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PATIENCE

P atience headed back to the kitchen after checking on her tables one more time.

Her shift was almost done, and she was ready to head home.

If she stayed, she’d just embarrass herself more with Quinn.

He obviously wanted nothing to do with her.

That’s what stung the most. But only Livie knew it.

Too bad she was away with Theo for the weekend.

Jen and Louisa were behind the bar chatting.

“Hey, Charity, I have one table that still has an open tab. Will you be able to close it out for me and handle anything else they need?”

“Sure, no problem. Is there anything special I should know?” Charity was an older woman who only worked a few nights a week.

She told everyone it was to get away from her kids, but no one believed her.

Especially when she’d come in a few weeks ago with bruises around her arm.

It was obvious it was a hand that had caused it, and not a small one. But she’d refused to talk about it.

“Nope. They are just finishing up and might need another pitcher, but I doubt it will be more than that.” Patience tore the table’s orders from her pad and handed it over. “Keep the tip, too. I appreciate you taking care of them. I really want to get home before it snows.”

“You don’t have to do that; you worked the table?—”

“I know, but I appreciate you helping me out. I’d have to stay later otherwise.” Patience smiled. Jen needed the tips more than she did, and it felt right for her to keep them.

“If you’re sure…”

“I am. Be careful when you head home later. It’s supposed to get bad.”

“Yeah, they upped it to six to twelve inches. Crazy, right?” Jen said.

“That’s for sure. Hopefully, they’re wrong like usual.”

Patience headed down the hallway and into the kitchen to punch out.

She pushed her way through the kitchen doors and tried to hide her smile when Pam and Tony jumped away from each other.

Pam, the owner of the Ready Room, and Tony, the chef, were a couple, but they kept it quiet.

The employees knew since they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.

It was cute. The momentary happiness in Patience’s chest dulled as she remembered her own unrequited feelings for the gorgeous ginger SEAL.

“Hi, Patience, all down for the night?” Pam asked.

“Yup, Jen is going to close out my last table. Quinn already paid for the Red Falcon table. Unless they order more.” She shrugged.

“Perfect. You okay?” Pam asked.

Patience turned from punching out and forced a smile onto her face. “Yeah, I’m great. It’s been a long week.”

“Mid-terms or whatever you call it in med school?”

“Yeah. But they’re done now. I’ve got a couple of weeks of downtime before the last semester. I can’t believe I’m almost done.”

“You should be proud of yourself. I’m sure your parents are.”

Patience nodded. They’d offered her their steadfast support from the beginning when she said she wanted to be a doctor.

But they’d never pushed her to follow in their footsteps and do charity work.

Not that they had always done it. When she was small, they’d had a private practice.

It was still there, but they’d hired doctors to work for them.

It allowed her parents to travel the world, helping where they could.

After learning how horribly Livie’s parents treated her because of her decision to not work with the family but to become a doctor, she appreciated her parents even more.

“They are amazing.”

“Will they be home for the Christmas holidays?” Pam followed Patience to the employee break room where they had their lockers.

“Not this year. We had Thanksgiving together, but they’ll be back for my graduation.” Theo had invited Livie to spend Christmas in Minnesota with his family. It meant she’d be alone this year and wasn’t looking forward to a Christmas of one.

“You’re welcome to come join us. You’re practically family. Sky and Murphy will be there, too,” Pam offered.

“Can I let you know? I’m not sure what’s happening yet.” Patience felt bad about the lie, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to intrude on their holiday.

“Of course. Tony will make enough food to feed half of Norfolk, so it’s no problem if it’s last minute.” Pam smiled and patted her shoulder. “If you need to take time off, just let me know, okay? We’ll manage. You’ve been busting your butt for months.”

“Thanks, but I enjoy being busy. Besides, the money helps with my expenses.”

“I remember those days—I’m not that old.” Pam grinned. “I worked in a few restaurants before I met Sky’s dad, and we got married. I sure never thought I’d own a bar someday.”

“I bet. But you do a great job. It shows in how packed it always is.”

“Thank you. You’re so sweet. But I think it’s more the people I employ that keep this place hopping.”

“Maybe we can agree to disagree. But I do like working here, being around all the people. It’s so different from studying and all the lab work I have this semester.”

“All the people? Or the sexy military men who are most of our customers.” Pam winked.

Patience felt her cheeks heat. “Maybe a little of both. They’re easy on the eyes, that’s for sure. But I don’t have time to date. Once I graduate, I won’t be able to work. The residency will keep me too busy. I’m trying to save as much as I can before the end of next semester.”

Pam nodded. “It’s hard. But following your dream? That’s priceless. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I’m glad your parents are supportive.”

Patience agreed. Too bad Livie’s parents didn’t feel the same way.

It reminded her of Livie’s last trip home.

Thank God Theo had been there with her. “I’m lucky.

