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"She said no one has taken her order yet Is Candy back there?"

"It’s for table two"

Frowning, I walk the tray over "Here’s your food"

The wo her hair out of the baby’s fist "No, we haven’t even ordered Can ait, what is that?"

I’ the tray away, but I pause mid-action "I think it’s baked e"

The wo the h the roo And shows you what kind of birthday I’, but this macaroni looks and smells exactly like what my mom used to make us on our birthdays"

"Gra up

The e of the pale yellow dish "This even looks like one of her baking dishes That’s so strange! You knohat, ant this"

"Yeah?" I ask, confused

"Yes If we could get sorab four plates and silverware sets Thesome story about a birthday treasure hunt Everyone has cal, the baby is eating the Cheerios, and the toddler is satisfied with his chocolate er than she did when I walked in here

"Can I get you anything else?"

She gives me a happy shake of her head "This is perfect, thanks"

I retreat, relieved but puzzled Why did the new cook h the door to ask what’s going on And then I’rateful my mouth is already open, otherwise I couldn’t have covered my jaw-drop

Because the new cook is not so deadbeat

He’s tall, a ridiculous chef’s hatinward so he seems to take up less space than he really does Thick, dark eyebrows There’s a single line between them that shouldinherently pleasant about his face Maybe it’s the way his nose has the slightest off-center curve, like it was broken into a sideways smile

Oh, and he’s not old Maybe twenty, tops

Oh, and he’s not unattractive