Virtues of Saints & Angels
Chapter 3 – Island
Beth heard the bell over the door ring as someone came in. She quickly put the last pastry on the plate and picked up them up along with another plate of slices and walked to the kitchen door as she heard the new customer call out.
“Hey, Ang what are you doing back there, killing the chickens for the lunch m…,” the rest of his sentence caught in his throat as Orlando’s eyes landed on the young lady walking backwards through the door.
“I’m sorry, Angel isn’t here yet,” she told him as she turned around and smiled at her customer. She quickly checked herself when she saw the good looking man standing at the counter, powder on the end of his nose from the half eaten donut he held in his hand.
“No, no, it’s OK, I’m sorry,” he said as he looked at the sugary contraband in his hand. He looked into her hazel eyes and his smile grew as he leaned on the counter and continued to stare at her.
“You must be Orlando; Angel told me that you come in on Saturday mornings for coffee and feeding,” she laughed as she looked out through the front glass, “as well as your dog.”
“Oh no, I’ve been found out. Can’t blame me, love, starving student artist and all, I have to get a feed somewhere,” he winked as he grinned mischievously at her. Her long blond hair was swept up and clipped in the back, a wispy fringe framing her graceful face.
“That’d probably be more convincing if you didn’t have sugar on your nose already,” she said from under the counter as she placed the plates of food in the display case.
Orlando quickly brushed his hand across his nose and cursed under his breath, horrified that his whole act had been wasted. Beth popped up from under the counter and smiled as she placed her order book on the counter.
“So do you know what you want?” she asked grabbed a pen.
“Yeah,” Orlando stared at her for a moment before he mentally shook himself. “Could I get an Island Dream juice, a toasted ham & cheese and a coffee, a strong coffee?”
“One pineapple, orange and guava juice coming up.” She turned around and started pulling pieces of fruit out of the containers, placing them into the juicer along with some ice. She flicked the switch, turned on the toaster oven, preheating it to make his toasted sandwich. She went back, turning off the juicer as she grabbed a glass and poured the juice before she handed the drink to Orlando.