“I heard he’s been here all day,” Sarah said angrily. “Dad, what are you thinking? You know what the doctor said.”
“Honey, now is not the time for this,” Paul said as he looked around and hoped no one had overheard their conversation.
It was no news to the frequent customers that he had to take a medical leave a few years back, but he had always been around for a few hours most days even though he had mainly been supervising things.
“There shouldn’t be a conversation about this,” Sarah snapped.
“Boss,” Lexi said as she came up to him. “You’re needed in the kitchen.”
“Thanks, Lexi,” Paul said and looked at Sarah. “I know you’re worried, but I’m not back here full time. It’s just for a few days.”
“Dad, you can’t handle the daily stress, even for one day,” Sarah whined.
“I can’t say I disagree,” Aaron chimed in. “It was pretty bad that time.”
“Ugh!” Sarah groaned. “I can’t,” she said, slapping her napkin onto the table. “I need some air.”
“Sarah,” Paul called after her.
Aaron sprang from his chair. “I’ll calm her down. Go do what you have to.”
Paul’s spirit sank as he walked back to the kitchen. He was not his usual happy-go-lucky self after the confrontation with Sarah. He had hoped she wouldn’t have found out about it.
“Sorry, boss,” Debbi said as she walked up to him. “I didn’t know she didn’t know you’re back. It slipped.”
“It’s okay, Debbi,” Paul told her. “Let’s get back to work. We’re filling up over here.”
Ironically, even though Sarah was mad at him for being back at work, and he hated that he had disappointed her, cooking relaxed him the most. In seconds, as he pounded steak and ground lamb into sausages, he’d forgotten his earlier fight.
Debbi informed him that Sarah had returned to her table, and he had no doubt she was still fuming. When things settled down, he returned to her.
“Come here,” he told her, and the three walked to the back patio.
He could see that she had been crying. Her mascara had smudged under her eyes, and she pulled away when he tried to hug her.
“No,” she whimpered. “Dad, I remember it like it was yesterday,” she said and tapped her chest. “You could have died, and now you’re back here like it doesn’t even matter.”
“Sweetheart, it wasn’t planned,” he explained. “Ken got the flu, and it was too late to find anyone, so I had to come in. How professional would it be if I didn’t?”
“I don’t care,” Sarah cried. “You’re the only parent I have. What if you experienced another heart attack?”
“But I didn’t,” Paul said in his defense. “I know the warning signs now, and you have no idea how good it feels to be back. Even for a couple of days.”
“Dad, you didn’t see it coming the last time,” Sarah cried.
“The heart attack wasn’t life-threatening, honey. Aaron, help me out here,” Paul pleaded with the man.
Aaron shrugged. “I agree with her. The first time isn’t usually the one to worry about. It can get worse.”
Paul groaned.
“He’s right,” Sarah chimed in. “The next time, you could die! Is that what you want? To die and make me an orphan?” she asked as tears rolled down her cheeks, and she brushed them away. “I already lost Mom. I can’t lose you, too.”
Paul’s chest tightened as he watched his baby girl crying over him. He would do anything to protect her, but he felt like his hands were bound. He reached for her, and that time, she allowed him to pull her into a firm embrace.
She sobbed against his chest, dampening his chef whites with her tears. Her body rocked in his arms and broke his heart.
“It’s alright,” he whispered against her head. “I’m still here, and I’m not going anywhere, so you can quit worrying, okay. It’s just for a few days. The last time, I was here all the time and stressed over a lot of things. It’s not the same this time around. I know better now, and like I said, it’s only until Ken gets better.”
