Once they were all set, Jill poured herself a glass of water and leaned against the bar while Gina fished around in her apron for an elastic band and pulled her hair into a ponytail.
“So, how’s it going with that guy you went on the date with? Mandy said you had a good time.”
“With Alex? We did. We went to the movies this afternoon too and next Friday I’m going to his company’s Christmas party.”
“Wow, so you really like this guy, then?”
Gina hesitated. “I think so. It’s not that big of a deal going to his company party though. I think he just needed a date and didn’t want to go alone. I am curious to check out the place they are having it though. It’s at the Whitley, have you been there?”
Jill nodded. “Yes, Cory always has his Christmas parties there. It’s very exclusive and expensive and he likes everyone to know that. Mandy used to go every year and she took me one year when I was visiting. I’m sure you’ll have a great time—he pulls out all the stops.”
“It’s that fancy, huh? I might need to go shopping. I haven’t worn a cocktail dress since I moved here and very rarely before that.”
“That will be fun. I’d get a little black dress, something you can wear again. You can’t go wrong with that. Or actually with your hair, a red dress would be gorgeous.”
Two older ladies came into the bar and Jill went over to help them. They both ordered vodka martinis with a twist and the broiled scrod with Newburg sauce, which was on Paul’s new prix fixe menu.
“Our friend Charlotte was in here last week, and she raved about these new specials you have. They are a great deal,” one of the ladies said as Jill jotted down their order.
“I think so too,” she agreed. “That comes with your choice of clam chowder or Caesar salad.”
“Chowder for me.”
“And salad for me,” the other lady said.
Jill punched their order into the computer and went into the kitchen to get hot rolls and butter for them.
It was still early and not busy yet in the kitchen, so as Jill was filling a basket with rolls, she told Paul that her two customers came in because their friend loved the new menu and they both ordered from it too.
“That’s good to hear. Tell them they’re going to have a tough choice for dessert. Jared made a key lime creme br?lée that is fantastic and we have a new flourless chocolate lava cake scented with orange. That’s good too.”
Jills stomach rumbled. “I might need to try those…so I can accurately describe them to customers.”
Paul laughed. “I’ll make a sample tasting plate for you and Gina so you can both try. Hold on.” He put a slice of the chocolate cake and a small round ramekin of the key lime creme br?lée on a plate and added a dollop of fresh whipped cream to both desserts. “Here you go.”
“Thank you!” Jill took the plate of desserts and basket of rolls and headed back to the bar. They still only had the two ladies for customers at the bar, and after dropping their bread basket off, Jill pulled Gina into the nook behind the bar, where they kept extra stock and where they couldn’t be seen by the two ladies but where they could still see the front door and if anyone was coming toward the bar. She set the plate of desserts down. “This is from Paul. The two desserts that go with the prix fixe menu. Jared made this one.”
Gina dipped a spoon into the creme br?lée and a look of surprise came upon her face. “Oh, that is so good. It’s like key lime pie, but better.”
Jill liked the creme br?lée but loved the warm chocolate cake with its hint of orange flavor. They quickly ate most of the desserts and set them aside to finish later.
The bar started to fill up and Jill and Gina were busy for the next hour. Gina had just served the two older ladies their desserts when one of them motioned toward the television. The news was on and there was another warning about the dangers of frozen pipes.
“That poor family. Imagine having to move out of your home right before the holidays. Insurance should cover most of the insurance costs, but I heard she lost all the gifts she’d bought and wrapped. She was all done shopping!” one of them said.
The other lady smiled. “Well, I just heard that someone made a big donation. They called and asked for a list of the items she lost—the gifts. And they went shopping, wrapped everything and dropped off two big garbage bags worth of gifts at their hotel’s front desk.”
“Who did that? Do they know?”