Kat walked across Main Street and towards a small diner she knew all too well. The little white building, settled like a townhouse against eight similar ones, was one of the few restaurants in what could be charitably described as downtown Hermit’s Rest.

While it was one of the few dining options open this early in the day, it wasn’t to her taste. Overlooking Hermit’s Cove, Hermit’s Rest was a haven for the wealthy, not the creative.  It was reflected in how impenetrable the culinary offerings were. There were a few trendy restaurants, but with big plates, tiny portions, steep prices, and pretentious cuisine, they were inhospitable to the young and struggling.

Jimmy’s was different. It was one of those mom-and-pop brunch places – a real holdout in a heavily gentrified community – but their ‘home-style’ meals were so heavy. Lots of eggs and bacon, with very few greens. Still, it was the place her aunt always chose to deliver a message.

Kat felt exposed walking alone on the near-empty sidewalk. Everything was so put together; the white flagstones she pressed under her dirty off-white sneakers, the elderly couple strolling past her while scrunching together to avoid touching her unwashed hoodie. She picked at the white cat hairs on her sleeve and let them blow away in the breeze. A breeze that, to Kat’s horror, intensified and tossed her messy hair skyward. She had only just managed to mold her dirty blonde locks into a presentable state. Would it be obvious she hadn’t showered? Her appointment to fix her copper highlights wasn’t until tomorrow.

Kat rubbed her sleepy eyes. She loved her aunt. She was more of a mother to her than, well, anyone else. But it was little things like last-minute “brunch and chat” invitations that hinted at inner machinations. Sophie had always been kind and loving, but outside of Kat, there were reasons to everything she did. And although the reason was often unclear,  her methods of enacting a plan were consistent to the point of predictable.

Walking through the door to the familiar chiming bell, Kat was greeted by Doris, the owner, as she pulled a stack of plates across the well-worn counter separating the kitchen from the dining area.

“Morning Kat! Your usual table is free.”

Kat waved a thank you and strode to the far back corner of the restaurant.

As expected, she’d arrived first.

Kat settled into the chair, the hard wrought-iron digging into her, and checked the time. Sophie was only ten minutes late. No cause for alarm yet. Still, Kat fidgeted in her seat.

She’d rather be in a booth. Even if her mother wouldn’t approve.

Booths are for fat nuclear families. 

Right. If they were too comfortable, they might want seconds.

She fiddled with her keys, flipping them back and forth.

“I’m sorry, darling,” a voice pulled her from Kat from her thoughts. She looked up to see her aunt’s smiling face.

Soph sashayed over and sat across from her niece. She was peppy, as always, but Kat knew her well enough to see through it. Tired eyes, uneven foundation, a heaviness to her movements. Her aunt was dead on her feet, even if they were moving fast.

Kat’s growing concern didn’t go unnoticed.

“Trouble down at the convenience store,” she explained, stretching in her uncomfortable chair. “I’ve been up since five.”

Kat stuck her keys back in her pockets and frowned. She was trying to cut down on her anxious fidgeting and clearly failing.

Come on, Kat, pull it together.

“What happened?”

“One of the night boys quit,” Sophie said matter-of-factly.

“Oh, did he leave the store unattended?”

“Worse. He trashed it on the way out.”

Kat’s eyes widened. Her aunt had mentioned some of her employees were unreliable, but that wasn’t what she had expected.

“I’m so sorry, Soph. Is it bad? Did you call the police? Do they have him?” Kat asked, excitement causing her to babble.

Soph held a hand up and gave her niece a passive smile.

“It’s mostly clean now. And no, they haven’t seen him. I told them I’m not pressing charges, so I doubt they’re going to keep looking for him.”

“Why aren’t you pressing charges?” Kat asked, confused but not surprised by her aunt’s relaxed behavior.

“It’s a bad look. Rich, young, fabulous local entrepreneur and heartthrob Sophie Cruz,” her aunt punctuated each description with a little pose, “sends ex-employee to jail for knocking over some shelves. The bad press isn’t worth it.”

Kat shook her head.

“That place isn’t worth it.”

She reached out and grabbed her aunt’s hand.

“Why not just sell the place? The gas station is perfectly situated on the highway; someone is going to buy it. Hey, maybe even Bradley—”

“No,” Sophie said firmly, sliding her hand away. “It’s not that simple. Besides, even if it isn’t a money maker, a place like that is great for the books. Lots of employees, lots of stocked goods.”

She snapped her fingers rhythmically.

“Trust me, I want to hold on to it.”

“Okay,” Kat sighed, deciding it wasn’t worth the argument.

Sophie could afford to take a break. Hell, she could afford to retire. It would certainly make Kat worry less. Past the upbeat Silicon Valley attitude, behind the smiles and elaborate makeup of a cruising shark, Sophie seemed tired.

Doris appeared at their side.

“What can I get for you lovely ladies this morning?”

Sophie mused over the menu.

“Steak and eggs, please.”

“What side do you want?”

She looked at the menu again, as if her order was ever going to change.

“Roasted potatoes.”

Doris smiled.

“And for the vegetarian?”

“The yogurt parfait please,” Kat said, handing Doris her unopened menu.

“Of course, the usual. Tea while you’re both waiting?”

Sophie nodded.

“And waters, too, when you get the chance.”

Doris sauntered away to yell the order at her husband in the back. Kat sighed.

“We get the same thing every time, but I’m the only one who gets the usual.”

Sophie shrugged, her expensive jacket ruffling at the shoulders before perfectly smoothing back out. Clothes as silky as the movement.