Not everyone has the support I do. My parents would help more, but I want to prove I can do things on my own.

Still, I know they’d bail me out if I needed it. ”

“That’s what parents are for, honey. They’re your rock when you need it and when you don't.” She hugged Patience. “And when they’re not here, you’ve got us. A family away from family.” Pam winked.

Warmth filled Patience’s chest at her boss’ words. It really was like a family here, and it was because of Pam and Tony. They took care of their employees and their customers and the reason it was the most popular spot for everyone from JEB Little Creek to go to blow off some steam.

“I appreciate that and you. We all do. You’ve made it a family for all of us. You’re a wonderful person. Sky is lucky to have you as a mom.”

Pam’s cheeks flushed at her compliment. “You’re too sweet. Go home and get some rest. See you soon.”

“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

“You’re not on the schedule?—”

“I know, but I’m covering for Livie. Theo took her away for the weekend. She was supposed to tell you.”

“Oh yeah. That’s right, I remember now. Is it the weekend already?” Pam laughed. “I guess I need a break, too.”

Patience smiled. “You do. You work harder than anyone.”

“That’s what I tell her all the time,” Tony added as he poked his head into the breakroom. “Baby, Louisa needs you to clear out the register at the bar.”

“Tell her I’ll be right there.”

“Will do. See ya, Patience. Stop by the kitchen if you want some food to take with you.”

Patience grinned when Tony winked at her. They were the nicest people. She’d been lucky to fall into this job, and she’d miss it once her residency started.

“Be safe heading home,” Pam said. “See you tomorrow.”

Patience opened her locker and grabbed her purse and coat.

She’d forgotten her gloves and scarf earlier after stopping for a few groceries before she came to work.

The weatherman said it would snow overnight.

If luck was on her side, she’d make it home before it started.

The tires on her car were almost bald, and didn’t do well in the snow or rain.

On her next day off, she’d need to replace them.

Her parents wanted to give her a new car for graduation, but she loved her baby.

She’d worked hard to earn enough to buy the used Prius.

But realistically, she knew it was time to get something newer and more reliable. So far, she’d been lucky.

Patience went out the back door and walked around to the parking lot. Clouds filled the sky and blocked most of the full moon, but it hadn’t snowed yet. As she pulled her coat closed, a shiver wracked her body.

“Damn. Isn’t it supposed to be warmer when it’s going to snow?” she mumbled, as her words turned into a misty cloud of vapor. Another shiver sent her run-walking through the parking lot toward her car.

After pushing the key fob, not hearing the expected click as the door unlocked, made her cringe. Patience tried again as the first snowflake drifted down from the sky. “Great. Just freaking great,” she huffed and used the key to unlock the door.

She slid into the driver’s seat. Using the key, she sent up a prayer that the car would start.

Nothing happened—the engine didn’t roar to life or even whimper.

Patience groaned and rested her forehead on the steering wheel.

It looked like the evening would continue to be one disappointment after another.

After she tried one more time, she climbed out and opened the hood.

Not that she had the slightest idea what to do as she studied the inner workings.

If it had been human, she’d have been able to diagnose the issue all on her own.

Why couldn’t it have a flashing sign that said, “I’m broken, fix me?

” Instead, she pulled her phone out of her pants pocket and typed into the search engine.

The search suggested the problem was a dead battery.

She’d suspected as much, although it could be the alternator, or both.

Did hybrid cars have alternators? She guessed so if the internet said so, since it was always right.

Just thinking about that made her laugh.

Not that any of that mattered, since she couldn’t fix either of those things herself and it was too late to call a mechanic.

She could call for a tow, but that wouldn’t help her get home.

The gentle fall of snowflakes added to her despair and left her wondering how long she’d have until it turned into the promised storm.

Dammit. Of course, her beloved Prius would die while Livie was away.

There was no one else to call with her parents in Swuyji on the African continent working with Doctors Without Borders.

“Well, this sucks donkey balls.” Patience blinked the snowflakes from her eyelashes and sighed.

Calling for an Uber was her only option.

It wasn’t her favorite thing to do, but she didn’t have any other options.

Asking someone from the Ready Room to help was out of the question.

They all had lots of hours left on their shifts and she wouldn’t leave Pam short staffed.

Patience left the hood up and gave it one more chance to start before she gave up and went to Plan B and calling for the Uber. Sliding behind the wheel, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly before whispering a prayer to the car gods. Then she turned the key. A click. Then nothing. Fuck.

She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples.

Her earlier headache reappeared with a vengeance.

Stress did it to her every time. Getting back out of the car, she walked to the front and leaned under the hood.

“Please, baby. Start for me. I’ll let you rest when we get home, but you need to start for me.

Pretty please?” Patience didn’t expect her car to answer her.

But it never hurt to ask the universe for what you needed, right?