“Hi. Uh, yes. First, I need a restroom,” I say, looking around trying to find it.
“It’s around the corner, sweetie.” Thank God.
“Thank you.” I say practically running to it. Finally feeling less frantic, I walk back into the diner and sit on one of the stools and grab a menu. Perusing it, I note it has a lot of comfort food which is wonderful since I am already missing home.
“What can I get you hun?” she asks me, her hand on her hip and a warm smile on her face. A glance at her name tag tells me her name is Nana.
“Can I get the meatloaf dinner, side of fries, and a vanilla shake.”
“Sure thing,” she says grabbing my menu. I continue to look around, my mind whirring, picturing myself possibly settling here. It seems nice enough. I can tell it is small. Not fancy, which is fine by me. Turning toward the register, I note the for hire sign. Well shit. Maybe its fate.
“Here you go hun,” she says sitting my food in front of me.
“I see you have a help wanted sign.”
“Yes. Our last waitress married the bread delivery boy and quit.”
“Well, it just so happens, I am in need of a job.” I tell her, determined to find something to begin my new journey.
“What’s your name?”
“Lailani.”
You're new around here, sweetie?” I nod my head trying to keep the tears at bay.
“How did you know?”
“This is a small town, sweetie. Plus, you sound like a big city girl. What brings you here?”
“I-I needed to start over.” I tell her no longer able to stop the flood.
“Do you have somewhere to stay?”
“No, I don’t. I left my whole life, friends, job, security, everything behind, with no plan or anything.” my body shaking, as everything comes spilling out. It isn’t until I feel a hand on my back that I realize she has come from behind the counter to comfort me.
“You hush now, girl. Sometimes we have to leave, to find a reason to go back. Now you listen. Thirty minutes into the city, you will come to Embassy Suites. My best friend Flora is the manager of housekeeping. Tell her I sent you. She will give you a job and somewhere to stay. Now eat your food. I will give you some dessert to go.” I wipe my face and smile.
“Thank you,” I say, grabbing her hand. She pats mine before walking away. Maybe I will like it here after all. I finish my food, take the pie she gives me, thank her once more and head out to the hotel. Exhausted, I walk up to the front desk, barely able to hide the tired from my voice. “Hi. I am looking for Flora.”
“Sure. Take a seat. She will be right up.” The chairs in the lobby are so comfy that I find myself dozing off, until I hear a very soft-spoken woman say my name.
“You must be Lailani?” Crap. I jump up, embarrassed she caught me napping.
“Yes. I am so sorry. I-I have just been driving so long and…”
“Don’t worry. Flora told me a bit about it. It just so happens I have an open position. Have you ever worked in a hotel before?”
“I have as a matter of fact. I went from being housekeeping to overnight supervisor of the front desk.”
“Excellent. Well here is the offer. I can offer you free room and board here in the hotel. Eat for free in the restaurant and I will pay you a small stipend. Do you have a shift preference?” I am taken aback by the question. Most employers don’t care. They put in the shift they want and you deal with it.
“Well if it is not too much trouble, I would like midday, if you can. I am going to try to find some scholarships and such to help with going back to school and my plan is to take morning classes. So, I figure I can go to school in the morning, work here midday and maybe take a night class. However, until school happens, whatever shift you need me on.” I gulp hoping I didn’t just talk her out of hiring me.
“Sounds great. I admire young ladies looking to further their careers.” Great.
“That is good to know,” I say my voice is unsure and she picks up on it immediately.
“Is there something else?”
“Well, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind paying me in cash?” I bite my lip waiting on her to...I don't know what, but I know it is an odd request.
“I don’t normally pay in cash, you know, tax purposes and all, but...can I ask if you are in some sort of trouble?”
“No, nothing like that. I just... I am just looking to start over and would rather things from my past not make it more complicated than it already is.” She nods her head. I can see her mind ticking before she answers.