This is a tricky situation

 "We're going to make doughnuts?" CW cringed at the thought. Didn't they make enough money at the coffee shop on brownies and pie? He sighed as if he didn't get paid enough to do all this extra kitchen work. After all, he was just a fry cook on the griddle, making his way through breakfast. During the week, it wasn't that hard, but by the weekend, his shoes felt tight, and his lower back ached.

"I guess." Crysal shrugged back as if she'd had enough herself.

"It was your idea," he winced hard, wondering where her mind was lately. They couldn't afford to make those keto brownies she suggested. Sure, she made them at home on occasion, but there were so many eggs. Basically, eggs and sugar-free chocolate chips.

CW yawned with a sigh. It was warming up outside. He had better things to do than talk about new ideas to serve. No way could they compete with fast food, even if the going rate for their best burger ran a good fifteen bucks for a combo.

"What happened to your idea about a salad bar?" That was a bust. Wilted salad, basically. They did better with keeping lettuce in the fridge for a garden salad or the Cobb salad. Even so, another cost.

"Let's stick with the basics," he told her at their afternoon meeting in the back booth of the old place. "Folks come for coffee. They like breakfast even at lunch." He nodded. "And no way am I going to start liver and onions that just stinks the place up." Suddenly, he felt like the old timer. Thankfully, Nico was learning the basics, and they were getting used to the teamwork of cooking together on the weekends. But Nico was already off to do his own thing.

"Just forget the doughnuts," he shook his head, no. "We'll do the Reuben special the week of Saint Paddy's and move on."

Crystal sighed as if she was defeated, perhaps, but she OKed his idea. She'd finally gotten around to hiring some help for the weekends, and Millie's mom filled in during the week at breakfast. Chili came in to tend to tables at lunch. 

He knew all this would fall into Crystal's lap. After all, Millie was out after finding out she was pregnant all along. There didn't seem to be an end in sight. CW didn't really have a day off. It was supposed to be on Wednesdays, but it hadn't happened yet. When it came to small business, the cook had to make sure the equipment worked properly, which meant the refrigerator too. Still, everything he'd learned was from Crystal.

"Now we need to get down to the park for a walk." She prodded him along. Yes, life could make you old if you stayed in all the time.