"How about that order?" Liz asked, flicking one of the tickets with her forefinger.

Michael shook the basket of fries. "You know, I'd be a lot faster if we didn't have to involve this whole cooking thing."

"Good plan," Liz said. Then, off a second look, "No."

Michael shrugged and dealt cheese out onto burgers like playing cards. "Hey."

"What?"

A look of concern lighted Michael's face. "Is your mom gonna cave?"

Choking back a harsh reply, Liz grabbed the order sitting in the pass-through window and went back out into the dining area. She passed the food out, then noticed the truck driver raising his arm again. Retreating back to the wait station, she retrieved a pitcher of tea and managed the refill.

Taking out her order book, she seated three regulars at a back table one step behind the young busboy her dad had hired for the summer. The tabletop still glistened from Ethan's towel. After getting the drink order, which she thankfully knew by heart, she got the beverages delivered.

Grabbing a bus tub from the end of the counter, Liz quickly went to one of the tables. As Liz scooped up three glasses in each hand and placed them within the tub, Maria joined her.

"Look, I can tell you're upset." Maria rounded up the silverware and shoved the utensils into one of the drink containers. "Maybe later will be better."

"You told Michael"

"Oh. That."

Liz finished the table and picked up the bus tub.

"My bad," Maria said, following Liz through the tables again. "It's just that it's easier to talk about somebody else's problems than ours."

"Glad to know I could help."

"Cmon, Liz. You want to talk about this," Maria said. "I know you do. It's eating you up."