anything, but this place has been under the same management for thirty-something years now. It’s time to take things in a new direction.”
A few of the other employees exchanged worried looks.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Sophia said under her breath. She reached into the bowl for another egg and cracked it against the counter. “Nora’s is successful because of Nora.”
“We should definitely look into expanding the business and including a drive-thru option,” Valerie added breathlessly. “I don’t know why no one’s suggested this idea before.”
Sophia rolled her eyes and said nothing.
But the more she listened to Valerie, the more worried she became. Not only did it sound like Valerie had every intention of making Sophia’s life difficult—out of spite, no less—but it also sounded like she intended to change everything about Nora’s that made it unique. Little by little, she wanted to transform and then erase whatever remnants of Nora’s were left till it became totally and completely her own.
While Sophia understood that Valerie wanted to leave her own stamp on things, she didn’t think Valerie was going about it the right way. If anything, Valerie needed to spend years adapting to being the manager and learning the ropes before implementing any new changes.
At least,thatwas what Sophia believed.
But what did she know anyway?
She wasn’t the one Nora had chosen.
With a sigh, Sophia glanced over at the table, where Teddy peacefully dozed off underneath. He received pats and scratches from everyone who saw him, except for Valerie, who gave him dirty looks and wrinkled her nose whenever she passed by. When Sophia returned her attention to the batter in front of her, Valerie was done talking about the changes and had moved onto another topic: all of her experience that had led up to this moment.
Once Nora came in, looking flushed with her gnarled hands fluttering anxiously at her sides, Valerie immediately fell silent. “Everybody, listen up. We have a major problem.”
The kitchen went quiet as everyone turned their attention to Nora.
She stood up straighter and grimaced. “I know that this is short notice, but I just received the phone call. Madison Blake has asked us to change the menu—again.”
Murmurs of protest rose.
Nora’s expression turned sympathetic. “I know that this is the third time she’s changed her mind, but we cannot afford to lose a client like Madison, and we definitely don’t want to make an enemy of her followers. I know you’re all more than capable of rising to the challenge, so let’s buckle up and get this over with, okay?”
A ripple of unease moved through the room.
“When this is all over, I’ll take you all out for drinks on me,” Nora added with a quick look around the room. “For now, let’s try and keep the bride happy.”
