Storm Chaser: Chapter 14

Chapter 14

‘Breathing is the easy part,’ Elena thought to herself as the new staff of Nibbles filed in. There weren’t that many of them and she had interviewed each. She smiled at them and realized that her employee count had just doubled. Sitting shyly a little off to the side was Duncan. He was TJ’s cousin’s child and was still in high school. While Andre had designed the website and would supervise the posting of new items Duncan would put in some part time hours making sure the internet orders were filled and answering whatever questions came across the comments line in a timely manner. Duncan had helped out in the stock room a time or two and Elena smiled at him. Andre was also working on a similar site for the imports store. Elena took a deep breath. ‘Just remember to use the new names and we will be fine,’ she told herself.

“Welcome,” she said and the small talk died down and people took their seats. Elena felt like a teacher. It was an odd feeling and in his chair off to the side she saw Andre’s lips quirk up in a half smile. His shoes she noticed were still tucked away under the table, his feet still clad only in socks. “Before we get started with the general orientation and layout of the store we figured it would be a good idea to let you taste some of the products you will be working with,” She indicated first Roger and then the food. “Why don’t we start with the drinks?” Roger moved to the side and mixed the first of the mixers with the fizzy water. Elena smiled, realizing he had chosen the daask first.

“We are starting with something called Starlight,” she began. While both today and for the in house testing it is being mixed with Pellegrino it can also be added to more alcoholic contents. A drop or two of Starlight actually works very well in champagne.” The small knot of tension that had tied up her innards began to relax as the group tasted the daask with no noticeable qualms.

“Seems like it would go better with dry champagne rather than sweet,” commented Faith, a petite woman with a twist of blonde hair tied back from her face.

“I agree,” Elena said with a smile. “It is slightly sweet in itself. That is a good thing to remember.” They moved through the drinks and into the food, comments and questions flowing more freely as everyone became more accustomed to the atmosphere.

“Yes the allergy warnings are placed on the bottom of the jar,” Elena said picking up an unopened jar of Garan, officially named Decadence Spread. “As you can see this one contains nuts. The allergy warnings will also be clearly written on the signs by every food we offer during tastings.”

“It is kind of like vegetarian pate,” George commented nibbling a small roundel of bread liberally smeared with the stuff. Elena nodded.

“Good point. It is labeled as no animal products or by-products on the label as well. I like the vegetarian pate line though.” The tasting went smoothly and when it was concluded, with the lids put back on jars and the used plates and cups tied up in a trash bag, the tour went downstairs. Elena turned this part over to Roger and merely followed along at the back. Occasionally a comment was needed by her but for the most part she just coasted. Roger had this part well in hand. He covered the store layout, ran them through daily operations and concluded with the posted schedule in the break room. Elena was impressed with the ease he displayed as she remembered opening the imports store. It had been her, Max and TJ at the start. Her introduction to the store had been anything but smooth. She smiled a little. ‘Thank god they took pity on me,’ she thought.

She was only five months out of the guild and all her knowledge of retail came from either the supplier’s side or out of books with titles like ‘So you want to own your own business’. The books of course made the idea of opening one’s own business sound like a monumentally insane idea. She had been nearly scared out of her wits at the possibility of failure. Elena knew she couldn’t go back to the guild and a shadow life lurking around the edges was not a fate she wanted to contemplate. Calabrese Imports was the only thing she could think of that combined her past into something she could use in the future.

Elena thought about the other grounded pilots. Like her they had grown up in the guild and had little connection to the world outside it. Taking orders from a captain was one thing. Working a regular job was quite another. Most of the grounded pilots had a really hard time making the transition and came back to live on the edges of their families, doing what ever work they could. For most of them it was not a good life. ‘Even if they don’t have to deal with the likes of Therese,’ Elena thought wryly.

The Calling most often affected the best of the guild’s pilots. The record holders, the stars of their world. It was a long way to fall and there were always those who enjoyed adding bumps to the trip down. ‘If we can use The Calling,’ she thought. ‘That could change.’ The orientation wound to a close and everyone left. As they went their separate ways, Elena could see the excitement on a few of the faces. The point that they were to be a part of something new had been made. ‘It will dull as the work load becomes routine,’ she thought. ‘But it is a good way to start. Too bad they don’t know how big a part of something new they are really involved in.’

“Thanks Roger,” she said. “That was great. I’ve never been good at the orientation end of things. I always manage to leave things out.” As Roger went around turning off lights and closing things down Elena slipped back through the door connecting the back rooms of Nibbles with the imports store. She caught Max in the process of unpacking a new shipment. Small wooden sculptures gleamed as he unearthed them from the packing.

