Chapter 5: The New Job

Rowan turned down the main street of Anaconda, Montana. Unimaginatively, the name of the street was Main Street. But Rowan wasn’t going to fault them for that at the moment.

She vaguely remembered seeing this street last night when she made it into town. It had been completely dark by then and had nothing more of the impression of the buildings. But now, she looked around marveled at how quaint and beautiful the town was.

It seemed that the markets, drug stores, a post office, a few bars, and several galleries were the main attractions. This town was the quintessential small town that everything pictured when they heard the words “small-town life”.

Rowan was almost out of town when she found the restaurant that she assumed Fyn had talked about. It was a small wood and brick building with a large sign declaring it “Glen’s Burgers and Grill: Bar and Food”.

“This must be it,” Rowan said to herself as she pulled into a parking spot at the front of the restaurant.

She checked the mirror one last time, wanting to make a good impression on her new boss, she hoped. She was thankful that the water heater had kicked on the minute the electricity came on. The hot shower she had taken had felt so good she didn’t think she would ever get out of it. She didn’t even mind the few leaks in the pipe that went up to the showerhead. All that mattered was she was warm and clean. It was a good start for a good impression.

The restaurant didn’t seem that busy until she walked inside. Every booth and most of the stools at the counter were filled. There was a lady behind the bar filling coffee cups and taking orders and a man in the back flipping food in and out as fast as he could. Occasionally, he would shout to Glenna, who seemed to be the woman behind the counter, and she would grab the plate he had just finished then serve the food.

Rowan summoned her bright, friendly smile then walked up to Glenna.

“Hi! I’m Rowan, and I heard that you might be hiring!”

Glenna looked up from the cup she was refilling and looked Rowan up and down. “YOU want to be a waitress?”

Rowan mentally rolled her eyes. “Well, I need a job, and if that’s the one you’re hiring for, then I am applying for it.”

Glenna put her coffee pot back in its holder then turned back to Rowan. She continued to assess Rowan as she dried her hands on a towel. Rowan could tell that Glenna was not exactly impressed by her. But she kept her bright smile in place, trying to stay positive.

“Do you have any experience?” Glenna asked.

Rowan’s smile finally dipped. “No. But I’m a hard worker and a fast learner. And people like me.”

Glenna’s hard-nosed look melted a bit. “Oh, honey. I have no doubt people like you. You seem sweet. But I don’t have a lot of time to train someone, and I really needed someone I wouldn’t have to hover over.”

“Oh! You don’t! I promise. I can pick it up quickly, and I promise I won’t be a bother,” Rowan swore.

Rowan’s face turned somber as she saw the refusal begin to show on Glenna’s face. She had to do something to get her to change Glenna’s mind. Rowan couldn’t risk hearing a no right now. She was on her last few dollars, and that house was going to need a lot of money if it was going to be livable. Not to mention the millions of things she probably hadn’t realized she needed yet.

“Glenna,” Rowan began. “Look, I really need this job. I have nothing left to my name right now. Please, I’ll do anything you want. You need someone to wait tables? I’ll do it. You need someone to cook? I’ll do it. Even if it’s just to scrub the floors and clean the toilets. I’ll do it. I just really need this job.”

Glenna sighed, then nodded. “Alright, we’ll give you a shot and see how it goes. Can you start today?”

“Today?” Rowan asked in shock.

A part of her hadn’t really expected that to work.

“No better way to learn than to hop in the frying pan,” Glenna commented as she grabbed an apron and a writing pad. “The table in the far corner is ready to order.”

Rowan stared at the writing pad for a moment, feeling her mind stutter to a stop now that she was faced with something she had never even considered doing. Glenna pushed me towards the booth.

“Just go ask what they want,” Glenna told her gently. “It’ll be okay.”

It’ll be okay. Rowan repeated those words to herself. Just go talk to them. She lifted her chin and marched over to the booth, then took her first order ever.

Rowan was deep in orders and learning her job when the bell over the door rang for the millionth time. She was too busy trying to figure out where she had gone wrong in her orders to even bother looking up. In the background, she could hear Glenna greet the newcomer, but Rowan still didn’t look up.

“How’s the new job?”

Rowan stilled as her mind recognized that voice. She was suddenly bombarded with his scent that seemed to overpower the smell coming from the fryer. Dark, rich, masculine, forest, and water. All mixed into one heady aphrodisiac that made her heart start pounding immediately.

Slowly, Rowan looked into the green eyes that had been in the back of her mind all day. That crooked, little half-smile was back on his face, and he was waiting for something. For an answer to the question, he had asked.

“How’s the job going?” Rowan repeated, having an even harder time focusing now that he was right next to her with only a short bar between them.

“Mine is fine,” Fyn quipped with a wink. “How’s yours?”

Rowan flushed and dropped her gaze a moment. “It’s fine. I’m still trying to get the hang of it.”

Fyn patted her hand soothingly. “You’ll get it. Don’t beat yourself up. Most people don’t understand how hard it is to wait tables.”

His words actually did soothe Rowan's nerves a bit, and she was able to return his smile. “Thanks, Fyn. What can I get you?”

“Fyn!” a young voice cried in joy.

They both turned to find a young boy running up and throwing himself at Fyn. Fyn caught the kid easily and gave him a hug. He ruffled the little boy's hair affectionately as he set him on a stool.

“Hey, kiddo. How ya doing? Already out of school for the day?” Fyn asked him.

The kid nodded, then threw his backpack on the table. “Yeah! And I got this cool book with prehistoric animals! They gotta dire wolf almost as big as the one that lives around here!”

Fyn laughed, though it sounded a little forced to Rowan’s ears. “That big, huh? Well, why don’t you join me for lunch, and we’ll take a look at them!”

“I’ll be over in a minute to grab your order!” Rowan told them as they started to walk towards a booth.

Fyn threw a smile and a quick thanks over his shoulder. He returned his attention to the little boy as he rambled on about wolves.

“No need!” Glenna chimed in from behind Rowan. “I know Fyn’s order by heart. I’ll get it set up and take it to them.”

Rowan glanced over at her and couldn’t help noticing the look of sheer adoration on Glenna’s face as she looked over at Fyn. Glenna was absolutely in love with Fyn, and a warning bell went off in Rowan’s head. She never even thought to ask Fyn if he was married or seeing anyone. Now, seeing how Glenna looked at him, Rowan felt like a fool.