Home to Whiskey Creek (Whiskey Creek #4)(53)
Author: Brenda Novak

Was that what she did? Did she come and go at her leisure, leaving the restaurant without a manager on duty? Addy could see doing that midafternoon, maybe—but this time of day? They were always busy at dinner. “What if Gran needs me to stay with her? Who’ll close and take the receipts to the bank?”

“Whoever you trust enough to do that, I guess. I’m afraid I can’t help.”

Besides referring to some nebulous “things” she had to do, she had yet to say why. Addy didn’t want to assume the worst, but she got the feeling that Darlene was taking pleasure in her predicament, as if she saw it as payback because Addy had involved herself in the restaurant. Darlene clearly felt she had no right—even though she had every right.

“Okay, I’ll have to do what I have to do, but…I wonder what you would’ve done if I wasn’t here.”

“Fortunately, you are here, and you love being at the restaurant.”

Addy stiffened at her flippant tone. “Actually, I do.”

The ensuing pause was fraught with resentment.

“Is something wrong?” Addy asked.

“Does Milly know she’s not in charge anymore?” Darlene replied.

“She is in charge, as much as she’s capable of being in charge. I would never take that from her. I’m just here to do what she can’t.”

“We’ve been getting along fine. You realize that.”

Addy sat up taller. “You mean without me?”

Darlene quickly improved her tone. “You don’t have to disrupt your whole life on our account. We have our routine, and we’re good at it.”

In other words, butt out. Addy heard that loud and clear.

“Milly still trusts me, doesn’t she?” Darlene was saying. “I’ve given that restaurant twenty years of my life.”

“Of course. We both trust you. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be some changes.”

“What kind of changes are we talking about?”

“I haven’t completely decided. I’d like to discuss my ideas with Gran first.”

“You’ve been gone for thirteen years, Addy.”

“So?”

She could tell Darlene knew better than to say more, but was too frustrated to stop. “If you cared so much about Milly, why didn’t you come back before now?”

Addy stood up so fast she hit the desk drawer with her thighs, but she ignored the brief flash of pain. Apparently, everything she’d sensed in Darlene, everything Luanne had warned her about, was accurate. Darlene had been good to her when she was a child, but she wasn’t willing to accept that now Addy was doing a little more than “helping out.”

“Darlene, I’d like us to get along,” she said. “I have fond memories of you. But if you can’t cope with having me back, we’ll need to make other arrangements.”

“Meaning…”

Addy heard the shock in her voice. She hadn’t talked to Gran, wasn’t sure she should even make this statement. But she couldn’t tolerate insubordination, not if she planned to work at Just Like Mom’s—and she had to, since Gran no longer could. Darlene had obviously grown far too comfortable with being in charge. “I think you know what that means.”

“Everything’s fine at the restaurant, Addy. I don’t see why you have to come in and take over.”

“You don’t have to see.”

The resulting silence was openly hostile.

“Are you going to be able to adjust?” Addy continued, pressing her sudden and very slight advantage. “Or do I have to let you go?”

“I’ve worked at that restaurant for two decades! Milly would never let you fire me!” she cried, and hung up.

“Is everything okay?”

Addy had dropped the phone and was resting her forehead on one fist. At the sound of Luanne’s voice, she glanced up, then stood. “Fine. But…could you keep an eye on things for a while? I have to go home and check on Gran.”

“Of course.”

She wrote her cell phone number on a Post-it and stuck it to the wall above the desk. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Addy?”

Adelaide had already started for the door. She was fighting tears. She didn’t want any of the employees to see her like this, but she wasn’t willing to be rude to someone who’d always been so nice to her.

She was glad she’d turned back when Luanne took one look at her and hugged her tight. “Was that Darlene on the phone?”

She nodded against the other woman’s temple, since she was so much taller.

“She’s just feeling threatened, honey. Don’t let her upset you. I, for one, am glad you’re here.” She tightened her squeeze for emphasis. “Now…are you gonna be okay?”

Addy nodded. “Of course. I’ve been through worse,” she said with a wobbly smile.

* * *

Gran was a lot better. That came as a relief. Addy kept in touch with Luanne at the restaurant but stayed home for a few hours, even after seeing that Gran had supper. She needed to go back to close, but Gran stopped her every time she got up to leave by asking for another game of cards. She was bored now that she couldn’t move around like she used to. She’d always been so strong, so dominant and energetic. But she was getting old. Addy wondered how her own mother could be so indifferent to the passing time. Didn’t she realize that Gran wouldn’t be around forever? Would she someday regret ignoring her greatest blessing?

Addy had long since stopped asking herself these kinds of questions, but tonight seemed to be the night for facing harsh realities. She hadn’t yet decided what to do about Darlene. She’d planned to discuss the situation with Gran, but Gran seemed so happy, Addy didn’t want to ruin the evening by dumping work woes in her lap.

“You get some rest,” she told her. “I have to go back to the restaurant.”

Gran seemed surprised by this. “Why can’t Darlene close?”

Addy had already explained that Darlene had taken a personal day. “She’s off, remember?”

“Oh, that’s right. But you’ve been working too hard this week. I’m sorry so much is falling on you.”

She bent to kiss Gran’s wrinkled cheek. “I don’t mind.”

“At least those nasty bruises are almost gone. Have you heard from Chief Stacy?”

Not since he’d come by to inform her that Shania wasn’t providing Aaron with an alibi. “No. But I’m sure he’ll call if there’s anything new.”