“Thea, this is Graham Gordon.”
“Nice to meet you, Thea,” he says as he grins, revealing a pearly white smile. He waves with the spatula in his hand before he disappears from view and I miss my chance to respond.
Raquel senses one of her tables needs her and is off again.
Beth and Charlie continue their conversation while I wait for my food. I turn around on my barstool to get a better look at the patrons in the diner. I’m lost in my thoughts for a few minutes before I hear the ding of the kitchen bell and turn back around as Beth grabs my breakfast. She slides it in front of me and suddenly, I’m famished. I bring a forkful to my mouth and inhale the aroma.
“These are so good,” I mutter after I swallow the first bite, bringing a napkin to my lips.
“Told you Graham is my best cook,” Beth says, nodding behind her to the kitchen window.
“Got any pie this morning, Beth Ann?” Charlie asks, folding his napkin in his large hands.
“You know I do,” she laughs, putting a hand on her hip. “Blueberry, your favorite. Baked fresh this morning.” Beth scurries off to the other end of the counter and then a plate of blueberry pie is placed in front of Charlie.
He takes a bite and lets his eyes close in delight. “Mmm,” he hums, pointing his fork at the plate. “You never disappoint.”
“You made that?” I ask her. She must have gotten up earlier than I thought.
“Mmhmm. I do all the baking for this place. It’s a…form of solace for me.”
There must be something in our genetics — baking is a form of solace for me, as well.
The three of us stay silent except for the scrapes of our forks as both Charlie and I clean our plates. The radio on Charlie’s belt goes off, some code I don’t know is announced. He throws a twenty down on the counter and tells Beth to keep the change on his way out the door.
Raquel comes back to the counter not long after he leaves.
“So,” she begins as she leans against the countertop. “How are you liking Driftbay so far?”
That question seems to be the icebreaker on everyone’s mind.
“Well,” I start, “so far, so good. Like I told Charlie, it’s a lot different than Seattle. But it’s a good kind of different.” I don’t elaborate further or go into my tragic backstory.
“I’ve always wanted to visit Seattle,” she says as she smacks her gum and plays with a strand of her hair absentmindedly.
“Do you travel?” I ask her.
Raquel shakes her head. “Not often. I tend to stick to Driftbay. I’m trying to save up money to go back to school.” She smiles proudly. “But maybe we can visit together one day.”
I smile politely and nod my head in agreement. Unbeknownst to her, I have no intention of ever visiting Seattle again.
We carry on our conversation for a little while longer, Beth joining in every now and then as she works the counter. It’s not long until I decide to head back to the house to get ready for the beach.
I grab an old tote bag from the closet and toss in a beach towel and sunscreen. I retrieve my only swimsuit from the dresser and quickly change into it before sliding my shorts and T-shirt back over my body.
If I thought the diner was busy this morning, it’s nothing compared to how it is when I come back to meet Raquel and Graham. There’s a line out the door and wrapped around the porch. I get dirty looks from the waiting patrons as I squeeze past them to enter the restaurant. I’m blasted again by the air-conditioning and see Beth in her heyday with customers but don’t bother her. I spot Raquel behind the counter at the register cashing out.
“Hey!” she says excitedly as she sees me. “Give me five minutes and I’ll be ready.” She offers a warm smile and it calms me.
I nod and go wait by the jukebox for her. I remember playing with it as a kid. I’m lost in thoughts of years past as another red-headed waitress comes on for shift change.
“Ready?” Raquel asks a few moments later, swinging her car keys around her index finger. Graham is following close behind her, carrying a surfboard.
“Hey, Thea.” He nods to acknowledge me, shaking his hair out of his eyes.
“Hey.”
The three of us walk out of the diner, Graham having to maneuver a bit more carefully around the crowd with his surfboard. Raquel digs around in her bag and pulls out a pair of oversized sunglasses. She’s in more relaxed clothes now, jean shorts and an oversized band tee.
