The Inside Edge: Chapter Ten

Two days later, her feet taking her at a quick clip down the back stairs of The Fitz restaurant and into the hallway leading to the bar, Brianne took a moment to survey the room. Most of the cocktail tables were full for happy hour. A sprinkling of laugher and the buzz of televisions intermixed easily together.  

            Smiling absently as she crossed from the bar and into the dining room, she watched one of a new server greeting a table.

            “I think she’s going to be good.”

            Turning her head at the sound of Shana, who Brianne had come to realize moved so stealthily that hardly anybody ever noticed her arrival until she announced herself, nodded slightly. Shifting her eyes back to the young server she’d been observing moments before, Brianne inclined her head. “Yeah, I agree.”

            “It’s her first day off training and she managed the lunch rush well.”

            “I noticed,” Brianne murmured. Smiling gently, she reached up and touched Shana lightly on the arm. “Good hire.”

            Because Brianne knew that was why Shana was bringing the point home so hard, trying perhaps a bit desperately to show Brianne what a solid employee Kristy would prove to be to The Fitz. It was the first time since Brianne had taken over as the General Manager that the restaurant had found themselves in need of a new employee. When she’d offered to let Shana conduct the interviews (with Brianne sitting in attendance, admittedly, but only as a silent participant), Shana had been both thrilled and nervous. But more than that, Brianne had known that Shana had taken it as a point of pride.

            Ducking her head now, Shana bit back a smile. “Thank you.”

            “I knew I could trust you,” Brianne told her quietly. Because she had known she could trust Shana and because she was also perhaps a bit desperate—desperate to heal the hurt she could still sense lived inside Shana at being passed over for the position of General Manager.

            Sometimes teamwork meant bending the rules just a bit.

            Sometimes it meant standing back so someone else could step forward.  

            Shifting slightly, Brianne offered Shana one last smile before heading toward the kitchen. Letting her eyes rake over the service counter in the back, she nodded at the clean stainless-steel counters, the perfectly stocked fridge loaded down with dinner salads and pre-portioned sides of ranch and bleu cheese…

            “Looks like you guys are all set for tonight,” Brianne called out to Davy, the executive chef as she closed the fridge door and went to stand beside the cooking line.

            Davy spared her a lopsided grin. “Gotta be for Tuesday!” On Tuesday evenings, The Fitz offered a special on a pint of beer and a medium size pizza. It drew mass crowds.

            “Well, don’t let me keep you. I’m just doing a last turn before I head out for the evening. Need anything before I go?”
            “Just that winning smile.”

            Brianne didn’t disappoint him.

            Minutes later, back in her office once more and leaning over her computer, her fingers flying quickly over the keyboard as she punched in a few last numbers, one foot tapping impatiently against the hardwood floor, Brianne just managed to keep from checking the clock on the wall.

            She needed to hurry up if she was going to—

            “Someone’s certainly in a better mood today.”

            Spinning around, Brianne found herself staring up at Shana’s amused face in the doorway. “Huh?”
            “Must have had a good couple of days off, huh?”
            “Geez, Shana!” Turning her head back to the computer, Brianne muttered under her breath: “And really, how are you so silent? I mean, do even the doors stop squeaking when they feel your hand on the knob?”

            Shana giggled. “And you seem in an awful hurry today.”

            Brianne shrugged. “It’s the end of my shift.”

            “Yeah, but usually we have to all but push you out of the door.” Shana leaned comfortably against the doorjamb. “Especially on Tuesdays.”

            Saving the document on her screen, Brianne exited out of the program before pushing herself up to her full height. Turning fully toward Shana, she shrugged again. “Yeah, well…”

            “Yeah, well?”
            Brianne narrowed her eyes. “You’re awfully curious.”

            “Only because you’re awfully mysterious. What gives?” Shana wiggled her eyebrows outrageously. “Got a hot date?”

            Brianne barked out a laugh even as the image of Mitch floated momentarily in her head. “As if.”

            “Then what?”
            Realizing that she wasn’t going to get out of this without telling all, Brianne lowered her gaze. “It’s really not that interesting.”

            “I might just disagree.”

            “You remember that team of hockey players that came in here the other night?”

            “How could I forget?”
            “Well…they have a game tonight and they, um, they asked me to go to it.” At the words, Brianne looked up at the antiqued clock on the wall of their shared office. “And if I don’t leave here soon, I’ll be late.”

            “I was right. I do disagree. Seems like a fun way to spend an evening.”

            Brianne swallowed back a rise of embarrassment. “Hardly as exciting as a hot date though.”

            “More interesting then my night. I’m going home to watch TV.”

            Brianne wasn’t sure how to respond to that so she lifted one shoulder awkwardly. “Well…”

            “Unless, that is, you’d like to take a hot date to the game tonight?”

            Brianne blinked. Lifting her eyes carefully up to her coworker, she stilled. While she and Shana had certainly come along way from their initial working relationship, wherein Shana treated Brianne with stilted curtesy, she wasn’t sure she’d call them friends.

            Then again… sometimes, to build a team you had to step out of your comfort zone.

            Sometimes, you had offer (and accept) an invitation to something new.  

            “Yeah,” Brianne heard herself say questioningly. “Yeah, if you want to.”

            Shana smiled easily. “Perfect. When’s the game start?”
            “Six.”

            “At the barn?”
            “You know it?”

            “You forget,” Shana teased her, “I grew up here.”

            “Right. Right. Uh, yes, it’s at the barn.”

