The Single Dad's Family Recipe. Rachael Johns

      A smile crept onto his lips. “Me either. Sometimes I have to pinch myself that this is actually happening. And other times, I wonder if I’m crazy, trying to do all this while looking after two kids.”

      “I don’t mean to pry, but how exactly do you plan on running a restaurant while being a full-time single dad?”

      “I’m not under the illusion it’s going to be easy,” he said, “but in some ways, being my own boss will mean I can be more flexible with my working hours. I’ve hired another very experienced chef to work with me. The dishes will all be mine to start with, but I’ll take the lunch roster most days and he’ll take the nights. That way, I can be around for my children in the afternoons, put them to bed and then come across here to help close.”

      “I see.” It sounded like a lot to take on but it wasn’t her place to question her boss. And plenty of women managed to work full-time while also being single moms. Why shouldn’t a guy be able to do the same? “Did you want me to start making phone calls to set up interviews?”

      They’d just finished going through the pile of résumés from people applying for waitstaff jobs. Lachlan had explained they had a few people staying on from the café but as that had only been open a few hours during the day for the lunch period and given the restaurant’s expanded hours of operation, they needed to employ quite a few new people. He’d already hired a team of kitchen staff who were due to start soon, but as the waitstaff would be under Eliza’s supervision and management, he wanted her to be involved in choosing them ASAP.