Family Drama 4 E-Book Bundle Read Free

waitress.’
    â€˜I’m afraid so, Ena.’
    â€˜It’s just as well you keep your wife out the back or you’d lose all yer customers too,’ the other lady chuckled.
    â€˜Yeah, I think you’re right. Now what can I get you?’
    â€˜Just two cups of tea, please.’
    â€˜Pearl, take those plates to the kitchen,’ Bernie said, with a wave of his arm, ‘and then finish the rest of the tables.’
    Pearl picked up the stack, hurrying away. Nerves made her hands shake, the cutlery on top rattling and sliding in an alarming manner. With relief she placed them on the large wooden table at the entrance to the washing-up room, glancing through to see Gertie giving her a wide grin. The woman’s sparse, reddish hair was moist from the steam rising from the sink, her face shiny with perspiration.
    â€˜Is that the lot?’ she asked.
    â€˜I’ve only got two more tables to clear.’
    â€˜Thank gawd for that. I’ll just about finish the washing-up before the lunchtime rush starts.’
    â€˜Yeah, so stop talking and get on with it!’ Dolly snapped.
    Pearl had just cleared the last two tables, taking the crockery through to the kitchen, when the back door to the yard opened.
    â€˜Sorry I took so long, Dolly,’ a short stocky woman said as she rushed in. ‘The waiting room was packed and it was ages before I saw the doctor. Mind you, it was a waste of time. He reckons I’m just a bit run down and said I should take a tonic. Tonic indeed! I tried to tell him that it’s more than that, but he wouldn’t listen.’
    â€˜Christ, another Mrs Neverwell. I don’t know why I put up with you and Gertie.’
    â€˜Hello, love,’ the woman said as she spotted Pearl.
    Dolly heaved a sigh. ‘Pearl, this is Mo, or Maureen Price, and she’s my vegetable cook. Now enough chat and let’s get on. Mo, you’ve been out for over an hour, so get on with the potatoes.’
    With a smile at the harassed-looking woman, Pearl left the kitchen. ‘What do I do now?’ she asked Bernard.
    â€˜It’ll be quiet until lunchtime and it’ll give mea chance to show you how things work behind the counter, but first you can refill the cruets.’
    A couple of young women came in. ‘Two teas, please,’ one of them said, and turning to her companion she added, ‘Grab a table by the window so we can keep an eye on our prams.’
    Pearl started on the first table, checking the condiments and filling those she found empty. It was hot, the sun blazing through the windows. Her throat was dry, but, too shy to ask for another drink, she carried on.
    She had finished half of the tables when a door she had seen to the side of the counter opened, a tall, dark-haired young man appearing.
    â€˜Any chance of a cup of tea, Dad?’
    Bernie’s face darkened, but his voice was level as he said, ‘We’re still a waitress short and I could do with a hand later.’
    â€˜Sorry, no can do. I’ve made other arrangements,’ and, picking up the cup of tea that his father had poured, he headed for the kitchen, pausing for a moment as he passed Pearl.
    She kept her head down, moving to the front of the dining room, and couldn’t fail to hear the remarks made by the two young women sitting at a window table.
    â€˜Cor, that Kevin Dolby’s a bit of all right.’
    â€˜Yeah, and he certainly ain’t a chip off the old block. He looks nothing like Dolly or Bernard.’
    â€˜If I wasn’t a married woman, I might be tempted.’
    â€˜Leave it out. Your old man would skin you alive.’
    â€˜Yeah, you’re right.’ Glancing out of the window, she added, ‘Sod it, we’d best be off. My baby’s waking up.’
    As they hurried out, Pearl only had one table left to check and it was where the two elderly ladies sat. Smiling shyly at them, she picked up the salt pot, carefully