“Trey Jung,” she commented recognizing the artists work. Max looked up.

“Yup new shipment,” he straightened up. “So how did the orientation go?”

“Since I didn’t run it, the orientation went very well.” Max grinned at her.

“Well that is probably for the best.”

“Uh huh,” she commented. “There are left over samples in the upstairs conference room if anyone is interested. I was on my way to let Susan know. After all it would be a shame to let them waste away in Andre’s fridge when we can just bring them down to the break room.”

“Since all he ever eats is take out the change of diet might be helpful.”

“True,” Elena said. “But there is enough to share.” Elena left him to his unpacking and relayed the same message to Susan who would no doubt relay it to the rest of the staff and ensure everyone got to taste. ‘And I don’t have to worry about left over cheese and bread to take home.’ Elena thought of her empty fridge, the left over pizza from the night before having been consumed for breakfast. ‘Perhaps I need to get actual groceries today.’ Elena glanced at her watch and realized thoughts of normal errands would have to take a back seat if she were to make her meeting with the famed crazy chef Consuelo McCracken. Something told her being late would not be the brightest of ideas. Elena returned to the conference room and grabbed her coat from the rack. Through the open door she could see Andre sketching at his desk. He looked up as she stacked the left over samples and such into the box that Roger used to bring them up.

“You survive?” Andre called.

“Yeah,” she replied. “No mix-ups on my part. I’m going to drop these off in the break room should you want any of them.” Andre nodded.

“Do you have lunch plans?” he asked.

“Of a sort.” She replied. “I’m meeting Consuelo McCracken so it’s a bit of a drive. I’ll probably grab something on the way.”

“Good luck,” he said. Elena zipped her coat and Andre went back to his drawing. On her way out Elena dropped the box in the break room and left TJ to unpack. If she left now she would actually be a few minutes early. For the millionth time she wondered why the chef had chosen a meeting place two hours away. “Perhaps she just likes to be near the docks,” Elena muttered as she cut across the store. She was almost to the door when she heard her name. ‘Should have known better,’ Elena thought. She turned with a pleasant smile on her face. Gracie Edwards smiled back.

“We’ve been hearing all sorts of buzz about Nibbles,” she began. Elena belatedly remembered the earlier warning from the staff. Behind Mrs. Edwards she could see Max shaking his head as he arranged the newly arrived statues.

“That was the plan,” Elena said. “I do hope we’ll see you at the grand opening this Saturday,” Elena said. “You did get your invitation? We made sure to send them out to all of our best customers.” Elena smiled.

“Why yes of course,” she said. “And I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Elena sensed a but coming and decided she didn’t really have the time to negotiate a denial of a sneak peek.

“I am so glad. And hopefully we will be able to chat then. I’m dying to know what your mother-in-law thought about the armoire. Unfortunately I am running late for a meeting at the moment so I have to dash.”

“Of course,” the woman said. “I don’t mean to keep you.”

“Great. See you Saturday.” Elena waved her off and strode out the door. ‘Not too bad,’ she told herself as she walked briskly down the street. ‘A bit brusque perhaps.’ Elena felt she would probably be making up for that by listening to what would no doubt be a saga of Gracie Edwards continuing attempts to please the mother-in-law of doom. Elena reached her building and walked behind it to the garage to retrieve her car. Her neighbor Kiera was just pulling in and Elena waved.

“You are back,” Kiera said by way of greeting.

“I am,” Elena responded with a smile. “Will you be around tonight?”

“Yup anytime after about six.” Elena nodded and calculated time in her head.

“I have a meeting that might run late is seven or eight too late to stop by?”

“Nope,” Kiera said. “I’ll be in all night.” Kiera frowned. “Um there were some people looking for you while you were gone.” She paused and dropped her voice to a stage whisper. “Military people.” Elena sighed.

“They had business with some of my family and were hoping I could help since I’m local,” Elena said trying very quickly to come up with an explanation for Smith. “I hope they didn’t bother you.”

“Bother,” Kiera said. “No not really.” She looked relieved by the explanation. She shivered and Elena realized she wasn’t wearing a coat.

“You might want to get inside before you freeze. I’ll catch up later.”

“Of course,” Kiera said. With a smile and a wave she dashed across the distance separating the garage from the back door of the apartment building. Elena got into her car and started the engine. A frown creased her face as she drove out of town. Kiera seemed spooked by the military. “More so than would be typical,” Elena commented to herself. “I wonder if it is because Smith did something or if she has something to hide.” Either way she was going to have to come up with a better story for the military’s continued interest in her before she picked up her mail.