“I’m sure we can whip those up for you, Mrs. Chapman. In the meantime, can I top you up with some fresh coffee?”
“Please.”
The woman’s thankful smile causes a twinge in my chest. I’ve long suspected the reason she takes forever to make menu choices and again to finish her meals, is because she craves the company. Her weekly visits to the diner may well be the only social interaction she has since her husband passed away about ten years ago.
Becca and Kim still appear to be in conversation by the cash register when I walk up to the window and put in Mrs. Chapman’s order with Jason.
“What’s with her?” Becca asks, when I grab the pot from the coffee station behind the counter. I instantly bristle at the somewhat judgmental tone.
“She’s just lonely,” I answer sharply, jumping to the old woman’s defense. “She comes here to see a friendly face.”
Becca seems to read me right, because she immediately smiles apologetically.
“Of course. I didn’t mean to—”
“No worries,” I interrupt her, feeling a tad guilty about my own knee-jerk reaction to Becca. Hearing her talk about Gray may have had something to do with that.
This is stupid. It’s not her fault, or his for that matter; I’ve been unable to stop thinking about him. You’d think someone my age and life experience would be smarter than to spend time thinking about a guy who couldn’t be more clear on where he stands. Instead my head jerks up every time the door to the diner opens; secretly hoping it’s him. I’ve even held off bringing my SUV in to the shop to have them put on my winter tires because I’m too concerned how Gray will react when he sees me.
Ridiculous. After my shift, I’m driving straight to the shop.
“There you go, Mrs. Chapman.” I smile at her, topping up her cup. “Jason is getting your eggs ready. Won’t be long.”
“Thank you, dear.”
When Donna comes in at four, I take off my apron, grab my purse and coat, and say my goodbyes. Outside I can tell the temperature is dropping and a mean wind has picked up. The weather forecast included a chance for flurries this afternoon, but so far they’ve held out. Looking at the dark skies to the north, it won’t be long.
I drive the two blocks to Olson’s and pull into the wide driveway, my eyes automatically scanning for Gray, but I don’t see him. Tank spots me, though, and comes walking up as I’m getting out from behind the wheel.
“Hey, Robin. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Just wondering when you might have a chance to put my winter tires on?”
He looks toward the shop before turning back to me.
“Not today. I’m in the middle of a job I have to finish before the end of day and Gray is out on a call with the tow truck. We can do it tomorrow, though. Drop it off in the morning and I’ll give you a ride to the diner. I’ll have Kyle drop it off there when we’re done.”
I admit I’m a little disappointed Gray isn’t here, but I plaster on a smile for Tank.
“That’s great, but I start at six tomorrow morning. Can I drop by a little later? I can probably sneak out for a few minutes after the breakfast rush.”
He waves it off. “One of us’ll drop by and pick it up. Don’t worry about it.”
One of us. That could mean Gray.
Tank’s already heading back to the shop when I call out my thanks.
The next morning is busy, but every time I hear the door chime, my head bobs up. Finally, when I’m cleaning off a couple of tables in my section, Becca’s squeal has me turn around to see Gray walking in. My heart skips, but instantly drops like a rock as I watch Becca throw herself in his arms. I turn away when they seem to close tightly around her.
Gray
Last person I expect to see when I walk into Over Easy is fucking Becca Simms.
Fuck, it takes me a second to recognize her, even as she’s throwing herself against me. No sooner do her arms slip around my neck, I reach up to remove them. Prison made me uneasy with uninvited invasions of my space.
Oddly that didn’t seem to bother me with Robin.
My eyes immediately seek her out and I find her bent over a table on the other side of the diner, her back to the door, thank God.
“I heard you got out a few months ago.”
My head swings back to Becca, and I try to control the anger flooding me. I haven’t seen the woman since September 10, 2001. Not one single time.
I take an immediate step back when she lifts a hand to my chest and it hangs suspended for a moment before she drops it to her side.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I grind out in a low voice.
“I thought about you. Thought maybe…”
I shake my head sharply.
“Not happening. Not ever,” I bite off before turning my back on her, eyes searching for Robin, who seems to have disappeared.
I barely notice Becca slipping past me to tend to a table, but I can’t miss Kim who steps into my view.
“Go easy,” she says. “Not sure what’s going on, but you walk in, and I have one waitress almost in tears and another hiding in the washroom within minutes.”
Fuck.
“Sorry.”
Kim’s expression softens.
“I know y’are. Did you need a table?”
I shake my head, suddenly in a hurry to get out of here.
“Jimmy sent me to pick up Robin’s car.”
“Let me see where she is.”
I sit down on a stool at the counter while Kim goes in search of her. Becca returns, an uneasy smile on her face as her eyes meet mine.
“Can I get you anything?”
“I’m good. Look—” I start apologizing when a wave of her hand cuts me off.
“My bad. Don’t mention it,” she mutters, quickly turning her back to put an order in with the kitchen.
Robin appears from
