Page 39 of Lakehouse Promises

She wrote the word, jobs at the top of the page and turned to the classifieds.

“Hey Carolina.” Getty walked up and poured her a fresh cup of coffee. She pulled out some tiny tubs of cream and packets of sugar out of her apron and placed it beside the cup. “Cream and sugar, right?”

“Yes. How did you remember?”

“Oh, it’s part of the job. Shelly told me you came in yesterday looking for me. Can I help you with something?” Her gaze landed on her notebook.

“I hope so. First of all you don’t happen to know if anyone lost a black dog out by the lake do you?”

Getty shook her head. “I haven’t heard anyone report a lost dog. But I do know that people will dump unwanted pets of theirs hoping someone will take them in.”

Carolina frowned.“That’s so sad.”

“Yeah I know. I can’t imagine dumping a poor animal just because you’re tired of them.”

Carolina nodded. She felt very much like the black dog.

Getty put another paper napkin down on the table. “Was that all you wanted to ask?”

“Well, no. You see, I need to get a job and I was wondering if you needed any help here.

“Sorry hon. We are fully staffed.” Getty grinned. “Besides you don’t look like a waitress.”

“Yeah? What do I look like?” Carolina smiled and cupped her face in her hands giving Getty her full attention.

“Well, you look like director of a charity or an entrepreneur.”

“Really?” Her eyes grew wide and then she burst out into a laugh. “I am as far from an entrepreneur as is possible.”

“What are you good at?”

She sighed. “I have no idea. I was a housewife for years. It’s all I’ve done.”

“Oh, hon, I’m sure you’re not giving yourself much credit. Being a housewife was hard. I did it before my husband died.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you lost your husband.”

“He’s been gone for about ten years. You get used to the silence but not used to being lonely.” She blinked away emotion and then shook her head. “Look at me being all chatty. What can I get you for breakfast?”

“Oh,” Carolina grabbed a menu and took a quick glance. “I’m not really hungry.”

“Well, you need to eat. You are much too skinny.”

She laughed. “I’ve never been called skinny.”

Getty gave her a curious look. “How about an everything omelet?”

“What’s in it?”

“Everything.”

“Perfect, I’ll have that.”

Getty smiled and went to put her order in.

Carolina took a sip of her coffee and glanced through the want ads. Her options were limited in the small town.

Welder. Mechanic. Nurse. Teacher.