6. Chapter 6
Edith
How could mom do that? What was she even thinking?
I filled the drive back to the diner by singing at the top of my lungs to some heavy metal. It helped me get my rage out so I wouldn’t throttle my sister when I saw her.
How could she give a stranger my number?
I pulled in behind the diner and parked. The music didn’t help calm me down. The moment I saw Evie’s car, I almost ripped my door off the hinges and ran inside.
Hanging my coat up, I tied my apron on and went up front. Evelyn sat at a table rolling silverware and no one else was in the restaurant.
“You little bitch.” I growled on my way to her. “Why did you give him my number?”
She shrugged and kept working.
“Don’t ignore me, Evelyn.”
She paused and tilted her head. “Edie, guys come in here all the time flirting and trying to hook up with us.”
“You. They do that with you.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“No.” She weaved her head. “They try to hook up and flirt with you too, but you miss it every. Time.” She picked up a bundle, pointing it at me. “Most are ass hats looking for a quick bang. But Frank? I dunno. He just feels different.”
“What do you mean, he feels different?”
Evelyn rolled her eyes and sat back, looking up at me. “It was in how he watched you. He didn’t leer at you. He wasn’t drooling or making an ass of himself. I watched him watch you. He was direct and genuine.”
“Look, Matthew is only nine.”
“This doesn’t have anything to do with Matthew.” She stood up. “He’s not the first kid with a single mom.”
“Yeah. Well.” I stepped closer to her. “Most guys don’t want to date a single mom. Let alone a single mom who still lives with her parents.”
She threw her hands up in the air. “Edith. Stop making excuses.”
“I’m not!”
“Fact check. You live next to our parents. Me? I live with our parents. Same house. Same bathroom. Same walls.”
“Fine. I live with my brothers.”
“No. You live in a fourplex. You have an apartment. Gene has one and Enoch has one. And Danny Carson lives in the last one to annoy his parents.”
“Yeah, but I am still dependent on them.”
Shaking her head, she got up into my face. “You’re looking for reasons to not give someone a chance. Something that could be good. Because you’re afraid of getting hurt again.”
“Who do you think you are? Doctor Phil?”
“God no!” She snorted. “I just know things sometimes.”
“Evelyn.” I grit her name through my teeth.
“Edith.” She mocked me and sat back down. “You know, he’s not hard on the eyes, Edie.”
“I’m not blind Evie.”
A smile spread across her face. “Mm-hmm. You did notice.”
“Shut. Up.” I sat across from her and helped roll silverware.
She raised her eyebrows. “Not everyone is Greg.”
“I know.” I blew a breath up and moved my bangs from my forehead. “But I have Mattie to think about. I won’t do anything that might upset his world.”
Nodding, my sister looked up at me. “I know.”
“Bryan Roberts starts tonight.”
Evelyn rolled her eyes. “Ugh. He’s such a pain in my ass.”
“He’s still in high school. You’re in college.”
“Remember when my skirt fell off at the vocal competition?” She sneered. “He was there and every time he sees me, he gives me shit.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
I shrugged, trying not to laugh. “You still got a first.”
“Edith! He saw my panties and then asked me if he could buy a pair.”
“I’m sure it was a dare by silly boys.”
She slapped her hands on the table. “ That gets a pass, but the sexy retired marine making goo-goo eyes at you needs to get bent?”
Laughter bubbled up and soon we’re both laughing so hard tears are falling. My baby sister was a pain in my ass, but my life wouldn’t be the same without her.
“Yo. Giggle-twins, lunch rush will be here soon. Get it together and get ready.” Gene snapped a towel at us.
“Boys.” Evie rolled her eyes and gathered the excess supplies to clean up the table.
This was home. This was where my life made sense.
And I’m not ready for a monkey wrench to be thrown in.
Evie and I handled the lunch crowd like pros. We were both running around and took turns calling out to the new patrons that came in when the bell rang.
Big E had music going on in the kitchen, and each time I went up to the window I’d catch a snippet, then I was off again.
I started two new pots of coffee and grabbed refills for the city workers when the bell jingled again.
“Welcome to That One Place.” I cast a glance over my shoulder and felt my stomach pitch as I saw Frank swagger towards the counter and take a seat.
I know Miss Cora had food in the house. Why the hell is he here again?
He flipped his cup over and as I set the fresh drinks down; I noticed Evie smile at him, and she walked away without filling his cup.
