“He didn’t support the diner. Wanted me to be home at his beck and call.”
“Really? But the diner is your dream.”
“He doesn’t like to see a woman succeed. Or, at least, not this one.”
“Maybe you intimidated him,” Thea says. “You and Mom are both such strong women.”
“Maybe,” I say, pondering it. I pause and add, “Your mother hated him.”
“I could see that.” She’s quiet for a moment. “What about Charlie? You never wanted to pursue that?”
I sigh. “I did. But, the timing never worked out. Until now.”
“Until now,” Thea repeats. “So, I take it your date went well? Despite me ruining it?”
“You did not ruin it,” I laugh. “But yes, I think it did.”
“You deserve some happiness.” She stares at me as she speaks.
“So do you,” I say. “Graham’s been asking about you.”
The corners of her lips turn upward at the mention of Graham’s name.
“Graham,” she says quietly as she stares at the table, her cheeks getting red.
“He seems sweet on you. How do you feel about him?”
“I think I really like him.” She looks up at me. “Like, really like him.”
“Maybe you should call him, if you feel up to it. I’m sure he’d love to hear from you.”
“Yeah,” she says, picking up her slice again. “Maybe I will.”
I’m up early the next morning, something I've grown unaccustomed to since Thea started doing all of the baking. I make a cinnamon coffee cake and some chocolate chip cookies for the diner that morning. I’m just plating them up as it’s time to open.
I’m not surprised to see that Judith is one of the first customers through the door.
“Morning, dearie,” she says as she takes her place at her usual booth.
“Good morning, Judith.” I smile and set a coffee mug down on the table for her.
“Missed you yesterday.”
Judith is a stickler about routine.
“Yes, there was a slight change in plans yesterday,” I say as I sit down opposite her. Her hair is freshly styled and her arms are covered in silver and bejeweled bangles.
“Is everything okay?” she asks.
I nod slowly, replaying the events of the last forty-eight hours. “It is now.”
Judith brings the coffee mug to her lips and eyes me over the top of it. “I heard from a little birdie that you and Charlie went on a date.”
The real reason she’s here. Judith is quite the gossip.
“We did,” I reply carefully, a sly smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
“And how was that?” she asks.