            “See you there.”

            Walking out to her car a few moments later, Brianne shook her head bemusedly. She wasn’t sure she relished the idea of trying to engage Shana in conversation for the duration of a hockey game but then again…then again, it was nice not to have to go alone.

***

            If Brianne had worried about finding Shana in the hustle and bustle of the hockey arena before game time, she need not have worried. Waiting just inside the doors, Shana was easy to spot with her large grin and effusive greeting.

            “Hey girl!” Waving excitedly, she galloped up to Brianne. “Right on time!”

            Matching steps easily, Shana grinned girlishly as they walked from the main lobby and into the chilled air of the arena. “Gosh, I haven’t been to a hockey game since high school.” Throwing out a sideline glance to Brianne she clapped her hands together. “I’m actually getting excited!”

            Brianne laughed as she led Shana up the stadium steps. Much as she’d predicted, Danette was sitting in the same area. Without thought, Brianne scooted down the narrow aisle, heading directly toward her. When Danette looked over, Brianne lifted up a hand in greeting.

            “Mind if we sit beside you?”

            Danette nodded toward the vacant spot beside her. “Be my guest.”

            “Hi,” Shana offered once both girls had sat down. Leaning across Brianne, she held out a hand for Danette. “I’m Shana. I’m just tagging along for the night.”

            “Danette. My son plays on the team.”

            “Cool.”

            “Charlie says your learning stick handling now?” Danette asked Brianne.

            Brianne laughed. “Well, if you can call me flailing about stick handling, then yes. I sure am.”

            Danette smiled but Brianne noticed a slight reserve from the last time they’d sat together. A gnawing guilt ate away at her stomach.

            “But really,” Brianne continued, barreling ahead. For some reason, she was determined to wipe that aura of stiffness off the surface of their conversation. It was bizarre really, since she didn’t even know Danette, but Brianne had the unpleasant feeling that she’d hurt the other woman’s feelings. Not by anything she’d done, but by the welcome she’d received. A welcome Danette had clearly never been treated to. “Those boys are so great. And Charlie is an absolute crack-up.”

            Danette smiled. “Yes, he’s a clown.”

            “I was glad to see you sitting here when I walked in,” Brianne blabbed, her voice coming out too fast, her mouth speaking before she could properly formulate a conversational strategy. “It was nice to see a friendly face.”

            Danette nodded. “You can almost always find me here.”

            “Well, I hope you won’t mind when I search you out.”

            Brianne wasn’t sure if it was wishful thinking or not, but she thought Danette’s shoulders loosened just a bit at the words, hoped that her smile was a little less reserved when she turned toward Brianne. “If the spots open, it’s all yours.”

            Brianne nodded. “Good. I’d hate to be a nuisance—”

            No sooner had Brianne uttered the words then a shadow appeared over the women, followed quickly by the sight of a slim petite blonde woman. “Hi,” she said. Standing on the long bench directly below where they were seated, she held out a hand to Brianne. “My name is Crystal. I’m Jake’s mom. Are you Brianne?”
            Brianne nodded. “Uh, yes?”
            “You’re the one the boys are teaching to skate?”

            Out of the corner of her eyes, Brianne caught Shana stifling a giggle.

            “That would be me.”

            “Well, Jake says you’re great.” Crystal turned then to smile at Shana. “You must be here with Brianne?”

            Shana nodded. “Yeah. I’m Shana. We work together.”

            “Well welcome. It’s great to see new fans!” Then without breaking stride, Crystal’s gaze latched onto Brianne again. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but I had to come and introduce myself. We all noticed something different about the team in the last few weeks… We didn’t realize what it was until the coach explained to us the team’s, uh…”
            “Special case project?” Brianne supplied amusedly.

            Crystal laughed. But whatever she was about to say next was cut short by the sound of a man talking into a loudspeaker, announcing the start of the game. “Oh, I better get back to my seat,” Crystal said, nodding toward a group of women and men huddled together a little farther down the way, all of whom were busy staring at Crystal and Brianne. “But listen, I just wanted to come over and say hi and… you know, welcome you to the team. And to the town.” She smiled nicely. “Coach told us that were new in town and…you know, that sometimes it can be hard to be alone in a strange place. Not knowing anyone. So, if you ever want, please know you’re more than invited to sit with us. We’d love to get to know you better.”

            “Thanks,” Brianne said, her lips feeling stiff. It hadn’t gone unnoticed that the woman hadn’t even bothered to acknowledge Danette or vice versa.

            “We can squeeze together and make room for you now if you’d like…”

            Brianne took a deep breath. The lack of tact was almost palpable in the air. “That would be quite a squeeze for three people,” Brianne replied laughingly. Though her words had been subtle, Brianne hoped they’d hit the mark. She wasn’t leaving Danette behind again.

            It seemed they did. Crystal’s gaze skittered quickly over Danette before she nodded. “Well, maybe another time then!” Wiggling her fingers in goodbye, she stepped to the side. “Nice to meet you.”

            Brianne smiled. “Yeah, you too.”

            Crystal smiled at Shana. “You as well!”

            “Same.”

            As Crystal bounded back to her seat then, Brianne found her attention pulled toward the center of the ice as the teams lined up in preparation to the start of the game.

            “Oh, I don’t think you have to worry about being a nuisance.”

            Danette’s words were as quiet as they were bitter and Brianne hadn’t a clue as how to respond. Even Shana lost her ever-present smirk at the bald, biting statement.