“Counter’s yours.” She gave me an evil grin and went to check on her other tables.
She’s such a brat.
I made my way to the counter and grabbed the coffeepot from the top burner and filled his cup. Without saying a word, I swapped it out for the freshly brewed pot and went to top off some of our regulars.
Gene manned the register and motioned for me to get my counter customer.
What is wrong with my family? Are they all trying to set me up?
I pushed my feelings down. And went to take his order.
“Know what you want?” I pulled my order pad out.
“Yeah. But I can wait.” He winked at me.
I snarled at him. “I meant to eat.”
“Me too.” He shrugged. “What’s the Irv special?”
“Tater tot casserole, covered and smothered.”
“What is tater tot casserole?”
“You’ve seriously never had it?” I leaned back against the counter.
He shook his head. “Can’t say I have.”
“Tater tots, covered in cream of mushroom soup with ground beef, shredded cheese on top.” I noticed someone waving at me. “Hold that thought.”
I made my way to the back booth as my sister passed me, heading to the counter. The customer wanted their check; I handed it over and went back to the counter.
“Hello, Evelyn.” His deep voice made my insides turn to mush, and he wasn’t even speaking to me.
“Hello, Francis.” She spun around with a carafe in her hand. “Need a warm-up?”
“I can wait.”
Giggling, she picked up a plate from the window and bounced off to deliver it.
“Warm up?”
Secretly I felt delighted that he waited for me. But that still didn’t mean I wanted to go on a date with him.
“Please.”
As I filled his cup, I avoided making eye contact. “You ready to order?”
“What’s it covered and smothered with?”
“Onions, pepper jack cheese and more of the meaty gravy.”
“Miss!” a patron called out.
“Excuse me.” I put the carafe back and ran over to take care of the ladies from church.
When I got back to the counter, he smiled and pushed his empty cup towards me.
Hell, I thought I drank a lot of coffee …
Refilling his cup, I glanced up into his blue eyes.
Fuck me, those are gorgeous eyes.
They reminded me of Superman’s blue eyes, though I’m sure Frank’s not a superhero.
“What kind of gravy?”
“Anyone ever tell you, you ask more questions than a child?”
“It’s a gift.” He flashed me a smile and my knees almost buckled.
I heaved a sigh. “Your choice. Dad’s standard for that meal is brown. However, some people prefer the sawmill gravy.”
“What’s sawmill.”
“Where have you been that you lack basic food knowledge?”
He shrugged. “Wherever Uncle Sam sent me. Mostly in sandboxes.”
Stop being an asshole, Edith.
“Sawmill is a cream based gravy.”
“Soooo?” He raised an eyebrow at me, and my body tingled.
No. We are not getting excited over this man.
“White.”
He folded his hands on the counter. “Which do you prefer?”
“Depends.” I shrugged. “What am I eating?”
“What do you want to eat?” He leaned over and graced me with a sexy smirk.
Groaning, I turned and picked up two plates in the window and dashed off.
Oooo Look at me, I’m cool. I’m a smooth talker. If he thinks he’s breaking down my walls. He’s got another thing comin’
After I bussed a few tables, and Evie cashed some people out, I came back and refilled his coffee again.
“What’s the Big E burger?”
What the hell?
“Double patty, blue cheese, mushrooms on a pretzel bun.”
“Blue cheese is an odd choice.”
I thumbed behind me at the big man cooking. “See him? It’s his creation.”
“There’s no Edie special.” He flipped the menu around for emphasis.
“Sure there is.” Evie said as she swapped coffee urns and started a fresh pot one handed. “You just have to know where to look.”
He stroked his beard in thought. “Do you have soup?”
“We do.” I nodded.
“What kind?”
“Today, the soup is broccoli cheese.” I sighed. “You testing me?”
“Maybe.” He smiled. “What’s Cincinnati spaghetti?”
“Pasta with chili.”
“And the covered?”
“Cheese and onion.”
“You sure know your menu.”
“Funny how that happens after working here for years.” I cocked my hip and crossed my arms over my chest. “Figure out what you want yet?”
“Oh, I knew what I wanted last night.”
I felt my eyes roll back in my head. “Do you ever give up?”
“Tell me to give up. Tell me flat out there’s no spark here.” He motioned between us. “And I’ll back off.”
Time stood still. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. He’s been the first man to really pursue me, and he’s serious.
I would be an idiot to give that up because dammit … it felt amazing.
