24. Lucas
Chapter 24
Lucas
T he bell overhead jingled as I walked into Dolly’s diner. To my surprise, the place was almost entirely empty. Usually, at that time of the morning, the diner was at its busiest. But then again, it was the day after the fair had ended. Maybe they were all sleeping in. Either way, there were still a couple of full tables and one or two figures up at the bar where Dolly was pouring coffee. The moment she saw me her smile widened, and she beckoned me over with those long red acrylic nails of hers.
“Hey there sugar!” she smiled, patting the counter for me to take a seat. “Let me get you a cup of coffee.”
“I can’t stay long, Dolly,” I replied, my voice hoarse. I didn’t sleep much the night before after everything fell apart with Beau. “I just came to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye? You leavin’ already?”
I nodded, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. “Yeah, it's time for me to get back home.”
Dolly's smile faded, concern etching her weathered features. “But sugar, you just got here. What about that handsome cowboy of yours? I thought for sure he’d turn your head. Y’all seemed so happy together.”
The mention of his name sent a sharp pain through my chest. I glanced down at the worn countertop, tracing a finger along its scratched surface. “It... it didn't work out.”
“Oh honey,” Dolly sighed, reaching across to pat my hand. “What happened?”
I shook my head, not ready to relive the heartache. “It… It’s because I’m a lying piece of shit.”
Dolly's eyebrows shot up. “Well now you need to have a cup of coffee,” she said, placing a mug down in front of me. “There’s a story there and I think it’s time you shared.”
“Dolly… I can’t…”
“Yes, you can,” another voice said to my left.
I turned to find myself face to face with a long gray braid and worn features. I hadn’t even noticed Mabel when I walked in.
“Then maybe you can explain to me why my boy came home so heartbroken last night.”
That was not the conversation I wanted to have, but it didn’t seem like I had a choice either.
I felt my throat tighten as Mabel's piercing gaze bore into me. Her weathered hands clutched a steaming mug, knuckles white with tension. I knew I owed her an explanation, but the words seemed to stick in my throat.
“I... I didn't mean to hurt him,” I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper.
Mabel's eyes softened slightly, but her posture remained rigid. “Start from the beginning,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
I took a deep breath, wrapping my hands around the coffee mug Dolly had placed in front of me. The warmth seeped into my palms, grounding me as I began to speak.
“I didn’t come here to scout for a food festival,” I admitted, shame coloring my words. “I… I came here to steal recipes for my co mpany’s next line of frozen dinners.” Dolly let out a small gasp because she’d personally walked me through every step of her pecan pie recipe. “But I’m not gonna go through with it,” I said, pulling a notebook out of my pocket and placing it on the counter between them. “That’s where all of them are and that’s where they’ll stay. I’m not even gonna take it back with me to New York.”
Mabel's eyes narrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line. “And Beau? Was he just part of your little scheme too?”
The accusation stung, but I couldn't blame her. I shook my head vehemently. “No, God no. Beau was... unexpected. I never meant to fall for him. It just happened.”
“But you lied to him,” Mabel pressed, her voice hard.
I nodded, unable to meet her gaze. “I did. And when he found out last night, he was devastated. I've never seen someone look so betrayed. But I couldn’t leave without telling him the truth. He… He deserved that much at least.”
Dolly reached out, patting my hand sympathetically. “Oh sugar, you sure have made a mess of things, haven’t you?”
“This wasn't just a mistake,” I said, my voice cracking. “A fucking stupid one too. I hurt him. I hurt all of you. And now I've lost the best thing that I’ve ever had.” I looked up at Mabel, hot tears falling down my cheeks. “He’s gonna hate me forever, isn’t he?”
Mabel's stern expression softened slightly as she watched the tears stream down my face. She let out a long sigh, her shoulders sagging. “Hate's a strong word, son. And Beau... well, he ain't one to hate easy.”
I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand, feeling foolish for breaking down in front of them. “You didn't see his face last night. The way he looked at me...”
“I may not have seen his face,” Mabel interrupted, “but I raised that boy. I know his heart.” She reached out, her weathered hand covering mine. “And I know he cares for you somethin' fierce.”
Hope fluttered in my chest, but I quickly squashed it down. “It doesn't matter. I betrayed his trust. I lied to everyone here. ”
Dolly leaned in, her voice low and soothing. “Listen here, sugar. We all make mistakes. Lord knows I've made my fair share. But it's what you do after that counts.”
