There was no such thing as quiet these days.
Apparently not even at my own home or kitchen.
“I don’t make the other housekeepers lunch.”
“Knox, please. She just got here. I doubt she’s even had a chance to get to the grocery store.”
“Then let her leave early. You don’t need her cleaning today.”
“No, but we have paperwork to do. And orientation videos.
I get the impression that she’d like the hours. Daycare is expensive. Please?”
I sighed. Please. Eloise wielded that single word the way a warrior would a sword. And I was being nice. “Fine.”
“Thank you.” She plucked a tomato cube from the cutting board and popped it into her mouth.
“What’s her story?”
“What do you mean?”
“That baby is the same age as Hudson.” Our nephew was two months old, and Winslow, though she pulled a shift here and there, was still on maternity leave. “Isn’t that young to have a kid in daycare full-time?”
“She’s a single working mother, Knox. Not everyone has the luxury of maternity leave.”
“I get that but . . . what’s the story with the kid’s father?
Why’d she move all the way to Montana from New York?”
And why had she taken that drive alone? That wasn’t a safe trip, especially with an infant. She should have had help. How did an educated, gorgeous woman end up traveling across the country alone with a baby and what seemed like every one of her possessions stuffed into a Volvo?
“I don’t know because it’s none of my business. If Memphis wants to talk about it, she will.” Eloise narrowed her gaze. “Why are you asking? I’m usually the curious one. Not you.”
“She’s living at my house.”
“Afraid she’s going to murder you in your sleep?” Eloise teased, stealing another tomato.
“I’d like to know who’s on my property.”
“My new employee, whose personal life is her own. And a mother new to Quincy. Which is why you’re going to make her lunch. Because I’m guessing she hasn’t had anyone make her a meal in weeks. Fast food doesn’t count.”
I frowned and stalked through the kitchen, swiping up a mixing bowl, an onion and a lime.
Once again, Eloise was getting attached to an employee.
After the lawsuit, both Mom and Dad had warned her to keep professional boundaries. But where Memphis was concerned, Eloise had already crossed them.
So had I, the day I’d agreed to let a strange woman and her child move onto my property.
Eloise checked the clock. “I’ll be at the front desk for the rest of the day. Memphis is going to work on paperwork in the staff lounge and then go through orientation videos. What time should I send her here for lunch?”
“Eleven.” Memphis could eat with the rest of us before the lunch rush hit. “You need to find out more about her story.”
“If you’re so curious, you ask her when she comes in to eat.” Eloise smiled her victorious smile and disappeared.
Damn. I loved my sister, but along with that big heart, she was naive. Other than her four years away for college, she’d only lived in Quincy. This community loved her. She didn’t realize just how devious and horrible people could be.
Memphis hadn’t done anything worrisome. Yet. But I didn’t like how little we all knew about her story. There were too many unanswered questions.
I shoved the worries aside, focusing on the prep I’d been doing since five this morning. My days started early, working before we opened the restaurant for hotel guests at seven.
After making a handful of omelets and scrambles this morning, I’d been gearing up for tonight’s meals. My sous chef, Roxanne, would be cooking dinner tonight so I could have an evening off.
The minutes passed too quickly and when the door opened, I glanced at the clock to see it was exactly eleven.
“Hi.” Memphis gave me a whisper of a smile.
With an actual smile, she’d be more than trouble. She’d be a hurricane leaving devastation in her wake.
“Um . . . Eloise said something about coming in for lunch.”
“Yeah.” I nodded to the opposite side of the table where I kept a few stools. “Have a seat.”
“I don’t need anything. Really. I’m sure you’re busy, and I don’t want to intrude.”
Before I could respond, Eloise breezed through the door with my line cook, Skip, right behind her. “You’re not intruding.”