Gifted a Second Chance at Life

Chapter 13

It had taken over two hours for Callie and Mark to finish their shopping in the first thrift store. It would have taken them far less if they had not been laughing and having fun with some of the more unusual items they found. They even purchased a few of those to wear later to parties.

“Do you want to go to the Copper Pot to get a good caffeine fix and have a snack before we continue?” Mark asked as he and Callie placed their many bags and boxes in the back of his SUV.

“That sounds good. Plus, I need to let them know that I have found a job. I dropped off a resume the last time I was in there,” Callie said as she stepped back, allowing Mark to close the hatch.

“Good plan,” Mark agreed as he walked her to her door and opened it for her. As Callie climbed into the vehicle and fastened her seatbelt, he asked, “Do you want to go to the lodge for lunch today? We don’t have to do the big family thing that we did last time. We have table servings of pasta, salad, and breadsticks if that sounds good.”

“It does, but can I think about it? I don’t want anyone to get the wrong impression and think you hired me only because we are friends,” Callie replied.

“Fair enough,” Mark grinned. “Decide where you want lunch, and we will go there.”

Mark closed her door and hurried around the SUV. Callie watched him in the mirrors as he moved. She smiled at his reflection until she saw him limp a little. That made her frown and she was still frowning when he got in the car.

“What’s wrong?” Mark asked.

“You are limping. Why didn’t you say your knee was hurting that much? We could have done this another time, or I could have done it alone,” Callie said.

“Callie, it is fine. My knee acts up from time to time. When we get to the Copper Pot, I will take some ibuprofen after I eat something, and it will improve. Does that make you feel better?” he asked with a smile as he squeezed her hand.

“A little, but I still don’t like it,” Callie said.

“Neither do I, but that’s life,” Mark grinned as he released her hand and started the SUV. He opened the armrest, pulled out a sheet of paper, and gave it to Callie. “This might help you decide what you want to snack on at the coffee shop.”

Callie looked at the menu and laughed, “I already know. I want their biggest mocha latte with extra chocolate and whipped cream, a loaded brownie, and one of their giant chocolate chip cookies.”

“Oh… those are good choices,” Mark chuckled as he pulled onto the street and headed toward Copper Pot Coffee. “I would typically walk the couple of blocks to the coffee shop, but driving is the best option thanks to the knee and how cold it is.”

“Wise decision,” Callie giggled as Mark pulled into one of the coffee shop’s parking spaces. “But your knee still worries me.”

“My knee will be fine,” Mark said as he hopped out of the SUV and hurried to open Callie’s door as she unbuckled her seatbelt. He opened the door and continued, “It is feeling better already. I stepped a little wrong on it, that’s all. Stop worrying about me. I am a big boy and can take care of myself.”

“I never said you can’t take care of yourself,” Callie said as she slid from her seat and moved so he could close the door. “All I said is that your knee hurting worries me. If you couldn’t take care of yourself, you wouldn’t be doing as well as you are for yourself.”

Mark took her hand as they walked inside the coffee shop. Jay met Callie with a bright smile and waved to her excitedly.

“An extra-large mocha latte with extra chocolate and whipped cream, right?” Jay asked as she pointed to Callie.

“That’s right. I would also like a loaded brownie and a chocolate chip cookie,” Callie said.

“Got it!” Jay nodded before turning to Mark. “And what would you like, Mr. Palmer?”

“I’ll have the same thing as Callie,” Mark said. “I have heard about those loaded brownies, and I’m dying to try one. And can we keep an open tap until we are ready to leave? I know that isn’t the usual thing here, but we might need seconds or thirds of the brownies.”

“Sure thing. If you leave without paying, it will give me a good excuse to go to the lodge and collect the bill,” Jay giggled. “I’m not exactly an impartial observer when the brownies are involved, but they are the best things ever,” Jay said as she hurried to make the coffee and serve their treats. She placed their cups on the counter and said, “Taste the coffee and let me know if you want any changes.”

Mark and Callie took their cups and tasted the brew. They moaned in unison as they enjoyed the coffee.

Callie gave a thumbs up as Mark said, “Now I know why Callie drinks this. It’s delicious. Thank you, Jay.”

“You’re welcome,” Jay said as she gave them their plates. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

“Actually, I do,” Callie said. “Is Bonnie here?”

“She’s not. She will be in a little later,” Jay told her.

Callie sighed and said, “That’s OK. All I needed to do was tell her I don’t need a job here after all. Mark hired me as a hostess until I am hired to teach at the start of the new school year.”

“That’s fantastic! Bonnie will be thrilled, too!” Jay cheered. “I’m so happy for you! You seemed so down when you came in yesterday and left your resume with us. No one should be sad this time of year.”

“Yesterday was a bad day,” Callie admitted. “I was in my head far more than I should have been. It took having lunch with my mom, daughter, and Mark to pull me out of it.”

