“Jesse and Ava asked me to work in the kitchen tonight,” he said.
It all came tumbling out of his mouth as one mix of syllables.
“You’ve helped out in the kitchen before,” I said.
“I know, but like putting salads together and filling out bowls of tortilla chips. They want me to help make food. Like real food. What if I poison somebody?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I think you’re going to be okay. I doubt they’re going to have you make puffer fish on your first night out of the gate. You’re going to be just fine.”
The few words of encouragement seemed to help, and he gave a nod. I was sure it was going to work out just fine for him. It wasn’t like he was going to be up for any James Beard awards or anything anytime soon, but he knew his way around the kitchen well enough to put together plates and do some basic prep.
If I knew Jesse as well as I thought I did, I was confident that was pretty much all he would let Matt do anyway. He was so wrapped up in the menu he had planned for that night. He’d started planning it during the week while he waited to hire the new cook, excited at the chance to do something more elaborate. I doubted he was going to entrust anyone with anything important that night. He would be too worried about making sure every detail was perfect.
There was no gradual buildup to that night. As soon as we opened the door, there was a line of people waiting to get in. I ended up at the front door, taking names and offering approximate wait times. Ava slipped away from the bar and came up to ask how I was doing.
“The next person we hire is a hostess,” I said. “Or host. I am not biased.”
Ava laughed and patted me on the back. “You’re going to be okay. I promise.”
“How are things going with you?” I asked.
“Really well, actually. Everything is smooth so far. Apparently, advertising that we had a new menu tonight was a very smart business move,” she said.
“From my very smart business minded manager?” I asked.
“I mean,” she said, shrugging with playful false modesty. “If we’re keeping score…”
“It definitely looks like people are enjoying the food,” I said.
“They really are. I’ve only heard good things. And Miranda is doing fantastically behind the bar. I had a good feeling about her, and she’s living up to every bit of it. She knows all the drinks, she’s great with the customers, and she pours a perfect beer,” she said.
A new group came in, and I took down their information, then turned to her.
“I don’t think I own a bar anymore,” I said. “I think I’ve transitioned over into a restaurant.”
“I don’t think you’re quite there yet,” Ava said. “But it might not be the worst idea in the world to put a pin in the idea of expanding at some point.”
“Have I told you recently that I am so proud of you?” I asked.
“Thank you,” she said. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”
I was about to kiss her when a guy at the nearest table got her attention.
“Can you check on my food?” he asked. “It seems like it’s taking a long time.”
She looked at me with a withering sigh. “He ordered about five minutes ago.”
“Well, you can’t always have the best customers. There’s always got to be one. If there wasn’t, there would be nothing to drink about after work,” I said. I kissed her on the top of the head. “You stay here and man the door for a bit. I’ll go check the food.”
I went into the kitchen, and Jesse pointed out that he and Damien, the new cook, were just plating that order. I went back out to the table and relayed the message. Tyler had come over to check on us, and we transitioned him into a shift at the door so we could go back behind the bar. I recognized one of the men sitting there as a new regular. His eyes lit up when he saw Ava. He was excited and clearly wasted.
She greeted him and started making drinks. Jesse stuck his head out of the kitchen and asked if one of us could come back and help Matt deliver orders. Since they were already busy, I headed for the kitchen. My hand ran across her lower back as I went, and she tossed me a smile over her shoulder.
“What if I help out in the kitchen?” the guy at the bar asked. “Where would I get to touch you?”
I stopped and turned around to look at him. “What did you just say to her?”
“Let it go,” Ava said. “Just go back in the kitchen.”