“You have to put on a show. Make it seem like you’re considering the special or whatever new muffin she’s making.”

“Or I can just be honest,” Kat said, trying to project the kind of confident morality her father would.

“Honest isn’t always kind,” Sophie checked her watch. “It’s also rarely profitable.”

Kat laughed, but her nervous energy was making it hard to keep up pretenses. She had to know why she was there.

“Okay, Soph, why are we here?”

“This is what I mean. Maybe wait until the food arrives to—”

“Soph!” Kat interrupted.

“All right, all right, Baby Jesus have mercy,” Sophie smirked and pulled a folded piece of paper out of her purse, handing it to Kat.

“What is this?” Kat asked, unfolding what appeared to be a job application.

“I want you to come work at the convenience store.”

Kat’s face grew hot. Her palms were already clamming up.

“You mean the night shift? The one that—”

“Yes, yes, the one that’s now vacant.”

“But…but it’s a night-shift! And I have school,” Kat said, fidgeting with the keys she had hidden in her pocket.

“And that’s the best part!” Sophie exhaled with a wide gesture. “Those shifts aren’t busy; you could do all your schoolwork while you’re there. Isn’t that the benefit of online courses? Flexibility?”

“I can’t do that while I’m working. It isn’t exactly fair. It sounds like double-dipping.”

Sophie scoffed.

“You know the owner, take advantage for once,” Sophie said, flipping her hair. “I doubt anyone would say anything. Be a nepo-baby, just this one time. It’s bad enough you’re living on your own now…”

“I need to be self-sufficient,” Katt said, staring a hole into the table between them. “I won’t be worth anything if I can’t stand on my own two feet.”

“That’s your mother talking,” Sophie said, voice strained from more than sleep deprivation.

Whether they wanted to admit it or not, there was someone else at the table with them.

I might never see her… but her voice is always there.

Kat was really starting to sweat now. She didn’t like saying no, especially to her aunt.

“Is it safe?”

“Safe as kittens,” Sophie said, winking to her niece.

Kat exhaled and tried to build an argument in her head. It was time to deflect.

“Why not someone else? Surely, someone trying to save for college might need the job more than me? I’m just getting it because I’m your niece.”

“Do you know how hard it is to fill these shifts?” Sophie asked. “You’re basically the only young adult in Hermit’s Rest, and I already employ most of Blackstone. Just fill out the application. It has to pass Bradley’s evaluation, anyway.”

Sophie winked at her again, but Kat wasn’t sold. No amount of used car salesman winking would change that.

Eventually her eye will tire out and she’ll have to be honest with me.

“Anyone can do the work, Soph. Why are you pushing so hard?”

Sophie tilted her head, her bangs falling forward as if joining her in contemplation. 

“Well, to be honest, I’d like someone there I can trust.”

“Why?”

“Because with Rodney being fired–”

“I thought you said he quit?”

“Semantics,” Sophie said, squinting before she continued. “Now that Rodney is gone, the rumor mill is going to start up. They’re going to say he went crazy working nights. Red Rum, Shining stuff, you know?”

“It’s just one person leaving.”

“But he trashed the place and people already have their little stories about it. They already think it’s haunted.”

“Is it?” Kat asked, fear quieting her voice.

Sophie narrowed her eyes, as if she’d spent all day answering this question.

“Certainly not, ghosts don’t exist.”

Sophie reached out and held her hand out in the space between them, giving Kat time to pull her hands back out of her pockets and hold hers. A knowing smile spread over Sophie’s face.

“I need someone there I can trust, just for a bit… while I find someone else. If you hate it, I’ll

hire someone else immediately, okay?”

Kat rolled her eyes.

“Okay.”

“Good,” Sophie said sitting up straight, “Now, where is that steak? I’m absolutely starving.”

Kat shook her head. She’d been roped into yet another scheme.

By the time their food arrived, the topic had moved on. Sophie knew she had won, so she wasn’t going to belabour the point. The idle chatter gave Kat time to think about her aunt’s offer.

She really could use the money, and if no one cared, why not get her courses done at the same time?

It wasn’t a bad deal, really. Was it?

Something still felt wrong, like she was missing a piece of the puzzle. Context that might change her answer.

“Sophie? Did Rodney say anything to you about quitting?”

Sophie shrugged.

“He was always sullen. Complained about his shift a lot, but no. Nothing specifically.”

“And has anyone talked to him about it since this morning?”

“Not that I know of. Like I said, the police were around but I’m not pressing charges. I’ll probably never speak to him again.”

“So, what if he comes back?”

Sophie sat silently for a moment. She grabbed a potato wedge and dipped it in some ketchup.

“He won’t.”

“But how do you know? If he wrecked the store, who knows what else he could–”

“He’s long gone, Kat,” Sophie said, finishing her mouthful of food. “You don’t make an exit like that if you plan on coming back.”

“Okay,” Kat said, trying to find a balance between her needs and the urge to please her aunt.

“Listen, hun, we have security. The whole place well lit. Only part of the night will be by yourself and if you get scared, the office is right behind the counter and locks from the inside.”

She smiled at her niece.

“You can do this.”

Kat fiddled with her keys.

“Okay, I’ll try.”

“You’ll do great. And in six months, when you’re done school, you can leave this rock and the store will just be a fond memory.”

Kat knew that wasn’t true. She was too embarrassed to say it, but it would take much longer.

But she also knew her aunt. Something about the way she said felt wrong. It was performative, like how she ordered food.

For some reason, Sophie was lying.