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At this though, Clarissa clams up a little. “Oh you know, pretty much everywhere. It’s probably easier to tell you where I haven’t been than where I have been.”
Am I pushing this conversation into territory that’s too intimate for Clarissa?I wonder. But that seems silly.
“Well, where haven’t you been then?” I ask, still wanting to learn more about this woman. In a neighborly way, of course.
“North Carolina,” she says with a playful grin.
Before I can answer, she steps into the burger place and I follow her, laughing.
I’m not sure if she’s got a strange sense of humor, or if she’s just very private, but either way, the glint of playfulness in her eyes makes me happy.
“Oh wow, you weren’t kidding about the hospitality,” Clarissa says as I join her inside.
The place is truly one of Aura Creek’s gems, with long oak countertops, an open flat-top grill, and red wagon wheels adorning the walls. Along the inner wall are a series of oak tables with booth seats made of old horse carts.
“And you ain’t seen nothing yet,” I say, gesturing to one of the shaded booths.
The moment we sit down, a server comes to greet us. She’s wearing a red-and-white checkered farm dress, in keeping with the decor, but something tells me she’d be wearing this anyway.
“Hey, y’all! Welcome to Wagon Wheel! How y’all doin’ today?”
“Fine, thanks,” replies Clarissa, clearly bewildered.
“Well, good!” replies the server with genuine enthusiasm. “We’re mighty glad to have you here. My name’s April and I'll be takin’ care of you. If y’all have any questions about the menu or need any recommendations, just holler. I’ll be right back to take your order. And o’ course, let me know if there’s anythin’ I can do to make your visit special.”
With one last toothy grin, she turns on her heel, leaving Clarissa and I to recover.
“I told you,” I say to a wide-eyed Clarissa.
“Well, if I knew North Carolina was going to be like this, I would have visited much sooner,” she says with a chuckle. “But you’re leaving soon, right?” she adds quickly.
“Yeah, for a little while,” I say, trying not to humor the little jump in my chest that happens when she asks me questions about myself. “This boat trip has been a dream for a long time and it’s finally on the horizon.”
Clarissa smiles, maybe a little sadly. “Nothing like following your dreams,” she says.
I’m about to ask what her dream is when April comes back.
“Alright y’all, ready to order?” she asks with another award-winning smile.
“Yeah, I’ll have the Vamp Burger. And by rare, I mean raw,” I remind her.
“Of course, honey,” she quips back. “You ain’t my first vampire.”
She gives me a little wink before turning to Clarissa.
“And I’ll try the Lone Star Burger,” she replies.
“Excellent choice!” April says, scribbling down our orders. “I’ll be right back with your burgers.”
Once she’s left, I turn back to Clarissa, but she’s already opening her mouth to speak.
“Thanks again for helping me with the bathroom,” she says. “I’d really be screwed without you.”
I feel my cheeks grow cool again and hope that Clarissa doesn’t pick up on the even lighter pallor that gives away my embarrassment.
“Of course,” I say. “Happy to help.”
“So tell me more about your boat,” she says.
