"You'll be fine honey!" said Krystal, it sounded more a like a question than a statement.
"I'll be fine." confirmed Marissa, although she still felt a little nervous about being in charge of her mother's restaurant.
Krystal gave her daughter a goodbye hug.
"I'll be in Llanview until one, but I should be back in time for the lunch time rush. Valerie and Greg will be here in about fifteen minutes, so there shouldn't be any problems… And if your memory does draw a blank on anything make the excuse to check with the kitchen and someone will help you out."
"Yeah… although it doesn't happen that often now."
"I'm glad to hear it!" Krystal gave her daughter a proud smile. "Remember in my absence you're the boss. What you say goes."
"I'll be fine mom!"
"I know, you're my daughter!"
…
The restaurant should have opened at ten but it was now five passed and there was still no sign of the waiting staff. The only people in the bistro were Marissa, and Tom and Carrie from the Kitchen.
It was time to make some phone calls.
The first person Marissa rang was Greg, he was usually very reliable. He wasn't answering his cell so Marissa tried his home number. His mother answered. Greg had come of his bike the day before and was in hospital having broken his arm and his nose. Marissa passed on wishes for swift recover; as worry began to creep in.
Next Marissa tried Valerie. A woman who was a lot less reliable.
The waitress answered straight away.
"I just wanted to check up on you. You are running late." said Marissa trying to keep the trace of panic from her voice.
"Oh I quit."
"What?"
"I quit! In fact I got you old job at the Yacht Club, much better hours."
"You can't just leave us in the lurch like this! Greg's broken his arm. There is no one else here!"
"Of course I can. You're the manager now sweetheart, it's your problem not mine."
With that she hung up.
Tom came out to find out why the restaurant wasn't open yet. When Marissa told him the problem he just shook his head.
"Well that sucks." he said.
"I'll just have to ring everyone else and see if they can fill in the shift."
"Well good luck with that, all the girls went to Denver to the 'New Kids On The Block' revival concert. And Howie is in Corinth visiting his mother."
"And Opal is spending the day with Erica." finished Marissa. She knew Opal had been looking forward to spending time with her best 'gal pal', it was all she could talk about last week. She didn't want to be the one to ruin her day.
Marissa's heart sunk – how was she going to open the restaurant without staff.
Just then the first customer rattled the locked door.
Her first day in charge was not going well.
…
Sorry just a short chapter today. :)