“And the hours of watching your brother decorate your parents’ house with pink and purple decorations while your daughter directed him helped,” Mark chuckled.

Jay laughed, “Oh, that sounds fun to watch.”

“It was hilarious,” Mark said as he pulled out his phone and opened a video. He turned it toward Jay and said, “Have a look.”

Jay began laughing as soon as the video started playing. It showed a man with red hair wrapped in strands of tinsel rope and twinkle lights, and a little girl with dark hair gave instructions on where to hang Christmas tree ornaments.

“Oh, that is precious. He’s a good uncle to do that,” Jay said as she waved to someone who entered the coffee shop.

“Jimmy is a great uncle,” Callie said as she and Mark moved to a table to enjoy their snack and coffee.

Mark and Callie talked and laughed for some time as they ate sweets and sipped their coffee. Mark looked at his watch and sighed. He stuck his bottom lip out as he looked at Callie.

“We need to continue with our excursion, don’t we?” Callie grinned as she drank the last of her coffee.

“We do,” Mark said.

Jay came to their table carrying two coffee cups and a small paper bag. “I thought you could use these as you continue to buy out the store today,” Jay chuckled. “And today is on me. Consider it my gift to you to celebrate the good news of finding a job.”

“Thank you, but you don’t need to do that,” Callie said.

“I know I don’t need to do it. I want to do it,” Jay said. “Don’t argue because I have already rung up the bill and paid for it.”

“Thank you, Jay,” Mark said as he and Callie got to their feet. Mark pulled his wallet out of his pocket and removed two one-hundred-dollar bills. He smiled as he folded them and put them in the tip jar beside the register. “Don’t argue. Once it goes in the jar, it can’t come out.”

Jay shook her head at him and said, “That is cheating.”

“Merry Christmas, Jay,” Mark chuckled as he and Callie left the coffee shop.

“That was sweet of you,” Callie said after they were in his vehicle.

“It’s Christmas. Everyone deserves a gift during the holidays. Isn’t that part of what the season is about? Showing love, kindness, and generosity toward others?” Mark shrugged as he pulled onto the street. “Are you ready to hit the next thrift store? They expanded over the summer and took over the space next door. They have some good stuff. Unfortunately, they also have some really bad stuff. I mean, it is just horrible. But the upside is, some of the stuff is so bad that it is good.”

“Sounds like my kind of place,” Callie laughed. “When we’re done there, do you think we could have lunch at the lodge like you mentioned? Pasta, breadsticks, and salad sound like the perfect thing today, especially after all the sweets.”

“You got it, and it should be perfectly timed to miss the lunch rush. Kenny is working today. He can sit and talk with you about what the hostess job entails. He fills in once in a while and knows the ropes almost as well as Maggie.”

“That’s even better.”

“And after we are done, you can go over to the lodge store and pick out the shoes you need,” Mark grinned.

Callie shook her head and said, “Yup. I knew it. You are trying to spoil me.”

“Of course I am,” Mark said as he parked at the thrift store. “It’s easy, fun, and since you like thrift stores, it’s also cheap. Why wouldn’t I try to spoil you?”

“I don’t know, but when I think of a reason, I will let you know.”

Mark smirked, “I’m sure you will. Come on. Let’s get inside where it’s warm. You still have a lot of shopping to do.”

“Don’t remind me,” Callie groaned as they hurried inside the store.

-

Claire had been in a foul mood since the day before. He could not stop thinking about how Mark had scolded her in front of that woman, Callie. Claire had gone home and dug her high school yearbook out of the basement. She had not remembered Callie until she saw her picture in the yearbook. She recognized her as the younger sister of Jimmy Hawkins, one of the stars of the football team. Callie was always hanging around him and Mark like a lovesick puppy. She was doing the same thing now, and Mark still didn’t see it.

“Hey, Claire,” Kenny said as he entered the kitchen. “Mark just texted me to let you know he will need an endless pasta bowl with salad and breadsticks. He is shopping and will be here to eat in a couple of hours. There’s no rush. He just wanted to give you a heads-up.”

“Yeah. Whatever,” Claire spat as she scowled at Kenny.

“Look, I don’t know what bee crawled in your bonnet, but as a warning, if Mark sees you acting like this, you might not be here for very long,” Kenny warned her.

“Do you really think I don’t know how to play nice when the boss is here,” Claire scoffed. “That is one of the first things I learned when I became a chef. Mark won’t know anything I don’t want him to know unless someone tells him.”

“I don’t plan on telling him anything, but I will not stand back and let you take whatever frustrations you have out on people who don’t deserve it. And before you start threatening me and my job, I’m not worried about it. I have been here far longer than you and proven myself and my word,” Kenny said as he folded his arms over his chest.

Claire huffed before whirling around and going back to her workstation. Kenny sighed as he picked up a plate and took it to the dining room. He knew this was only the beginning when it came to Claire. Kenny hoped that it would end quickly and that there would not be any collateral damage during the process.