Page 113 of Feeding Hope
“Katy!” Jenny called as I entered the church hall just before noon.
“Hey Jenny, where do you need me?” I asked.
“Can you hand out sandwiches, my lovely? We’re short-handed today. Some volunteers haven’t turned up, and we’ve goteveryone in the kitchen cooking. Get the clients lined up and walk them down the line one at a time. Thanks to Aiden, we have a fine spread to share today.”
As I’d not used the money he’d given me, Aiden had insisted I spend five hundred pounds on food for the soup kitchen. Today we had a full roast dinner, soup and cake. Lunch included not just sandwiches and crisps, but also cakes, pork pies, sausage rolls, mini chicken kievs, and cocktail sausages. The guys would eat well today.
I smiled at Jenny’s enthusiasm, but it hid a wealth of sadness. Since that day, Alex hadn’t returned, and I hadn’t seen him. I’d been devastated at Alex disappearing and had searched, but there’d been no sign of him. Resigned to Alex not coming back, I’d handed the card to Aiden, who then told me what to do with the five hundred pounds.
Jenny had been stunned when I arrived yesterday with loads of food for the forty people we averaged.
“Katy?” Jenny said, concerned.
“Sorry, yes. Sandwiches. I’m on it.” I took my coat off and headed for the tables.
At eleven-forty-five, Jenny opened the door, and the clients entered.
“Start a line, gentleman. Today, I’m your server, and we’ll go one at a time. Please wait your turn to be served!” I called out. The first was a regular named Tom; honestly, it was easy. They chose their sandwiches; I placed them on plates and then filled them with the other items on offer. It was wearying but worth it. Jenny was attending tables, serving drinks, and pretty soon the room was alive with chatter.
After an hour and a half, I was lagging and needed a coffee break.
“Grab yourself some lunch,” Jenny ordered, and I nodded. “Oh, hello there, you’re new.”
“Hi, I came to have lunch with Katy,” Alex said shyly, and I spun around as my mouth fell open.
Chapter Four.
Alex
What was I doing? For over a week, I’d stayed away, but Katy haunted me. I couldn’t get her out of my head. And right now, I couldn’t tell if the expression on Katy’s face was happiness or anger.
“Katy?” the older woman asked, stepping closer. Shit, I shouldn’t be here.
“Sorry, I overstepped!” I said and began backing out. People were watching, and I felt uneasy, similar to an insect under a microscope.
“Alex! Wait!” Katy cried and rushed around the table. Katy reached out and took hold of my hands. Once again, I was shocked as she thoughtlessly grabbed hold. It didn’t bother her in the slightest that they might be dirty.
“You came to have lunch?” Katy breathed. There was hope in her eyes, and her smile said she’d missed me.
“Yes, I can’t take you to lunch, but I wondered if we could sit together,” I replied lamely.
“Of course!” Katy exclaimed. She dashed away and began filling plates before I could reply.
“I’m Jenny, the manager here. Welcome, Alex,” the older woman declared.
“Thanks.” I gazed around, unsure how this worked.
“There’s a table available in the corner,” Jenny stated with a wink. I followed Jenny across the room as Katy turned, smiling. She rushed over carrying two plates. No brain strain was needed in guessing which was mine; it was brimming with food. Jenny walked away as Katy placed them down.
“Drinks!” Katy announced and hurried off again. I sat down, noting the stares from some of those at surrounding tables.
“She’s a decent one, our Katy,” an older man growled.
“Aye, a good girl. Doesn’t look down her nose,” another guy said.
“Looks after everybody, Katy does. So we watch over her,” a woman warned, and I nodded. Katy spoke to Jenny and hurried back with two mugs of coffee.
“Here.” Katy placed one in front of me and sat down. “Is there enough? We usually serve people to ensure gets an equal amount. Then we let people help themselves after a certain amount of time has passed, so I can fetch more.”
