Chapter 22

Business continued to bomb and by early next week, I was totally exhausted. There was no way I could continue to be a cook, dessert chef, and landlady for a going concern like a clogged pipe. Besides, Ms. McHugh could only cover for the morning shift. Now, the deli was making more than enough money to spring for another staff member, especially since I was working for nothing more than tips and glory.

The Help Wanted sign spent about forty-five minutes in our window before I had to interview my first applicant. Guess who?

"I love what you've done with the place," Clarice raved. "Do you know that the whole neighborhoods have been known to turn on one or two little renovations like this?"

"Do you have any restaurant experience?" I asked, figuring I would go through the m