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Baylee sat back and smiled. “Enough about me. How are you?”
Did her thoughts show on her face? Did Baylee know about her run-in with Chet? Wait. Baylee was changing the subject, trying to turn the attention away from her sadness.
Meg smiled. “Nice try.”
“What?”
“It’s okay to talk about how hard things are right now, Baylee.” It was also okay for them to not talk about Meg. Or Chet. Or any other guy that might invade Meg’s thoughts.Sheesh.What was wrong with her? She didn’t think about guys. There was too much else in her life for that. She forced her attention back to her friend.
“I know that. I just did. We don’t need to dive in deep though. It is what it is. Drew and I will get through it, and I have Casey and the bakery and lots to keep me busy. I’m just saying I miss him is all.” She smiled and took a sip of water.
Baylee also owned the most popular bakery in town, Baylee’s Bakery. Her pastries and cupcakes were a big reason Meg had torun every morning. Their friendship added more calories to her waistline than she cared to admit.
They both looked at Casey. He’d drawn what looked like the beginnings of a dragon head, his artistic skills way beyond that of most kids his age. Beyond most anyone no matter how old.
The bell over the door rang again and Meg turned. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a dark-blue uniform. Her heart skipped a beat.
Chet.
She turned farther in her seat to see two firemen, but not Chet. Her shoulders relaxed a bit as she shifted back toward Baylee.
“You look disappointed.” Baylee took another sip of water and attempted to hide her smile behind her glass but failed.
“Why would I be disappointed? Two more customers mean business for the diner and that’s always a good thing.”
Baylee set her glass back down. “But it’s not the customer you were hoping to see, is it?”
“Stop.”
Baylee laughed.
Maureen, the waitress working that morning, chose the perfect time to show up with a plate of food in each hand. Meg smiled at her, a silent thank-you for diverting the conversation from where it was headed, which—with Baylee—was to tease Meg any time Chet came into the diner. Being swept off her feet by Drew had caused her friend to get romantic about everyone in life, and for some reason, she thought Chet and Meg would be a good match. Meg worked continuously to assure Baylee she was way off base.
“Here you go,” Maureen said as she set one plate in front of Casey. “Stack of pancakes with butter only.” Casey looked up to say thank you, then went immediately back to his drawing.
“And scrambled eggs with bacon for you, Baylee.” Maureen smiled as she set the plate down. “Good to see you both here this morning.”
“Thank you, Maureen. It’s good to see you, too. How are the grandkids?”
Meg welcomed the change in conversation. Maureen was one of her best waitresses. She’d lived in Silver Bay most of her life and didn’t need to work but loved that her job at the diner kept her busy. Her kids were grown and her husband passed away too young from cancer. Only in her late fifties and in great shape, she doted on her grandkids and was a part of the Silver Bay community.
“They’re coming over this afternoon to carve pumpkins. I’m so excited. This is my favorite time of year.”
“I love it, too,” Baylee agreed. Although Meg could read in her eyes that it wasn’t as much fun as it used to be with Drew gone for most of it.
“You two enjoy your breakfast and let me know if there’s anything else I can get you.”
Maureen winked again and patted Meg’s arm as she walked away.
The door to the diner opened and a couple entered, followed by a group of four. The breakfast rush was blowing in like leaves with the fall breeze.
She stood up from the booth. “I need to get moving. Things are going to pick up here now.”
“Thanks for sitting a minute with us.”
“Of course.” Meg leaned down and hugged her friend. “Enjoy your breakfast, Casey.”
Casey looked up at her. “Do you want to watch baseball together?”
