The Devine Doughnut Shop(5)

Grace’s face went into what Sarah called her “mama bear” expression and got worse with every second. “I shouldn’t hate anyone, but I’m coming real close to that point with both of those girls and their mothers.”

Her hands knotted into fists, and Sarah was glad that Carlita and Lisa had left the shop, or she might have been bailing her sister out of jail that afternoon.

“She has to accept responsibility, but it sure don’t make it easy on me,” Grace said through gritted teeth.

“I understand, and that just about blows holes in what little righteousness I have, too,” Macy said. “We all love her so much that it’s hard not to feel sorry for her.”

“What kind of advice would Mama be giving all of us right about now?” Grace asked. “I could sure use some of her wisdom to help me get control of my temper.”

“She would tell me to have a beautiful wedding and wonderful life with Neal.” Macy tucked an errant strand of her red hair up under her net. “She would tell you”—she pointed at Grace—“to be tough and make Audrey accountable.” Her blue eyes twinkled again as she glanced over at Sarah. “And she would tell you to settle down, stop hitting the bars until they shut down on Saturday nights, and to be a better example to your niece.”

“Two out of three ain’t bad.” Sarah picked up the last two trays. “And maybe I will settle down someday soon.” She bypassed the opportunity to tell them about the man she’d been seeing for a few months. She wanted meeting him on Sunday to be a surprise. “I see our old guys parking their truck.”

“Dependable old Frankie, Ira, and Claud,” Grace said as she shed her apron and picked the keys off the rack beside the kitchen door. “They must have been at a cattle sale, or they would have been here when the doors opened this morning.”

Macy hung her apron beside Grace’s and crossed the kitchen floor. “I was seventeen when they retired and started coming in for breakfast every morning, so it’s been fifteen years. I’ll make a fresh pot of coffee for them.”

Audrey had just finished waiting on a family of six, who had pushed two of the tables together and were having doughnuts and milk. She gave her mother the old stink eye and started toward the kitchen.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Grace asked. “You and I are going to stay up here in the front and wait on customers until noon.”

“Do I have to wear this thing on my head?” Audrey’s tone dripped icicles.

“Today you do because your hair looks like a rat’s nest. Tomorrow, if you brush it out good and wear it up, you can take the net off, but if you’re needed in the back to work on making doughnuts, then the net goes back on,” Grace answered.

“What if my friends come in?” Audrey whined.

“If any of your friends come into the shop, then they’ll see you with a net on your hair—unless you have a brush in your purse. If that’s the case, then you can go to the bathroom and pull it up into a bun on top of your head, but make sure all the hair is tucked in tight,” Grace answered. “I see more customers coming this way, so you better hurry.”

Audrey dashed through the door leading into the kitchen, and Grace bit back a smile.

“Not funny,” Sarah teased as she arranged the white coffee cups with the Devine Doughnuts logo on a tray.

“It is a little bit,” Grace said. “I’m remembering when you had to work one whole summer to pay Mama back for the damage you did to the car when you snuck out and wrecked it on a back road.”

Sarah filled three cups and put them on a tray. “I hated that summer almost as bad as Audrey does having to work through her spring break.”

Grace nodded. “Maybe she’ll think twice before she does something stupid like this again. Did she tell you who she was covering for?”

Sarah shook her head. “Nope. She swears she’s not a rat, but we both know it’s Crystal and Kelsey. But never fear—they have been banned from ever being her friend again.”

“Those girls are nightmares in my Sunday school class,” Macy said. “I can’t imagine them listening to anything their parents say.”

A teenage girl opened the door and glanced around the room as if she were lost or in trouble. She looked like she could break into tears any minute, and her hands were trembling.

“Who do I talk to about applying for a job?” she asked.

Sarah motioned for her to come inside. “Raelene, it’s been a while since we’ve seen you.”

“Yes, it has, but . . .” She scanned the room. “But Audrey and I . . . ,” she stammered. “We kind of aren’t friends anymore, but I’m in trouble and I need a job, and I was hoping that you might need help. A job here would mean I could work in the mornings on a work permit from school and still finish up my classes in the afternoons so I can graduate.” She finally stopped for a breath.

“I’m sorry to hear that you’re in trouble. We don’t need help, but is there something else we can do to help you out?” Grace asked from behind the counter.

“I’ll do anything you want. I can clean or wash dishes . . .” Tears began to flow down her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have bothered you.” She turned and started out of the store just as the three old guys pushed their way inside.