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For the first time in her life, she was becoming a part of the restaurant instead of a satellite in its orbit. To Angies--and everyones--surprise, she loved it.
On Saturday night, in between helping Lauren waitress, she read over the accounts payable, paid bills, and jotted down some notes on what supplies were running low. The day passed in a blur of activity, and by the time the last guests left, she was exhausted.
It felt great.
She said good night to Mama and Mira, then got two bowls of gelato and sat down at a table by the fireplace. She loved this time of night, in the quiet of the closed restaurant. It relaxed her, and sometimes, in the crackle of the fire or the tap of rain on the roof, she felt her fathers presence.
"Im going home now, Angie," Lauren said, walking through the dining room.
"Have some of this gelato with me. Its delicious. " It had become a ritual in the past few nights: Angie and Lauren sharing dessert at the end of the evening. Angie actually looked forward to it.
Lauren grinned. "At this rate Ill have to waddle to the dance. "
Angie laughed. "Funny. Sit. "
Lauren sat down across from her, where Angie had already placed a bowl of the gelato and a spoon.
Angie spooned up a bit of gelato, let it melt in her mouth, "Man, this is good. Too bad we hardly had any customers tonight. " She looked at Lauren. "Your tips cant be too good. "
"Theyre not. "
"The ad for the coat drive hits tomorrow. That should help. "
"I hope so. "
Angie heard the desperate edge in Laurens voice. "How much does a homecoming dress cost these days?"
Lauren sighed. "Lots. "
Angie studied her. "What size are you?"
"An eight. "
"Same as me. " The answer was there, plain as the spoon in her hand. "I could loan you a dress. Conlan-- my . . . ex-husband--was a reporter for the Seattle Times. Every now and then we went to some event. So I have a few dresses. One of them might fit you. "
The look on Laurens face was easy to read: a combination of longing and shame. "I couldnt do that. But thanks. "
Angie decided not to push the offer. Lauren could think about it. "Youre going with the boy who picks you up from work?"
Lauren blushed. "David Haynes. "
Angie saw the transformation, knew what it meant. Love. It was no surprise. Lauren was a serious girl, the kind who fell in love hard and didnt come out of it easily. A good girl, in other words. "How long have you and David been dating?"
"Almost four years. "
Angie lifted her eyebrows. High school years were like those of a dogs life; four years could be a lifetime.
She wanted to say Be careful, Lauren; love can kill you, but of course she didnt. If Lauren was lucky, it was a lesson shed never learn.
The thought made Angie sigh. Suddenly, she was thinking about Conlan and all the years shed loved him. And how it had felt when it was gone.
She got up from the table quickly, before her sadness could be seen. She stood by the window, staring out at the night. The cold of autumn had come early this year; already a layer of frost was forming on the street. All over town leaves were falling from shivering trees, landing in piles on the sidewalks and along the roadsides. By this time next week, those heaps would be slippery and black. Soon there would be no leaves left.
"Are you okay?"
Angie heard the worry in Laurens voice and it embarrassed her. "Fine. " Before she could say more, apologize or perhaps explain, a car pulled up outside the restaurant and honked.
"Thats David," Lauren said, popping to her feet.
