Wren’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
I held up a stack of resumés. “No one seems to be hiring. I missed the staffing window for tourist season.”
“What are you looking for?”
“Honestly, I’ll take anything that pays right now. I’d even wear the chicken costume.”
Wren burst out laughing. One of the local restaurants had tried a new type of marketing when we were in high school—one where someone wore a chicken costume and had to do a choreographed dance. “I would never let a friend stoop to that level. When I was in The Brew this morning, Sue was moaning about one of her staff quitting on her. Maybe you could sneak in there before someone nabs the opening. She loves you.”
“You are a godsend.” I grabbed Wren in a quick hug, ignoring my ribs’ protest. I might have overdone it with the cleaning and unpacking yesterday.
Wren laughed. “You can repay me by letting me and G come to your place with a bottle of wine once you’re settled.”
I released her, already moving in the direction of The Brew. “If I get this job, I’ll spring for the wine.”
“You’re on.”
“Love seeing you happy,” I called as I walked backward.
Wren’s hazel eyes sparkled in the afternoon light. “Happy’s coming for you next.”
That felt like a pipe dream right now. I’d settle for content. Safe. Not jumping at every sound. But instead of saying so, I simply smiled and waved.
Turning around, I made a beeline for The Brew. The letters of the new sign that hung over the massive window were whimsical and perfectly matched the inside of the café. The whole place had anAlice in Wonderlandfeel.
No two items in the space matched, from tables and chairs to the teapots and plates. Color spilled everywhere. It was a completely different vibe than when I’d been here last. Before, the coffee shop carried an almost corporate feel. No character at all. The updates were amazing.
I opened the door, an intricate gold bell tinkling as I did.
“Welcome to The Brew,” a feminine voice singsonged. “I’ll be right with you.”
A blur of motion caught my eye as a pixie of a little girl flew around the bakery case. She skidded to a halt in front of me. “Welcome to The Brew,” she copied the woman. Then she grinned, and I saw that her front tooth was missing. “You look like Snow White. Are you her? Are you?”
“Cady,” a woman about my age chastised as she emerged from the back of the café. “What did I tell you?”
The little girl frowned, her head tilting to the side, making her red curls swing. “That I gots to stay behind the case. But she looks like Snow White, Mama.”
The woman gave me a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that. We’re very much in our Disney princess stage.” She lifted her daughter, tickling her sides and making the girl giggle.
“I’m gonna be a princess one day,” Cady said between giggles.
I smiled at her. “Sounds like a good gig to me.”
Cady bobbed her head in a nod. “I’m gonna eat ice cream sundaes for breakfast every day, and have a unicorn to ride, and have all the books in the world.”
“You had me at ice cream for breakfast,” I told her.
The woman set Cady down. “Can you do me a favor and go check the napkins? I want to make sure we put out enough.”
Cady beamed. “I’ll check every table.” She took off without waiting for an answer.
Her mother laughed, the light in her green eyes dancing. “Sorry about the chaos. I don’t usually work the afternoon shift because I have to wrangle that little jumping bean, but we’re short-staffed.”
“No problem at all. That’s actually why I’m here.”
The woman’s brows lifted.
I held out my resumé. “I’m Maddie Byrne. I just moved back to Cedar Ridge after a few years away, and I’m on the hunt for a job. I worked at Dockside for years before I left, so I have lots of restaurant experience.”
