Hackneys — Chapter 17 (part four)

New Beginnings Soup and fresh sourdough bread

“Coffee,” a woman said.

Automatically, Niti poured a cup of coffee and gave it to the woman.

“Perfect,” the woman said. “I’m Alex. Alex Hargreaves. John’s wife. Samantha’s sister.”

“Thank you for helping us,” Niti said.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Alex said. She winked, and Niti grinned. “Thanks for bringing Saoirse home. We can really use her.”

“She’s excited,” Niti said.

“Will you be okay if she has to travel?” Alex asked. “We’re often gone for weeks at a time. We travel over 50% of the time.”

“We’ll be fine,” Niti said. “John!”

Dr. John Drayson shook Niti’s hand. He touched his wife’s shoulder, and they went to a booth where their children were waiting.

Leena Carmichael and Vince Hutchins came into the restaurant. They had been friends of Sue’s biological mother, Bevin, when she was pregnant with Sue. This is how they were honorary Ginger Brigade. They took a table together with their families.

In a few minutes, the entire restaurant filled with soldiers and their families.

“Look! It’s my new team!” Saoirse said, coming out from the back. “They came to meet you guys.”

Niti put his arm around her. Holding a water pitcher, Sue was laughing, talking, and pouring water for them.

“Makes me feel special,” Saoirse said.

“You are special,” Niti said.

She grinned at him and went to greet her new teammates. Niti watched while she was introduced to partners and children. When she turned back to him, she was beaming.

“Dad?” Sue asked.

Niti jerked back to reality. Kelly and Samantha Hargreaves had come into the restaurant to hang out with Saoirse.

“You have to cook,” Sue said. “We’re needed to manage the floor.”

“Got it,” Niti said.

“Tickets,” Sue said before hooking the tickets, one at a time, onto the ticket wheel.

Guillermo came up behind her. He reached over and put his tickets up.

“Do you need help?” Guillermo asked.

“I’ve got this,” Niti said. “Let me know if you guys need help.”

Niti got to work. When he looked up again, Saoirse was sitting with Kelly and Samantha. The women were eating ginger pancakes and laughing.

They ran out of soup, again, and decided to substitute this soup for “Hidden Lentil Soup,” which they had frozen.

“Hey,” said Louis Montonabee as he sat down at the counter. “Busy.”

Louis Montonabee was Niti’s cousin. He’d been key in bringing Delores, Niti’s mother, to Denver. They’d met when Louis was a resident at a local hospital. He’d finished his training and taken a job at the large Level I trauma center at UC Health.

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!