CHAPTER THREE
KYLA
The bell over the diner door rings as we enter during the evening rush. It smells heavenly here, like coffee and good food.
The ambiance is casual, but Iris’s Table is pretty.
The diner is a simple, clean space with booths that are flanked by black vinyl-covered benches, tables with white lace tablecloths and little vases of fresh wildflowers on every table and booth.
There’s a white-topped central bar surrounded by black vinyl stools that are bolted to the floor, but being in this place after this day feels like a warm hug from a friend.
Immediately, I relax a bit. I’m just happy to be out of the truck and off the road for a while. Thank goodness for Cohen and his help. He was so nice, and Laney seemed to take to him, but then again, Laney wears her heart on her sleeve.
Just like her mom. That is something that I need to change for both of our benefits. I need to stop giving my heart to someone that doesn’t deserve it.
“Come on in! Seat yourself. I’ll be over in just a minute,” a tall woman with salt and pepper hair in a side braid calls out from behind the counter.
“Let’s grab a booth, sweetie.” I grip Laney’s hand and let her lead us to a booth. We slide in, and I peer out the window at the quaint downtown we’ve landed in that’s full of busy shops that line both sides of the streets. I see a cute bookstore whose sign reads Just One More Chapter.
I’d love to be able to eat dinner and go over there. I could use a new romance novel, and I’m certain Laney could find something she’d enjoy as well.
Maybe someday soon, I will get us out of this mess.
The lady that greeted us comes over. She looks at Laney and then me, and I don’t know why, but I have an odd feeling, like this woman sees me.
“Are you all passing through?” she asks gently as she slides the menus in front of us along with napkins, straws, and a cutlery bag.
“I’m not sure...”
My fingers tighten on the menu. I don’t know why, but it seems wrong to be anything other than honest with her.
She nods like that makes perfect sense. “Well, I’m Iris. What can I get you?”
“Fries! Cohen says you’ve got the best fries!” Laney happily answers, and my tension eases just a bit more from the smile on her precious face.
I’d give anything to erase every sad moment that she’s had, especially the last one, but I’ll make sure her future is better. That’s where I need to focus: on the things that I can change.
Iris laughs and then asks Laney, “Does he now?”
“Yes, ma’am. It’s what he said, isn’t it, Mommy?”
“He did say we needed to order fries. Laney, do you want a grilled cheese?”
“Yes, please, and chocolate milk to drink.” Laney slides the menu toward Iris.
“We have a great grilled cheese. Excellent choice, young lady. And for you?” Iris gazes at me over her notepad.
I need to keep an eye on our money. I’ll just snack on a few of Laney’s fries and have a cup of coffee because if I can’t figure out a place for us to stay for the night, I'll just drive on to North Carolina as planned. I don’t really know where we are going.
I liked the idea of the beach, and there should be some type of job for me in a tourist town.
Plus, the farther away we can go, the better off we are.
“I’ll just have a cup of coffee, please.”
“Just coffee?” Iris’s eyes see way too much, or my every thought is written on my face.
“Yes, please.”
Iris nods again. “I’ll get your food right out.” She gathers the menus and bustles off to the kitchen.
I question every decision that I've made over the last several years, and I especially question my decision to offer one more chance. That decision is what landed us here.
“You’re not hungry, Mommy?”
“No, sweetie, I’m not hungry.” I rub at my temples and the slight headache that is blooming there. It’s probably stress-related.
A server drops off our drinks. I add sugar and cream to the cup, and before I finish stirring it, our order has arrived.
Iris bounds over, lifting a plate heaped with fries, and settles it in front of Laney.
Her eyes go wide and she whispers, “That’s a lot of fries.” Her little face is beaming with delight.
Gosh, it feels good to have a little bit of joy.
“You said my nephew Cohen recommended them. I couldn’t disappoint you.” Iris grins as she sets down a glass of milk for Laney, then slides a plate with the same order as Laney’s in front of me.
“On the house, and if by chance you think that you might want to stay in Silver Lake and you’d be interested in a job, I could use the help. My nephews keep telling me that I work too much. And if you need a place to rest, I can help with that, too.”
I blink in shock at Iris, dumbfounded. My brain is trying to process everything this kind stranger has just said and done. She doesn’t even know me.
She pats my shoulder. “Sometimes we all need a hand.”
I search for the right words to say. I look across the table at a smiling Laney, who has fries in one hand and a grilled cheese bigger than her face in the other.
“Yes.” I say the word automatically before fear can interrupt, before the doubt creeps in and makes me refuse this random kindness.
Later, while lying in an old but warm bed under a ceiling fan that hums softly, I listen for the sounds that never come.
No angry footsteps. No slamming doors. No ugly words shouted at me. Just the quiet night and the soft breathing of Laney sleeping beside me.
I close my eyes and relish the peace. I’m excited about tomorrow, which is new, and I’m excited about what this small town might offer us.
As I drift off to sleep, I’m thankful for the kindness of strangers and the memory of Cohen Roman and his hard-working hands.