She waits a beat then fixes me with a look. “I willdie, Mike, if we don’t have another bathroom.”
“Right. I remember that the situation was dire.” I feel the guys trying not to laugh.
“It’s not funny.” She leans closer, looking as fierce as only she can. “You have to fix it.”
“Why me?” Too late I realize the reason she might give and almost hold my breath.
“Because you fix stuff,” she says with heat. “It’s what you do. It might even be your best trick.”
“She’s got it in one,” Carson murmurs.
“I always hit up Mike when I have a problem,” Bryan agrees, both of them ignoring the dark look I give them.
“See?” Sierra leans closer. “You had the idea. Now you have to help to make it happen.”
“I’m not doing anything without your mom knowing about it first.”
This earns me a herculean sigh and a death stare. I shrug. She spares a glance for Sylvia, then pulls out her phone. “You at least have to let me send you the pictures,” she says and I realize I haven’t given my number to her yet.
“You will not make me regret this,” I say and she grins, clearly confident that she’s won.
I beckon and she gives me her phone. I add myself to her address book and hand it back. She spins out of the chair, phonein hand, to hurry back to the kitchen. Within seconds, my phone is chiming. Seventeen pictures, it warns. I sigh and agree, then it downloads them. Of course, they’re huge. There are twenty-three more after that. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are even more.
I look up to find Carson watching me. “New friend?” he asks, raising a brow.
“Something like that,” I say, still feeling my way through this minefield. I don’t know how much Sylvia expects me to tell people, so until I have an all-clear, I’ll be circumspect. “I went to high school with her mom.”
“And now she’s back?” Carson turns to look after Sierra. Sylvia is giving her instructions, probably telling her to put her phone away and do her job.
“Mother and daughter,” I say and Bryan gives a low whistle.
“Very nice. She with you?” he asks and I must be visibly startled because he grins. “Just checking if she’s off-limits.”
I shrug as if I’m not annoyed by the idea of Bryan hitting on Sylvia. “Sylvia makes her own choices. Sierra and I are finding common ground.”
“How so?” Carson asks.
“She wants to grow herbs for the kitchen here, start up a business of her own. We’re going to be putting a greenhouse on the roof.”
“And you can share your insider wisdom,” Carson nods approval. “That’s great. You’re a natural teacher, Mike.”
Sylvia arrives then and tells us about a special that isn’t on the menu – roast boar with kim chee – plus gives us the news that the lentils are sold out. Bryan turns on the charm and I appreciate that she is polite but sufficiently disinterested that even Bryan might get it.
I decide to live dangerously and choose the boar, earningmyself a little smile of approval from Sylvia. How pathetic is that that one look will keep me warm all night?
It’sa couple of hours later when I excuse myself to go to the washroom. My real plan is to pay the bill before Sylvia brings it to the table. The way I figure it, the guys have driven from Havelock for dinner here at my suggestion. Least I can do is make it my treat.
The café is getting quiet and has become darker. It’s more intimate now, and feels almost private. There’s a tall kid loading the dishwasher in the kitchen, under instructions from Merrie who has firm ideas about the placement of plates and bowls. Sierra has vanished, likely having gone back to Una’s after the big rush of dinner service.
Sylvia brings me the machine for my credit card, lingering while I add the tip and put through the transaction.
“So, they know Sierra is my daughter,” she says, her gaze cool when I look up.
“I didn’t realize it was a secret.”
“Do they know she’s yours?”
I shake my head. “I wanted to tell them, but I don’t know what you want me to say and what you want to keep private. Until you give me the all-clear, that’s still private.”
