Chapter Five
The walking basslines of ska waft from the restaurant’s speakers and help set the pace as we work through the morning rush. My headache from earlier, the fight I had with Mom, and thoughts of Christopher, all fade as I give in to the rhythm of prep work.
I’ve lost track of time when Cassie, the daughter of one of my mom’s friends, pops her head in the kitchen to tell me Simone has arrived. Cassie started working for us the summer before her senior year in high school. Now she’s a sophomore at Pointe Hill College, and since I’ve been back, she’s been indispensable in helping me get back up to speed at the restaurant.
I glance up at the clock. “Shoot,” I say, “she’s early.”
“Did you get a chance to try out the braised jerked wings recipe I told you about?” Cassie asks as I p
