Chapter 5 : New Job

Rachel had never had a job before, but she had been around and observing working people her whole life. She didn't think it could be that hard if so many people could do it. She was a little nervous about meeting Faye, the bakery owner. If Beatrice, her new landlady, recommended this job to her, there had to be goodness in it.

She wanted to make a good first impression, so she planned to get there early after borrowing a bike from the bed and breakfast. Now she could just breathe, mentally prepare for any questions the owner might ask, and take in all the quick changes that she was making without stressing out. She had no idea what Faye looked like either, but the bakery was not crowded, so she waited in line to speak with the cashier. One thing she could not hide was her American accent, which drew attention to her immediately.

"Hi. I am here to meet with Ms. Faye...with Faye about a job. My name is Rachel."

"Why hello Rachel. You're Beatrice's friend, right? I'm Faye. I've been expecting you. Let me ring up these customers and after more people clear out, we'll have a chat. Okay?"

"Great."

Rachel took a seat and wondered if there was something she could be doing to help out or make a good impression. She was torn between going behind the bakery counter and serving up the freshly baked sweet goodies whose aroma pervaded the place and staying seated, ignoring all that Faye could use assistance with, leaving her to struggle alone while she remained detached, uninvolved and watched.

"Should I or shouldn't I?" She watched and wondered from her prime seat to all that needed to be done as the customers seemed to multiply with the minutes that passed.

When thirty minutes had passed since she first made contact with Faye, she decided she should. If it worked out, then Faye would see how invaluable Rachel was. The big fear facing jumping in and helping out was that she was more accustomed to being served than serving. Her gut feeling was that it could not be too hard.

Plus, Faye definitely needed her help. She was taking buns out of the oven, wrapping up the assorted baked goods, pouring up the tea and coffee orders, and running the cash register. She was a one woman show and her audience was running out of patience while they waited.

"How about if I wrap the pastries and pour up the tea while you run the cash register and prepare any specialty beverages?"

"Thank you, Honey. You are a life saver. And, I don't need to have any long interview with you. You're hired. Grab an apron, tie your hair back, and put on some gloves."

For a long while it was just the two of them against the world, but after the morning rush the shop traffic slowed down enough for her new boss to breathe.

"If we could have that kind of traffic every morning, I'd be pleased as punch. The problem is, customer interest is growing, yet I don't have any help so that I can meet or even anticipate the needs. Those needs are growing quickly almost beyond my capacity right now. I'm almost at wits end and may have to turn down some of the larger or special event jobs. You came here just in time, Honey."

"What a happy problem," Rachel said with a smile.

"Yes, I guess it is. We have about half an hour before the coffee break customers come in. Let's get to know each other better while we do some recovery and preparation duties. Oh, I almost forgot, do you have open availability? Or can you only work certain hours?"

"I currently have no other commitments. Not even a puppy. Use me when and how you need me. I'm at your service," she lightly answered, adding a curtsy at the end of her response.

"Ha! A sense of humor, too. I like that, Honey. You'll need to not take yourself too seriously, here. You've got that yankee spirit and spunk, that's for sure."

They restocked, baked, brewed, swept, and managed the earlier crowd's financially positive effect on the cash register, while chatting it up. Thirty minutes later, the crowd was back and ready again to buy more food and drink. They made a good team.

"I usually close after 4:00 tea, but now that you're here, maybe we could stay open to capture the younger folks looking for a spot to pop in to hang out with their various devices and virtual social lives."

"Hmm...okay. I'm up for almost anything. It sounds like a great idea, Faye."

"You'll be my right and left arms. I'm already relying on you and indebted to you and your interview just became your first day on the job. I'm not overwhelming you, am I, Honey?"

"Not at all. This is great. Better than I ever could have imagined. I need a job like this for more than financial reasons."

"Really? Do tell. That is, if you are willing to share some of your story. It won't go any further if you want me to know and you trust me with your secret. Not even to Beatrice, and we've been friends since childhood."

"Okay. Thanks." She felt had to invent a little white lie to keep the conversation going and put any further discussion of personal details at rest.

"Well...I'm American, but when I lost my mother, my father, and my fiancé all within the space of three months, I decided that I needed a change of scenery and a way to put all of the familiar behind me. Everything I encountered seemed to remind me of my loss. I just had to get away. So, I packed up and left. And now I'm here."

"How long do you plan on staying, if I'm not digging too deep."

"Longer than a tourist. I'm looking for a place that I could call my new home. The way I see it, Clovelly has lots to offer. Small and friendly. I'd like to be a part of the parish, not an outsider."

"Well, you hit pay dirt, Honey, because I can show you around town and help you to get in good with the locals. There may only be 400 of us, but we're a kind, tight knit bunch. You won't find folks any finer. Welcome. On behalf of Clovelly, I welcome you."

She did not know why she lied, but it had just enough reality spun through it to actually make her tear up. She hugged Faye and just held on for what seemed like a long time while the sense of loss of people and and vanishing hope passed through her. She missed her late mother and the father and fiancé she wished that she had in the lies she just told.

"There, there, Honey. It is going to be alright. It'll be dark soon and a challenge riding the bicycle. I hope you weren't planning on moving into Beatrice's place with just that as your only form of transportation, were you?"

"Actually, yes I was. I only have a small suitcase and my backpack. Not much."

"Ah, I remember those days. So young and life was full of promise. If you can wait until I close up shop, I'll take you back to the bed and breakfast to collect your things and then we'll head to Beatrice's place. I have a bike rack on the back of my vehicle. We can drop it off at the rental place on the way."

"Thank you in advance for all of your help, Faye. If it weren't for you and Beatrice, then I don't know what I'd do."

"Aw...Honey, you're gonna make me tear up too."

They hugged, closed up, and set out for making Rachel's dreams of a new life a reality in progress.