I've been waiting for this one.

Enjoy!

Initial completion: March 15, 2023

Time was sometimes funny to Sarah. It seemed to have a mind of its own.

If you were busy enjoying yourself then it passed in the blink of an eye. If you were busy with chores it was painfully slow.

Right now, it was dinner time at the Benbow Inn. But Sarah was not so busy.

In fact, she wasn't busy at all. Instead, plenty of other people were.

She had initially only thought it was Deb and maybe two or three other older folks who wanted to help her around the inn. She never expected it to grow to nearly twenty only a few short months later.

It had become more apparent how much work Sarah was doing on her own and people insisted on helping her out even if they had chosen not to before. Even several outsiders had joined her expanding crew. And now she had more than enough people helping to cook, set, and serve at dinner. It had gotten to a point where she had nothing to do but sit and join the other diners as they ate and talked.

Speaking of diners, they had grown in numbers, too. With so many extra hands the service was fast and effective, attracting more clients than ever.

Sarah was glad since Jim wouldn't need to come by as often considering he was now wrapping up his final semester. She assured him she was very well off and there was more than enough proof to see as much. He never said it but Sarah could tell he was excited to focus on his studies again. She'd have to remember to hold a meeting with her crew regarding his graduation feast.

Crew. Her crew. She smiled internally. Who would've thought?

The residents certainly enjoyed seeing her more relaxed and getting to chat with her. She could properly know them as people and her amiability towards them trickled down onto temporary guests, enticing them to return to the establishment more frequently.

And Sarah was content.

Dinner was nearly ready but it wasn't long before a young man stuck his singular eye out the kitchen doors,

"Um, miss Sarah?" he shyly asked. "A little help?"

She turned her attention to the boy. "Of course."

At the same moment she stood, there was a timid knock on the front door. Sarah turned to it but another employee- she still couldn't believe she had employees- made his way to it. "I've got it, Sarah."

He opened it to let in Deb, returning from visiting her friend, and she was quick to greet the diners. She also waved at Sarah who reciprocated the smile before returning to the nervous young man. "I'm coming."

She went to the kitchen where she heard a loud rattling from the pot on the stove. It was clear to see that it was bubbling over. Another boy was already there, wringing his apron, and covering his one eye from the mess that threatened to erupt. "We're mighty sorry to ask again, miss Sarah," he blubbered. Using the old stove often frightened the two cooks, a pair of twins looking to gain culinary experience because they clearly had none.

Sarah strode in, grabbing the ladle out of his hand. "It's no trouble, boys," she assured with a smile. She reduced the heat and removed the lid from the pot, compelling the bubbling to further and begin to splatter.

"You have to be careful about letting the pressure build up too much," she advised and she patiently began stirring the soup amidst the initial chaos and allowed it to calm down. The noise quickly dissipated and the boys' anxiety did as well.

"Thank you, miss."

"Sorry again."

She gave them a pleasant smile, handing them the ladle. "I'm happy to help, but you boys ought to learn to help yourselves," she said. The two nodded in response, their eyes bouncing simultaneously on their stalks.

Now that the noise in the kitchen had died down, she noticed a lot of commotion in the dining room. Sarah excused herself and walked back through the hall. As she neared, she could begin to make out what was being said amongst the apparent excitement.

"Oy, it's so grand to see you again!"

"I didn't think we'd collected the money already!"

"She'll be glad to see you, I know it."

As she finally stepped out from the hall she could see the majority of the diners crowded around the door. And Sarah all but froze in place as she saw the largest of the crowd standing right in the middle.

There he was, shaking hands and patting shoulders of the welcoming diners, exchanging small greetings and banter, with that same red bandana, single earring, and enormous smile she remembered. It wasn't long at all before his gaze caught hers and his face changed in an instant.

Neither spoke nor moved, time feeling like it all but stopped. The welcome party took note of this, quieting down and making as much room as they could.

Taking the hint, he gingerly stepped closer, removing his hat in a courteous manner. "Sarah."

She didn't move a muscle. "Silver."

He halted his pace, slightly rubbing the back of his neck. But Deb prodded him and he cleared his throat. "I beg yer pardon, miss," he tried. "Ya see, Deb an' the rest o' these remarkable people paid my bail so I just got out o' the joint."

Sarah blinked in understanding.

"And wouldn't ya know, I be needin' a job," he continued. Sheepishly wringing his old hat in his large fingers, he timidly asked, "I was wonderin' if ya might be hirin', perhaps, fer a cook?"

He carried such a sincere expression, unlike anything Sarah had ever seen.

She cleared her throat as she set her hands on her hips. "I might be, but I'm no longer looking for part-timers." Giving him a solemn look, she spoke in a serious tone, "If you want to stay I need a commitment."

He was unfazed and instead smiled tenderly. "I got nowhere else I be lookin' to go."

Sarah dropped her furrowed brow as he looked at her ever so sweetly.

"Does that mean we're fired?"

The two quickly broke from their would-be reverie and turned to see the young cooks, both seeming rather distraught. Sarah turned back to him and his perplexed expression. She returned her gaze to the cooks as she stepped back towards him.

"No, no… you're not fired," she clarified. "You're getting a mentor."

The boys locked eyes with the large cyborg as Sarah continued. "You see boys, Long John Silver is very well known around here. He's made delicious food for our residents and he's even attracted new customers with his incredible skill and charm. He's a very hard worker and excellent company, he definitely made many of our days brighter when he was around."

Many diners around them heartily agreed with Sarah's words. She looked up at him and him down at her. She never forgot the distinct gray and yellow of his eyes.

"Believe me," she said, "... you've never met anyone quite like him."

They gazed into each other's eyes and Sarah had to wonder if this was a dream.

But she quickly cleared her throat, looking back at the cooks. "Well, what do you think, boys?"

The two looked at each other and nodded in unison. "Sounds like a plan."

She turned back to him, extending an open hand. "And... what say you, Mr. Silver?"

He gave a small smile. His smile.

Silver gently took her hand, his metal fingers surprisingly warm, and they shook on it. "Looks like I've got a job," he beamed.

The crowd burst into cheers and quickly enveloped the innkeeper and the cyborg, and Sarah couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. Silver was swift to withdraw from his coat and place it on the wall rack along with his hat. "Is it too soon to start workin'?" he cheerfully asked.

"You just got back and you want to work?" someone shouted. Silver let out a bellowing laugh. "I've done nothin' but sit aroun' in a cell fer ages. I'd ask ye to sign me up fer war if it meant I'll have somethin' to do!"

The crowd cracked up along with him and Sarah gleamed.

What a welcome sound it was.

Silver shortly went to introduce himself to the young cooks. "Th' name be Long John Silver, lads," he said with a smile. "Some call me Silver, some call me John, but no one ever calls me long."

Together again! But it's not over yet.

There's still more to be said and one thing, in particular, to be done.

Stay tuned!