Hackneys — Chapter 19 (part three)

Addictive pancakes

“Orders up!” Niti said.

Sue and Guillermo grabbed the plates and started passing out food to Sue’s friends. Sue and Guillermo made a tour around the restaurant and ended up at the U-counter.

“Do you need vegetables?” Sue asked.

“Sure,” Niti said. “I made minestrone tonight from our frozen chopped veg. I’ll need more when we run out.”

“Does it look like we’ll run out?” Sue asked.

“We have every night this week,” Niti said. “You were right about the sourdough bread.”

Sue smiled and did a little cheer. Niti laughed.

“What do you need?” Guillermo asked Niti. Turning to Sue, he asked, “Why are you celebrating?”

“I was right!” Sue said.

“About what?” Guillermo asked.

“Sourdough bread,” Sue said.

“Um,” Guillermo said. “Duh.”

They laughed.

“Okay, I need chopped zucchini, carrots, onions, potatoes, and celery,” Niti said. “I wasn’t able to get tomatoes, so we’re using canned tonight.”

Sue nodded. She went to get her Chef’s knife. Guillermo came around and got his Chef’s knife. The two of them started chopping vegetables for a midnight refresh of their daily soup. Sue and Guillermo began chatting about the movie.

“Hey,” a woman’s voice said. “Sue.”

Sue stood up. She smoothed out her apron and went around the small wall to the counter.

“Samantha!” Sue said. “Dad! It’s Samantha!”

Niti looked up and waved at Samantha. She was wearing her “uniform” — a grossly expensive designer dress, four-inch heels, and her long red hair up in a French knot. Guillermo stood up.

“Thanks for calling, Guillermo,” Samantha said. “Would you mind if I spoke with Sue for a moment?”

“Do you need me too?” Niti asked.

“Not right now, but maybe,” Samantha said. “I may need all of you.”

“Pancakes?” Niti asked. “Bacon?”

“You know me well,” Samantha said. “No coffee. I need to sleep.”

“Got it,” Niti said.

Sue went around the small wall.

“Would you mind clearing my tables too?” Sue asked.

“Not a problem,” Guillermo said.

“Thanks,” Sue said.

Sue went out to where Samantha was standing. Samantha gave Sue a fond look that Sue knew meant that Samantha was remembering her biological mother. Sue crossed her eyes and pursed her lips. Samantha chuckled. Samantha was the creator and head of the Ginger Brigade.

“Sorry,” Samantha said. “I know it drives you crazy, but every single day, you look more and more like your mom.”

“I’m lucky that she wasn’t butt ugly,” Sue said.

Samantha smiled. They hugged. Sue guided Samantha to a quiet booth near the bathrooms.

“What’s going on?” Sue asked.

“Did your dad tell you that the opposing counsel showed up here tonight?” Samantha asked.

Sue nodded.

“He told him what you said to say,” Sue said. “‘He doesn’t have anything to do with me.’”

“Nice,” Samantha said.

“You know how my dad is,” Sue said. “We’ve practiced. A lot.”

“I like that about your dad,” Samantha said.

Sue smiled.

“I’m kind of afraid to ask, but what’s going on?” Sue asked.

Samantha nodded. Guillermo dropped off her pancakes, fried over easy eggs, and bacon. He returned to fill her and Sue’s water glasses.

You’ve been reading Hackneys. This serial fiction (the first 14 chapters) was one of the top 10 serials at Kindle Vella. Now that Kindle Vella has closed, we thought we’d continue the serial here at Medium — Monday, Wednesday, and Friday — two chapters a month. Enjoy!