Welcome to Halfmoon
“How many people?” I ask the couple standing in front of me who just walked in to the only nice sit-down restaurant in the town. I just got a job as hostess here at this place called Mae’s.
“Um there’s just the two of us but we will wait.” The kind gentleman replied.
“No, that’s okay. I have one booth left and it has the best view overlooking the river.” I told him.
“Oh no! We couldn’t sit there. That’s the Thomas’ table.” He said worriedly.
“I’m sorry…the who?”
“Are you new here, girl?” The woman that came with him spoke up fraustratingly. “The Thomas’ always sit there and no one else takes that table in case they ever come in.”
“And the Thomas’…are they the owners?” I’m so confused. I saw the table open all night and assumed it was because we weren’t very busy.
“Yeah, the owners!” The man exclaimed. “Of the whole town.” The couple exchanged a laugh.
Do they mean a mayor? I never heard of restaurants saving tables for politicians before but then again I lived up north and things seem to be different down here.
“Very well, the wait will be about 20 minutes for the next table” I explain to them.
They seemed satisfied with my response and sat down in the waiting area without another word. A couple of more hours passed and the restaurant got busier. Waitors bustled to and from the kitchen and the ambience got lively and loud with patrons laughing and enjoying themselves. I was wiping a recently cleared table when suddenly I felt the hairs on my neck and arms stand up and a chill went down my spine. The front door rushed open and a cool breeze wafted in the surrounding stifling air. As soon as the strangers entered, the crowd grew quiet.
I looked up to greet the new patrons and froze at the demenor of the three guests that walked in. They strode inside confidently and walked past the hostess stand without a look or word to me.
“Excuse me, are you here to meet someone?” I asked the three. One was an older gentleman with salt and pepper slicked back hair and golden eyes. A younger version of him, I assumed his son, stood beside him. And behind the young man’s tall muscular frame was a girl around my age with bleach blonde hair and narrowed blue eyes.
The older man ignores me completely and walked to the back of the restaurant and sat at the table that had been open all night. The younger man looked me up and down before scowling and following him. The girl stalked up to me and got close in my face saying “you better watch yourself, loser”. She then turned her cold shoulder and also went to the table and wrapped her hand around the young man’s arm gushing all the while at him.
For some reason the second she touched his arm all I saw was red. I immediately stomped over there. I probably looked like I was throwing a tantrum but for some reason I could not control these new feelings.
“Excuse me! Did you have a reservation?” I looked right into the young man’s golden orbs. He had beautiful long black lashes, full lips, and jet black hair that shined way more than it should styled in a messy but sophisticated way. He had a strong angular jaw with a shadow of a neat beard and a scar that cut across his right eywbrow. He was wearing a black shirt with a V cut which showed off his strong golden chest.
He looked right back at me and smirked. I blushed at the panty dropping sight before me. A loud bang sounded as the older man hit the table with his fist. “Who do you think you are!!” He yelled.
“Sir! I’m so sorry she is new! She just moved here two days ago.” The owner of the restaurant, Mae, said as she rushed to my side.
“See that our food is prepared and a bottle of burbon be brought out quickly, Mae.” The man she referred to as sir said in a commanding tone.
“Yes sir right away, my apologies” she replied meekly as she held my forearm in a tight grip. She hauled me back to the front of the store. I looked back and caught the hot young man staring at my ass. Ugh, what a pig, I thought.
“Grace, go take the rest of the night off. I need to smooth this over. I’ll ring your Aunt’s place tomorrow to discuss this” she told me.
“Okay. I’m sorry if I caused trouble. I was only trying to do my job.” I feel bad at how they spoke to Mae but honestly I still had anger built inside at the audacity of that crew.
Mae waved me off and scurried to the bar to fetch the bourbon that smartass demanded. With a huff, I walked out the door and began making my way home. All the while I could not stop imagining myself dining with that handsome young man with my arm wrapped around him instead of that blonde bimbo’s.