I nodded, wiping away the last of my tears. “That's why I have to leave. I can't stay here and keep hurting him.”
Mabel's grip on my hand tightened. “Now hold on just a minute. Running away ain't gonna fix nothin’.” Her eyes, sharp as ever, held mine. “You came clean to Beau, you're leaving those recipes behind. Seems to me like you're trying to make things right.”
“But it's not enough,” I protested weakly.
“Maybe not,” Mabel conceded. “But it's a start. And Beau... well, that boy's got a heart bigger than Texas. He just needs some time to think things through.”
“I have to go back,” I repeated. “I don’t have a choice. My boss is gonna fire me and then I’m gonna lose my apartment. Logan and I both will.”
“Logan Baker was in on this too?” Dolly asked, her eyes wide.
I nodded. “Yeah. And he’s having this same conversation with his family right now.”
“What made you boys think this was a good idea?”
I shook my head. “Our boss told us to do this or be fired. And he offered us promotions if we succeeded. We can’t even afford to live in New York on our salaries right now. But with no job and a mountain of student debt each… we didn’t think we had a choice.”
“Sounds like your boss is a real asshole,” Mabel scoffed. It was the first time I’d ever heard her curse. “But folks out here ain’t like that. We take care of our own, we’re fiercely loyal, and we definitely don’t go tellin’ lies to people we love.”
I looked down at my untouched coffee, shame burning in my chest. “I know I messed up. I don't deserve his forgiveness or anyone else's.”
Mabel's hand squeezed mine gently. “Now, I didn't say that. What you did was wrong, no doubt about it. But you owned up to it. That counts for something. ”
Dolly nodded in agreement. “And honey, if there's one thing I know about Beau Turner, it's that he's got a heart of gold. He might be hurting now, but he's not one to hold a grudge.”
I shook my head, not daring to hope. “Even if that's true, I can't stay. I have to face the consequences back in New York.”
Mabel's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “What if you didn't have to go back? Forever I mean.”
I blinked in confusion at Mabel's words. “What do you mean?”
Mabel leaned in closer, her voice low but firm. “I mean, what if you stayed here in Sagebrush? Found yourself a job, made a fresh start?”
My heart skipped a beat at the suggestion, but reality quickly set in. “I... I can't. My whole life is back in New York. My job, my apartment...”
“A job you're about to lose and an apartment you can't afford,” Dolly chimed in, her red nails tapping thoughtfully on the counter. “Sounds to me like you ain't got much tying you there, sugar.”
I opened my mouth to argue but found I couldn't. They were right. What did I really have waiting for me back in New York? A tiny apartment I hated, a job I hated, and a life that didn’t feel like it was worth living. On the other hand, Sagebrush had everything I wanted, everything I loved.
“I’ll have to go back to pack my things up,” I said. “And I don’t have anywhere to stay here in Sagebrush.”
“We have a guest bedroom,” Mabel said, glancing my way as she took a sip of her coffee. “You know, the one you didn’t stay in when Beau snuck you into the house?”
Dolly snorted with laughter, but I was still unsure.
“Do you think Beau would allow that?”
“You leave Beau to me, darlin’,” Mabel replied, placing her cup down on the counter. “In the meantime, I need you to do two things for me.”
“Whatever you need. ”
She pushed the recipe book back toward me. “Take that back to Logan’s folks and burn it so they know he’s tellin’ the truth.”
“Alright,” I nodded. “And the second thing?”
“You’re gonna write a letter to Beau,” she grinned. “You’re gonna apologize, tell him how you truly feel, and…” She glanced up at Dolly, giving her wink. “You’re gonna leave your address so he can write you back. Leave the rest of it to me.”
I felt a glimmer of hope spark in my chest, but I tamped it down quickly. “Mabel, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I don't think-”
“Hush now,” Mabel interrupted, her tone leaving no room for argument. “You just do as I say. Sometimes, love just needs a little push in the right direction.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Mabel's words had stirred something inside me, a fragile hope I was afraid to nurture.
“Now,” Dolly said, sliding a pen and a sheet of paper across the counter. “You sit right here and write that letter. Pour your heart out, sugar. Don't leave anything unsaid.”
With trembling hands, I picked up the pen. For a moment, I stared at the blank page, overwhelmed by all I wanted to say. Then, taking a deep breath, I began to write, all my hopes and dreams resting on the tip of my pen.