One Hundred and fifty four

CHAPTER 154

Nicholas ended the cold war by leaving the dining room. He left the empty plates and glasses behind, while pulling his long brown coat over his arm. Nicholas ran his fingers through his front hair, before looking at Alicia and saying, "I meant what I said. I won't let you be involved in someone else's death again. Understand?"

But Alicia did not respond in any meaningful way. She remained silent and turned her face the other way, while rubbing her own arm lightly.

A sigh could be heard from Nicholas, he could go no further than this and chose to leave Alicia's flat. Alicia watched Nicholas leave with mixed feelings. She was angry, sad, disappointed, anxious, all gathered into one uncomfortable feeling inside Alicia's chest.

Alicia exhaled, before finally pulling on her furry hoodie and going to work at Uncle Chuck's shop. It was her first day working as a part-time waitress at the ice cream shop and Alicia didn't want to disappoint Uncle Chuck who had been so kind to her.

On the way, Alicia could only hug herself because it was so cold. Christmas was approaching, but Alicia was still struggling with the death that was never over. Her mind drifted to her best Christmas ever when she was five years old.

"Alicia, welcome!"

Uncle Chuck's voice greeted Alicia as the door opened. The bell above the door jingled and made a very distinctive tinny sound.

The girl smiled, waving enthusiastically. "Good morning, Uncle Chuck."

Uncle Chuck was putting the stainless boxes into place, boxes that would later be filled with gelato ice cream made by Uncle Chuck's gelato factory. Alicia ran a little, quickly put her gray backpack into the locker, then pulled the red apron hanging on the other side of the locker and put it on neatly. After tying her hair back, Alicia ran after Uncle Chuck.

"Let me help you," Alicia said and picked up the box of gelato.

The bell on the door rang again, signaling that someone had just entered. Uncle Chuck and Alicia looked at the door, curious as to who would enter their ice cream parlor.

"Hello, Uncle Chuck! Alicia!"

It was Ethan, another part-time worker. Ethan joined after putting on an apron, he looked handsome in his all-white outfit.

"You're early, Alicia," Ethan said as he stood next to Alicia.

"Uh-huh, I woke up early and was excited to come here." Alicia picked up the empty box left over from yesterday and placed it on the back table before going back and putting in another box of gelato. She then looked at Uncle Chuck who was doing the same. "What's our special today, Uncle?"

Uncle Chuck frowned. His eyes, which were dull and lined with age lines, scanned all the ice creams in the filled box. "Since it's so cold outside, how about we recommend mint-blueberry and dark chocolate? Ah, don't forget about all our hot menus. I made hot caramel and vanilla late."

Ethan grinned. Pointing at the gelato in front of him, he said, "They will come and order a lot of hot drinks and ice cream today. I'm pretty sure. After all, not everyone will be afraid of drinking ice cream in winter. Uncle Chuck serves the best ice cream, they'll love it."

"I like your spirit, Ethan," Uncle Chuck replied, patting Ethan on the shoulder. "I'm going to go check on the ingredients in the kitchen. You two just get on with it."

"Yes, Uncle Chuck!" Alicia and Ethan replied in unison.

After Uncle Chuck left to check the ingredients in the kitchen, Alicia and Ethan were busy with the gelato boxes in front of them. Their job as part-time workers was to help Uncle Chuck serve the customers, who would usually be overwhelmed in the days leading up to Christmas. Uncle Chuck's Ice Cream Parlor may look simple from the outside, but all in all, the old man has made more than 10000$ per year, and usually, on important days, Uncle Chuck's Ice Cream Parlor will receive many customers.

Besides their main menu of Gelato ice cream, they also serve cold and hot drinks, and there are some packaged breads that other companies have entrusted to the shop for sale.

"Do you think people will order ice cream today? It's so cold outside," Ethan said, he hugged himself and moved his body like he was shivering as he continued, "I think my body is already cold as snow without eating these ice creams."

"I don't think all the customers are from New York, Ethan. Many customers are from other countries, and they must not have experienced the sensation of eating ice cream in the snow. That can be one of the different challenges," says Alicia. She was also quite enthusiastic on her first day of work. "I'm a customer of this shop, and I always eat ice cream here even though the weather outside is enough to make me shake."

"It's insane, but also cool," Ethan replied, smiling before finishing his work there.

Alicia put down the last box and carried yesterday's empty boxes to the dishwasher. She prepared to clean them, while Ethan continued his work by sweeping and mopping the floor, wetting it with a fresh fruit-scented liquid to make all visitors feel comfortable.

"It's about time. I'm going to open the shop," Uncle Chuck said. Uncle Chuck pointed at Ethan and Alicia, "You can get ready to work behind the counter serving customers."

Alicia and Ethan cleared away their belongings and prepared behind the closed ice cream container to welcome their first visitor.

It was a tall woman. She was wearing a knee-length red dress and a thick black furry coat. She wore sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat like the women of the 80s. She walked up to the counter and carried her Gucci bag.

From the way she walked and carried the expensive bag, she looked very foreign. She must be a tourist or something, and she must only visit occasionally.

"Welcome. How may I help you?" Alicia greeted her kindly, but the woman just grinned.