Chapter 12 Lucy
He can cook, really well, and he wanted to. I don’t know why he offered to help, but I’m thankful he did. The potatoes took almost as long as my cherry pies. If he hadn’t stayed, I would have had to go without the special item on today’s breakfast menu.
Gravy takes a few minutes to whip up, and by then Mawmaw’s waltzing in. She stops when she sees the two heaping tins of potatoes and my pies cooling on the rolling racks.
“You’ve been busy, what time did you get here?” She scolds.
Shaking my head, I can’t help the smile that blooms on my lips. “I had an unexpected extra set of hands this mornin’.”
“Were these hands attached to a tall, handsome, and very persistent man?” She probes and I turn away, hoping she doesn’t see the blush that’s been a permanent stain since Reese showed up.
Scoring the cherry pies we’ll sell here at the diner in slices, I pretend I didn’t hear her question. I’m not ready to admit I’m intrigued by Reese to anyone, especially Mawmaw. I love her, but sometimes she’s a downright nosey Nelly and I simply don’t have the bandwidth.
Remembering the way she guided Spencer toward Heath–which we all knew was inevitable–I want whatever’s blossoming here to be mine. For a little while at least.
Okay, mine and Indy’s. I’m dying to tell her what happened this morning.
“Would it have anythin’ to do with the oldest Walker boy comin’ into the diner every day this week?” She persists.
“Now why would you say somethin’ like that?” Placing the knife on the table beside the pie, I turn to give her a bland look.
“Considerin’ he rushed outta here like a man on a mission, and I wasn’t born yesterday, I’d like to think I’m smart enough to put two and two together.” Her hands hit her hips and she smirks, as if to say checkmate hussy.
“He said it was a family thing,” I shrug, worry gnawing at my gut but I push it down. It’s not my place.
“Mhmm,” she nods, looking back at the potatoes. “And these?”
“Turns out he’s a pretty good cook.”
“I see,” she smirks and walks past me toward the front.
Through the kitchen doors, I watch as she busies herself and doesn’t come back until it’s nearly time to flip the CLOSED sign to OPEN.
I’ve gotten everything prepped and ready for the morning rush.
Biscuits are close to coming out of the oven now, as people start to trickle in.
Sausage is frying on the skillet, along with bacon and I’ve gotten some farm fresh eggs resting on the counter waiting for orders.
Mawmaw clips the guest tickets onto the rotating lazy susan for me to cook, and I set about filling orders with muscle memory. It’s been a minute since I ran the kitchen alone, but I have to admit, I love it.
Once the morning rush starts to slowly die down I’ve run out of the fiesta potatoes and pancake batter. Though, I saved a plate for me and Mawmaw to share. Reese’s potatoes were a hit, everyone’s been complimenting them. I only wish I had a way to thank him.
Once the diner clears of patrons, Mawmaw and Sydney walk through the kitchen doors. Sydney pulls her apron off and disappears into the staff bathroom. Mawmaw eyes the potatoes that are left and smiles.
“Cover those bad boys in cheese, and I’ll cook us up some bacon,” she laughs, pulling the brown butcher paper wrapped bacon from the fridge. Following her instructions, I melt a couple slices of cheese over the potatoes and wait for the bacon to be done frying.
We’re all so tired that when Sydney opens the bathroom door, the only sound in the diner is the bacon popping on the skillet.
We eat quickly, downing our food with a glass of Mawmaw’s sweet tea. After we eat we have to start getting ready for the lunch rush, especially since I saw the trailers rolling in with plenty of hungry cowboys and girls in them.
Lunch consists of burgers smashed on the grill loaded with cheese, onions, slaw, and our secret family chili. Fries and onion rings bubble up in the fryer as I wipe my brow. Looking down at the towel Reese offered me earlier threatens to ignite a swarm of bees in my stomach.
Until Mawmaw rings the bell in the window of the kitchen, “I need a crispy fry for table three!”
Dropping the fries I just took out, I wait for them to turn a deeper brown before pulling them out of the fryer to dry over a metal rack. Baskets come back and forth through the window when Mawmaw asks me to come to the front.
Getting as many orders done as I can, I’m wiping my hands as I come through the door to find Briar and Colt standing at the counter. Briar looks upset, as if she’s been crying, and Colt…
Well, purple spreads under his left eye, his bottom lip is split and if his knuckles weren’t hidden in his pockets, I’d probably see the skin of them bruised and split.
“What happened?” I ask, rushing around the counter to look Briar over. I know Colt wouldn't ever lay a hand on her, so I’m not sure what I’m looking for. She doesn’t say anything, only looks at Colt with a mixture of emotions I can’t name. They flit so fast on her features I can’t pinpoint them.
“Jarrett Walker,” Colt rumbles, and I have to pause for a second. I’ve never heard Colt speak that way, like he was spewing venom through his words. Then I remember how Reese left this morning.
Turning back to look at Mawmaw, she nods and lets me know she can handle the diner. Once I grab my things I walk them out through the kitchen toward my truck.
When we’re in the truck I turn so I can see both Briar and Colt squished beside me on the bench seat.
“What happened?” I ask again, hopefully this time I’ll get more than a name.
Briar nudges Colt, but he just shakes his head and looks down at his lap.
“Colt and Jarrett got into a fight last night. Now Jarrett’s missing and Sheriff Folley stopped us on the way to Dads to chat.” Briar says, her voice is filled with apprehension and it’s clear she’s overwhelmed.
“Jarrett’s missing?” I whisper, turning my head as if I can peer into the diner to remember the conversation Reese and I had before he left.
“Yeah, and Colt’s the last one who saw him,” she snips. Colt has the good sense not to look at either of us.
“Colt, tell me exactly what happened.”