20. Clara
CLARA
The twang of a country music song greets us the second the kids and I walk into Pip’s diner.
After a successful day registering at Summer Elementary School, I promised Tommy and Billie a celebratory meal at the diner; a much-needed treat for the three of us.
I can’t remember the last time we went out for dinner as a family, not even back in West Virginia.
I was so scared filling out the registration papers at the school.
I knew I needed to provide documentation that I simply couldn’t risk giving.
But thankfully, it seems Mama Joy is a bit of an institution in this town.
And, with a few pulled strings, Billie and Tommy are officially enrolled to start class come Monday, with absolutely no paper trail.
God, I owe that woman more than I can even begin to fathom.
All I want is what’s best for my babies. And I know once they’re back in school, they’ll start to feel a little more at home as we navigate whatever this new normal is.
I haven’t seen Cole since he dipped out of the club on Saturday night.
He texted me the day after, apologizing, telling me he was out of service and out of town.
And, I know I don’t know him that well, but there was just something off about his messages.
Tone is never easy to pick up in text form, and it’s usually pointless even trying to decipher it, but there was something wrong.
I didn’t pry though. I just kept it casual and left it at that.
And I haven’t heard from him since, which is kind of telling if I’m honest.
Finding an available booth by the front window, we slide in and don’t waste any time looking at the menu.
“Order whatever you guys want,” I say, winking at Billie when her big eyes light up. “I think I’m gonna get the cheeseburger with extra pickles, and I’m totally getting dessert.”
“Dessert?” Billie practically explodes.
I nod. “You bet. But after we eat something… semi-nutritious.”
“I’m gonna get the fried chicken sandwich.” Tommy folds his menu and tucks it neatly back between the ketchup and mustard bottles.
I grin, turning to Billie knowing she can’t read much on the menu. “What about you, Bil?”
“I want chicken tenders and mac and cheese,” she says, clasping her hands together beneath her chin and offering a toothy grin. “Please.”
“What can I get y’all?”
I’m startled by an older lady appearing at our table, notepad and pencil prepped in her hands and a welcoming smile wrinkling her weathered face.
I give her our order and she writes it all down before glancing at me again. “You’re new in town, huh?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“Well, my name’s Pip and this is my place.” She waves a hand in the air, indicating our surrounds. “And all newbies get their choice of complementary pie with ice cream.”
With a gasp so big Billie almost passes out, she gazes up at Pip like she’s Santa Claus incognito. I stifle a laugh, trading a knowing glance with the woman.
“Y’all give me a holler if you need anything.” Pip winks and spins on her white sandshoes, moving about the diner like she, well, like she owns the place, I suppose.
“She’s nice.” Tommy smiles.
“Everyone here is nice, Tommy,” Billie adds, matter-of-factly. “I really love Mama Joy. Do you know she said I can visit her at her house any time I want, and she has a horsey.”
“Mama Joy lives at the ranch,” I say. “Where Cole works.” I realize as soon as the words leave my mouth that I shouldn’t have brought him up, because suddenly the topic of conversation is all Cole.
“Where is Cole?” Tommy asks.
“I miss Cole.” Billie sighs.
“He said he’d take us to a rodeo some time,” Tommy adds, his face lighting up in a way I’ve never seen it light up before.
“He did?” I quirk a brow.
He nods.
“I wanna go to a radio,” Billie says.
“Rodeo,” Tommy emphasizes. “It’s this place where cowboys like Cole ride bucking bulls in the middle of an arena and they gotta try stay on for, like, eight minutes or something, and at the end, whoever stays on longest wins money.”
“Real bulls?” Billie’s eyes go wide. “Like Ferdinand.”
Tommy nods.
“Can we go, Mommy?” Billie bounces in her seat all excited.
“Well, I-I don’t—” I don’t know what to say because I haven’t seen Cole since he rushed out of Meow’s on Saturday night like his ass was on fire.
With the kids looking at me hopefully, I’m at a loss for words, and all I can do is play dumb.
“I-I… we’ll see. Cole might be busy. I haven’t seen him in a few days, so I don’t—”
“There’s Cole!” Billie exclaims so emphatically she attracts the attention of almost everyone in the diner.
Turning my head so fast I feel my neck crack, I’d assumed Billie was wrong, mistaking one of Summer’s many cowboys for Cole, so when I see him walking casually through the door to Pip’s, removing his cowboy hat as he enters, I can’t say I’m not surprised, and more than a little hurt.
“Hey, Cole!” Tommy yells over the music, waving excitedly.
Looking our way, Cole’s eyes flare a touch like he’s just as surprised to see us, but I don’t miss the way his smile falters. It happens so quickly I almost didn’t clock it, but the uncertainty’s there and it causes my stomach to knot.
