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Chapter 6
Alexander, Henry, and I arrived together at Molly’s Diner for lunch. A wave of happy nostalgia washed over me as I stepped through those familiar doors. The cozy red vinyl booths, the black-and-white checkered floor, the enticing aromas - it was just as I fondly remembered from my younger days.
I spotted Molly behind the counter, and she waved excitedly when she saw me. “Little Etta! My goodness, look how you’ve grown,” she exclaimed, coming over to hug me. “You look more and more like your dear father.” I smiled, touched that she still remembered us so well.
We slid into a booth, and Molly came by, notepad in hand. “Hmmm...now let me think, hon. BLT and chocolate malt?” she asked with a wink. I nodded eagerly. Some things never changed.
As we waited for our food, Alexander, and Henry entertained me with stories from their college days. Apparently, they were quite the pranksters back then. “Do you remember when we borrowed the Dean’s golf cart and drove it into the campusfountain?” Alexander said, laughing. “We had to fish it out at 3 AM!”
Their playful banter was contagious, and soon we were all chuckling loudly, much to the bewilderment of the other customers. It felt wonderful to laugh so freely.
Mayor Jenkins wandered in just then, squinting confusedly through his big gold spectacles. He made his way over to our table, beaming. “Janice! So nice to see you home again,” he said, vigorously pumping my hand. I smiled patiently. “It’s Etta, Mayor.”
“Of course, of course! My apologies, Janet,” he said, flustered. He then accidentally knocked over a nearby chair, trip over his untied shoelaces, and nearly upset a waitress’s tray of drinks as he bumbled away. I stifled a laugh watching his clumsy exit; some things definitely hadn’t changed.
Alexander and Henry chuckled affectionately at the Mayor’s familiar forgetfulness.
“Always meaning well, but mixing up names.” Alexander said, shaking his head with amusement. “Why, just last week at the town meeting, he called Lucia ‘Olivia’ no less than three times!”
I smiled, watching the Mayor amble over to the counter, still seeming perplexed. Some things in Pebble Point never changed.
Our food arrived promptly, and I relished every bite of my BLT, the flavors triggering nostalgic childhood memories. Molly’s cooking remained as delicious as ever, and the chocolate malt transported me back to carefree afternoons spent with friends in this very diner.
Alexander and Henry regaled me with more anecdotes between bites of their burgers. At that one lunch, I laughed more than I had in weeks back in the city. There was an undeniable warmth and genuineness to their humor.
Regrettably, our plates were cleared all too soon, signaling the return to the office. Expressing my gratitude to Molly on our wayout, I promised to return soon. Her affectionate hand squeeze carried a subtle reminder. “You take care now, Etta,” Molly said, emphasizing my name. “Don’t be a stranger!”
Stepping out into the sunshine, flanked by Alexander and Henry, the day appeared brighter, the air crisper. A smile played on my lips as the warm sunlight caressed my skin. As we ambled down the sidewalk, I noticed Alexander looking at me with an amused grin. I wondered if he detected the extra spring in my step. Something about our lunch together had lifted my spirits in a way I hadn’t felt in ages. Henry’s stories, Alexander’s laughter, and the cozy atmosphere of Molly’s diner combined to fill me with a sense of belonging I had been missing.
***
I was finishing up some notes on my computer when my phone buzzed with an incoming WhatsApp message. Glancing at the screen, I saw it was from Rachel and felt a rush of fondness for my friend back at the Chronicle.
Rachel’s message was typically witty, gently teasing me about my move from the big city to a sleepy small town like Pebble Point. “Hey, Smallville, how’s life treating you out there in the boonies?” she wrote. “Spotted any sea lions wandering down Main Street yet? I bet that drone malfunction back at the Chronicle seems tame compared to the wild excitement of beach living!”
I laughed out loud as I read Rachel’s playful jabs, imagining her delivering them in her deadpan sarcastic tone. Though I’d only been in Pebble Point a couple of days, I had to admit there was a marked contrast from the hustle and chaos of the Chronicle newsroom. But I didn’t mind the slower pace here. If anything, it was a refreshing change.
I tapped out a quick response. “Ha ha, hilarious! It’s only been two days! But get this - I already landed a new job!” I told Rachel about my impromptu interview at the publishing house earlier and how bizarrely it had all come together with Alexander being the CEO.
“Well, look at you, Ms. Speedy Gonzalez!” Rachel replied. “I shouldn’t be surprised, though; you always did have that magic touch. Let me know if you need an experienced investigative journalist to liven things up at that publishing house of yours. I could use a change of scenery!”
“Oh please, you’d be bored to tears here within a week,” I texted back. “I’m not sure there are enough single women in this small town to keep you entertained,” I added with a winking emoji, knowing Rachel would appreciate the gentle rib about her active dating life.
“Touche!” Rachel responded. “But really, Alexander is your new boss now? Professor Tall, Dark, and Handsome that you were so obsessed with back in the day? Dish all the deets!”
I felt my cheeks flush slightly, remembering how I’d gushed to Rachel about my crush on Alexander years ago. I quickly typed back: “It’s not like that! Strictly professional now. Probably. But it was a surprise to see him. I’ll tell you more later!”
***
I had just finished deciphering more of Jerry’s notes for marketing ideas when Lucia popped her head into my office. “How’s your first day going so far?” she asked with a warm smile.
“Oh, amazing!” I said, hoping I didn’t sound as overwhelmed as I felt.
Lucia chuckled. “Why don’t you take a little break? Come join me for some coffee in the lounge.”
I gladly accepted her offer, needing a reprieve from the endless spreadsheets and data that were still foreign to me. My mind had been spinning, trying to absorb and organize Jerry’s disorganized files. A break sounded heavenly.
As we walked down the hall lined with framed book covers, I admired Lucia’s graceful stride. She carried herself with an effortless poise that I hoped to emulate someday. She regaled me with amusing anecdotes about author meltdowns and comical mishaps around the office. I chuckled as she recounted the time an author threw a dictionary at one editor in a fit of rage over a lukewarm book review. Her stories made me laugh and eased my nerves. It was reassuring to know that even the veterans of the publishing world weren’t immune to crazy incidents now and then. Lucia’s amused twinkle in her eye as she shared the tales hinted she took it all in stride.
