“I suppose I should get back to work, too,” Raquel sighs. She looks around and sees one of her tables waving her down. “Duty calls,” she adds as she pushes off the counter and takes off.
Graham appears behind the kitchen window and gives me a wave with his spatula. I find it endearing and offer a small wave back.
“So,” Penny begins, “I’m having a pool party at my house tomorrow night. Just a small thing, a few of my husband’s buddies and Brian, Graham, and Raquel. You are more than welcome to come, if you’d like.”
“Yeah,” I say. “That sounds like fun.”
Penny opens her mouth to say something else but is interrupted when we hear Beth call my name.
She is sitting with the elderly woman now and they’re waving me over. I hop off the barstool and cross the diner to them, taking a seat beside Aunt Beth in the booth.
“Thea,” she says, “this is my good friend, Judith, that I’ve told you so much about. Judith, this is my niece, Thea.”
Judith beams as she looks at me and reaches for my hands. She takes them in hers and pats them as she says, “Oh, dearie, it’s so wonderful to finally meet you! Beth has told me so much about you.”
I blush, meeting strangers always makes me anxious. Judith seems sweet and Beth has mentioned her enough times that I know she really likes her.
“How are you liking Driftbay?” she asks.
“I love it so far,” I gush. “It’s a lot different than what I’m used to, but I think I’m settling in nicely.”
There’s a moment of silence at the table for the unspoken reason of why I left Seattle.
“Are you still in college?” Judith asks.
I shift in the seat. “I dropped out last semester. It just…wasn’t right for me at the time. Maybe I’ll go back and finish one day.”
Beth jumps in. “Thea’s very bright, though.”
Judith smiles. “That’s okay, college isn’t for everyone. Give yourself time to figure out what your heart truly wants.” She leans across the table. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Oh my God, you don’t have to answer her,” Bethsays.
“No,” I laugh.
“Oh,” Judith pauses, “You got a girlfriend?”
“Also no,” I say.
“Nothing wrong with either.” Judith leans back in her seat and looks at Beth. “What?” she asks. “Just trying to get to know her.”
“You are insufferable,” she laughs.
The bell above the front door dings and Beth glances in that direction. Seeing Charlie, she motions for me to get up so she can get out of the booth. She hurries over to him, well past his normal visit time as I sit back down with Judith.
“There you are,” she says. “I was worried about you.” She places a hand on her hip as they stand in the middle of the diner.
Charlie rubs his face, looking like he hasn’t slept in days. “Had an early morning case I couldn’t step away from.”
“Come on, let’s get you something to eat.” Beth takes off for the back counter and Charlie slowly follows her to his usual barstool.
“That man,” Judith mutters under her breath. She looks me dead in the eyes as she adds, “I don’t know how, but we have got to get your aunt and that man together.
“Oh, so you’ve noticed it, too?” I ask.
“Noticed it?!” she gasps, stirring her coffee. “Honey, I may be old but I am certainly not blind.”
I laugh out loud. I can see why Beth likes her so much. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear as she adds, “I think the only two people who don’t see it are Charlie and Beth themselves.”
