Page 73 of Stay With Me

He waited at the table for a moment as he watched her clean the dishes, brushing a hair away from her face every so often. She would turn forty-seven that month and, in a way, she looked it. The deep brunette of her hair wasn’t as vibrant as it used to be, she had laugh lines and crow’s feet, and her hips were fuller than they were ten years ago. But somehow, the change in her appearance had occurred slowly enough that she still looked the same way she always had since he’d met her. Back when they were hopelessly in love and couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Things hadn’t been that way for a long time.

The worst feeling in the world is to occupy the same space as another person and still feel completely alone.

The sun caught her hair and illuminated the baby blue of her sweater, and for the briefest of seconds, she was twenty-seven again, and he felt like the thirty-year-old version of himself. He suddenly became overwhelmed by how much he missed the feeling of being young and newly in love, and found himself crossing the kitchen to stand behind her, gingerly grasping her hips and pressing his face into the side of her hair.

To his dismay, her only response was a slight tense of her shoulder and a turn of her head in the opposite direction, as she continued to wash the dishes.

He resisted the urge to sigh in discontent, then kissed her cheek.

“I love you, sweetheart.”

She nodded as she carried on with her task. He waited for a moment, but he knew she wasn’t going to say it. She rarely said it anymore.

Correction;thatwas the worst feeling in the world. Frustrating, and helpless, and the perpetual sense that the whole thing was pointless.

With nothing else to say, he simply headed out the door, just as he did every single morning.

* * *

The clear skies turned gray and an ominous mass of clouds loomed in the distance by the time Nick arrived at the restaurant. The kitchen staff was already at work, prepping for the day’s offerings. He peeked in briefly, assuring himself that all appeared to be well and he probably didn’t have anything to worry about.

Upon opening his e-mail, however, it turned out to not be the case.

His heart dropped into his stomach.

“Goddamn it,” he cursed under his breath. They’d failed the health code inspection.

“…incorrect food holding temperatures and circumstances that might endanger public health…”

He quickly printed out a list of the violations, as well as the required signage for the front doors while they’d be closed.

“Observed chicken, beef in walk in cooler under leaking AC unit.Shell eggs held at room temperature with an ambient air temperature greater than forty-five degrees Fahrenheit. Employee touched soiled apron and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands.”

He estimated correcting the issues would take a couple of days and then they’d have to wait for the inspector to come back and give them the all clear. At least a week of lost business. Nick knew this could be the final nail in the coffin.

The storm began to hammer the roof with rain as he furiously stomped his way to the front door first, to affix the signage and lock the doors, then to the kitchen with the list of violations. He stopped briefly, noticing a low creaking reminiscent of the door he needed to fix at home. It seemed to be coming from the far end of the dining area by the windows that overlooked the bridge. He mentally noted it, groaning to himself that there was yet another thing that would need to be fixed.

Everything in his life apparently needed fixing.

Nick addressed the staff. “Everybody stop what you’re doing.”

Conversation dwindled and silence came over the room as the group looked at him expectantly.

Nick held up the list. “I’ve had this place for twenty-five years now and this has never happened. Who would like to explain it to me?”

Chase grunted as he snatched the paper out of Nick’s grip. “This happened because this building is on its last leg. The AC is shot to hell and the majority of the equipment in here needed to be replaced about five years ago and you never got around to it. So maybe it’s time for you to get your head out of your ass and take care of business.”

Nick set his jaw and scowled. “Fine. Clean everything up and everybody go home. I’ll deal with it,” he said, and then turned to leave, but abruptly halted before stepping out. “And when I find out who forgot to wash their hands somebody’s getting fired.”

Nick marched back toward his office with Chase following closely at his heels.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Chase demanded. “None of this is their fault or their problem so don’t come in on your high horse and act like they aren’t doing their jobs. You have been letting this place fall apart, and you are too blind to see it.”

Nick flopped into a chair. “I know that. Money is tight and there’s more to fix than I have a prayer of being able to afford.”

Chase flipped a hand in the air. “Get a loan.”

“I can’t. I’m still under water with the San Jac’s fiasco.” Nick paused to exhale loudly. “I think the only option is taking out a second mortgage. It’s the only way I’ll be able to come up with the cash for the repairs.”