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I know there’s no need for her to fill the display case with those because they won’t last with this crowd. I giggle to myself, finding it amusing, and I’m more than a little proud to be a part of it.
Jack stands at the back of the small crowd. He waves a hand, like I can’t see him.
“Sugar with a side of coffee coming up, Jack,” I say with a smile.
He chuckles and nods his head. For such a stereotypically masculine detective, one would think he’d drink his coffee a little stronger than that.
I cash out the customers ahead of him, a soft smile on his face as he watches me go about filling orders. Small butterflies start low in my belly from his attention. It only takes a few minutes to get through the line and for Jack to move to the front.
“Why don’t you try a scone, Detective? You might like them. I’ll be honest though, they have less sugar than your coffee.” I laugh, finding it more than enjoyable to give this man a hard time. He’s just so serious. Seems like he needs it.
Before I give him a total, he already has his card out and offered to me. “No, thanks. Especially if they send me into a frenzy like the rest of these folks.”
I hand him his receipt, and he tosses a few dollars into the tip jar like usual.
An incredulous expression crosses my face, but I use it to add a playful sass to my next statement. “Well, they’re in a frenzy for a reason. Because they’regoodpastries. If you ever change your mind, I’m here to get you one with your sugar bowl, I mean coffee. I won’t even make a joke about your profession and eating something of the pastry variety.”
He looks down a moment, trying to stifle a smile, but I caught it. Mr. Serious Lawman has a sense of humor, it seems.
“I’ll, uh, keep that in mind. I think I might be safe though since you don’t actually sale donuts.” His smile becoming wider and more open.
I can’t help but smile back at him. “I guess you have a point there.”
“I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow, Ms. Sparks. Have a great day.”
“You, too, Detective.”
We exchange a kind smile, and he makes his way out the door.
“Phew, we made it through the rush,” Charlie says, leaning against the counter.
Irene nods. “We did, but the work is far from done. Let’s get this cleaned up. Andi and I need to be getting on the road.”
Without another word, Charlie and I work side by side to straighten things up for lunch. We work together like a well-oiled machine, and by the time we’re all done with cleaning and prep, it’s time for lunch. The afternoon rush is usually much less hectic than breakfast around here.
Irene’s laugh makes both of us look up. “You’d think you two have spent a lifetime together. You mirror each other’s every step.”
Charlie and I give each other a smile before continuing our work until we finish setting up the café for lunch. By the time Irene is ready to take me on a supply run, a couple of people trickle in, but it’s obvious Charlie will be okay on her own for a bit.
Irene and I head outside and climb into her pickup truck. We ride mostly in silence for a while. The only sound aside from the engine is the subtle music coming from the speakers.
She glances over at me and back to the road. “I didn’t mean to get emotional earlier. What I meant to say was, I’m here to lend an ear and a shovel, if needed.” She finishes that surprising statement with a wink.
I laugh. Her tenderness earlier today surprised me. She’s usually fiery and full of sass. So her shovel comment was much more “on brand” for her, which never fails to amuse me.
“Did you know before today? About the bruises, I mean,” I ask hesitantly.
She nods, her focus staying on the road. “I suspected the day you came in looking for a job. The makeup was good, and with the soft, warm lighting, youalmostgot away with it. I knew for sure when you worked the entire following day wearing that scarf when it gets hotter than hell in there while running around baking. When you’ve experienced the kind of things I have, you learn to not only pick up on cues but alsofeela person out. At least, that’s the case for me. I could feel it rolling off you in waves. That wasn’t surprise interview jitters.”
“What do you mean? You could feel it?” I asked, unsure if I’m even ready to hear the answer.
“I could sense your fear, your nervousness. It was a lot different from the anxiety most people feel at a job interview. I knew there was more, but I’ve also been where you are. I know you aren’t ready to answer questions or talk about it.”
I shift uncomfortably, only nodding in response. Silence falls over us again as I think about what she said. I look over at her, wondering what she’s been through while also thinking there’s a good chance I’ll never find out.
We don’t talk about it anymore, opting instead for lighter conversation. The rest of the ride to the store is simple and fun, just the two of us getting to know one another. We talk about music, movies, and even pets we’ve had over the years.
The idea of getting a dog shoots through my mind, and a smile spreads across my face. I need to find an apartment to rent. I highly doubt they allow pets at the motel.