“Oh, h-hey you guys,” Cole says, crossing the diner toward us.
And, that’s when I see it. Or, her, rather, and suddenly the last few days of silence make total sense.
Following Cole is a beautiful woman with long, glossy auburn hair that falls almost to her waist, amber eyes, and a smattering of freckles dotted across her nose.
Dressed in a light-blue sundress and tan cowboy boots, she’s jaw-dropping, and as she sidles up next to Cole, I have to admit, the two of them are a perfect match.
“Who’s that?” Billie asks, pointing at the red head.
“Billie, don’t point,” I chastise quietly, flashing the woman a rueful smile yet unable to meet her eyes.
Cole’s gaze flits to me before turning to his friend. “Oh, this is… um…” he croaks, seemingly lost for words. “This… this is—”
“I’m Bailey.” The woman smiles, and of course she’s even more beautiful when she smiles, dimples and perfect teeth, and all. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Billie.” Billie smiles obliviously.
“Billie and Bailey?” Bailey laughs. “Did we just become besties?”
Billie’s cheeks flush.
Cole clears his throat. “Um, Bailey, this is Billie, Tommy”—he holds his hand up in Tom’s direction—“and their… um… their mama. Clara.” He nods at me.
“Howdy, y’all.” Bailey waves, her smile so genuine and infectious, it’s impossible not to immediately like her.
“Pip said we get free pie and ice cream ’cuz we’re new,” Billie boasts.
“Oh, girl”—Bailey gasps—“you gotta get the Texas trash pie, it is… better than heaven.”
“Trash pie?” Billie scrunches her face up.
“Trust me!” Bailey holds her pinkie up and Billie links hers with it, the two sharing some kind of sworn secret right in front of my face. I can’t help but feel more than a little rejected.
I shift in my seat, clearing my throat, flashing Cole a glance only to find him already watching me. I force a smile, looking past him and praying to whatever god will listen that our meals arrive sooner rather than later.
“You wanna eat with us?” Billie asks, staring up at Bailey in awe.
“Billie,” I chide quietly, my eyes flitting to Cole and his date. “Let them be.”
Billie’s little shoulders fall.
“Well, y’all enjoy your meal.” Cole nods.
“It was nice to meet y’all.” Bailey smiles looking around the table and as she walks off, following Cole to the lone booth in the far corner. I don’t miss the way she glances at me over her shoulder, an unreadable smile ghosting her lips.
Silence settles around the table and I glance at the kids, forcing a smile I know doesn’t reach my eyes. “So, what pie are you guys gonna have?”
Billie grins smugly. “Texas trash pie, of course.”
I turn to Tommy, noticing the way he’s suddenly so quiet, staring down at the paper napkin he’s shredding to pieces.
“You okay, Tom?”
He looks up then, and so much like me, he forces a smile that doesn’t meet his eyes. And because he and I are twin flames, I immediately know.
I have no right to be feeling the way I am right now.
Sure, perhaps I read a little too much into things with Cole, maybe allowed my mind to get carried away, but there was nothing there.
Aside from a few shared glances and the occasional touch, Cole is just a…
friend, someone who was willing to help.
It was stupid and careless of me to ever think it was or could have been anything more.
God, I just left my abusive ex, for chrissake.
I have no business worrying about men in that way right now, especially not men seven years younger than me.
But Tommy doesn’t see it like that. And I can’t help but blame myself for allowing him to get closer to Cole than he’s ever gotten to a man before.
“Here we are, folks.”
I’m pulled from my thoughts to see Pip delivering our meals, placing the plates down onto the table.
“It looks delicious,” I say, snuffing out the awkward silence.
“I got extra fries out back if y’all want ’em, okay?”
“I think this is more than enough, huh kids?”
Tommy and Billie nod, chiming in unison, “Thank you.”
“Did y’all decide what pie you want?” Pip asks, looking to the kids.
“Trash pie!” Billie practically squeals.
“It’s a crowd favorite.” The lady chuckles, looking to Tommy. “What about you, handsome?”
He lifts a shoulder. “The same is fine, thank you.”
“Three trash pies with two scoops each comin’ right up,” Pip says.
“Actually”—I stop her, holding my hand up—“would it be okay if… if we took the pie to go?”
Pip’s eyebrows tug together, her kind smile remaining. “Well, of course hon. I’ll box ’em up and pop in a side of ice cream.” She winks at me again and turns, hurrying to a waiting customer across the diner.
At that moment, I look up and meet Cole’s piercing gaze across the space, finding something unexpected in his eyes. But before I can think too much, I turn away quickly, focusing on my food and offering Tommy and Billie a tight smile as I say, “Let’s eat.”