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“Speaking of the diner, I hear you’ve been opening for Mom. And Reilly tells me you might have some insight about the financial state of things there.”
“I don’t mind opening. I’m an early riser. When I noticed Wanda was always there, every morning without fail, I offered to do the early shift a few times a week.”
“It doesn’t interfere with your classes?”
She shook her head. “It hasn’t yet.”
When he thought of her going to college, it reminded him of the way she’d been raised. “You said at Thanksgiving that you helped take care of your grandmother. That couldn’t have been easy. Especially at such a young age.”
She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and said, “No, it wasn’t easy, but she and I were close, and I was glad to do it. She was my best friend.”
Sam heard a hint of sadness in her tone, and it bothered him. He wanted to make it all better for her. “Did she go through chemotherapy?”
She took a sip of her coffee, then placed the half-empty cup on the table. “Grandmom never liked to go to the doctors, hated it. Swore they were all quacks.”
“So, by the time they caught the cancer, it was too late,” he surmised.
“Yeah,” she said, her voice soft and far away.
“You miss her, huh?”
“Sometimes, but she was in a lot of pain in the end.” Her voice trembled as she murmured, “I hated seeing her that way.”
He patted her thigh, needing to take away her sadness in some small way. “Well, I don’t know if it helps to hear this, but I think my mom considers you the daughter she never had.”
“Aw, I care about her too.” She shrugged. “I think she needs to hire a full time manager at the diner, though. Of course, I’m not sure she can afford it right now.” Her gaze landed on his, and he could see her worry. “Sam, I’m afraid if something isn’t done, she’ll lose the restaurant.”
He took one last swig of his coffee, then sat his cup next to hers before saying, “I won’t let that happen.”
“Short of declaring bankruptcy, I don’t see how you have a choice,” she muttered.
“I spent a good part of the morning looking everything over, and at first I had the same depressing thought. But I have an idea. I just need to talk to the others first.”
Her eyes widened. “What sort of plan?”
“A remodel. I want to turn the restaurant into a bar and grill.”
“It sounds great, but how will you get the funding? I’m not sure the bank will find that the restaurant is a sound investment.”
“We might not need a lot. I’ve got a little money saved back. Besides, with Vance and me doing the work and the five of us pooling our resources, I think it might be the best way to turn the diner around.”
“Our very own version of Applebees right here in Blackwater?”
“Something like that.” Sam reached out and cupped Julie’s chin, urging her to look at him. “How about we worry about the diner tomorrow?”
“Okay.” She crossed her legs and glanced over at the fire. “I love this time of year.”
Sam couldn’t pass up the chanced to learn a little more about her. “Is it the chillier weather or the holiday season you like?”
“Both.” She plucked at her sweatshirt and admitted, “I do get cold easily, but I love sitting by a warm fire. It reminds me of going to church camp when I was little.”
Sam imagined her as a young girl in pigtails and smiled. “I can see you roasting marshmallows and eating s’mores.”
She rubbed her belly. “Mm, there’s nothing better than s’mores.”
Sam tipped her chin up until he could see her eyes. “Nothing?” he murmured. “Not even gooey chocolate chip cookies with me?”
Julie clenched her eyes tight and let out a heavy breath. “I have a confession to make, Sam.”