“Let me know when you’re ready.” Spinning, I slipped through the doors, heading to cool off in the walk-in.
Leaning on some boxes, my heart raced. I felt like I’m going to faint. When the door whipped open, I jumped.
“Did he upset you? Should I get my bat? You want I should bump him?” She spoke like an old-school gangster.
“You need to watch yourself.” I patted my chest, trying to calm my heart. “You’re sounding more and more like a Cordova.”
She lifted her shoulder, shrugging. “So am I taking him out, or not?”
“Calm down, Evie. I’m fine. I was really hot from running all around.”
“Okay. Because you know I have your back, right?”
Smiling, I saw the murderous look in her eyes and held back my laughter. “I know.”
With a nod, she closed the door, and I busted out laughing. First, she tried to hook me up with him and now she might kill him.
Someone knocked on the door, and I stepped over, opening it to see Frank smiling at me. “I think I’ve decided. I’ll take the Irv. Covered and smothered.”
Laughing, I nodded. “Tell Big E on your way to your seat and I’ll bring you a salad.”
“What if I don’t want a salad?”
“Tough. After what you ate for breakfast and what you just ordered, you’ll need it for balance.”
“Mmm, that mouth.”
“Go on, now!” I laughed and closed the door.
Shit. I thought he was going to kiss me. Do I want him to kiss me? When was the last time I was kissed?
Memories rushed back.
I walked into the diner in Triton Falls to meet Greg and Lori Barron sat across from him. Again. When she saw me, she gave me a little smirk, got up, walked around the table, and wrapped her arms around him.
I waited for him to push her away. He never did.
Chuffing, I made the salad for Frank, taking my time arranging all the vegetables as I remembered sitting in the basement at his parent’s house. My family didn’t know he contacted me to talk.
He paced like a caged tiger and threw his beer across the room.
“Throwing things doesn’t change the outcome.” I held back my tears.
“How did this happen, Edith? We were careful.”
“I know.”
“Did you do this on purpose? Like Victoria?”
“What? Why would I do that?”
“You heard I got a scholarship and planned to leave. Lori told me you staged this, so I’d stay.”
“What is wrong with you? We’ve been together for three years. I thought you knew me better than that.”
“Yeah, I thought I did too.” He punched the wall. “I’m not giving up my chance at a great future because you’re knocked up.”
A lone tear escaped as I sat there in stunned silence.
My kid sister knew he was a dick. She never trusted him. And I should’ve listened to her.
I watched him run his hands through his hair. He’s not upset, he’s pissed off.
“I thought you loved me?” My voice shook.
“C’mon, Edie, you can’t be that pathetic.” His sardonic tone cut through me. “Yeah, I said I loved you, but I don’t anymore.” He stopped pacing. “I’m not paying for some fucking mistake for the rest of my life. I have some money in savings, we can take care of it.”
“We?” I stood up. “We?”
“Yeah. We. I’ll drive you there.”
“Fuck you.”
He pulled out his phone, did something on it, and then tossed it down.
“This is a fucking mistake.” He growled. “I don’t want it.”
“No one asked you to want it.” I snapped and bent down to get my purse.
I heard the door to the basement open, and Lori came down the stairs, glowering. “Seriously, Edith, coming over to beg him to stay with you after that silly display your sister put on at the pub.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” My hands balled into fists. “He asked me to come over.”
“Whatever.” She shook her head and held out an envelope. “There’s three hundred bucks. It’s enough to clean up your mess.”
“Fuck you both. This is my child, and we don’t need you.” I shoved her out of my way. “You deserve each other.” I stormed out of the house and hadn’t spoken to him since.
Stepping from the walk in, I saw Frank in the kitchen talking to Enoch. “What are you doing?”
“Learning.” He shrugged.
“I have your salad.” He stepped over to me and took it.
“Thank you.” He flashed me a smile and fist bumped with Big E. “I can’t wait to eat this. It looks amazing. Thanks, Big E.”
“You got it. Come back to learn more anytime.” My brother did his signature spatula flip.
Frank took my hand and led me back to the counter. He took his seat, and I gave him a bundle of silverware.
“Do I get dressing?”
“Pfft.” I rolled my eyes. “I suppose.”
“Oh, you got jokes now.” He smiled bigger.
“You don’t strike me as a ranch kinda guy.” I snapped my fingers. “I know.” He watched me disappear through the door and I came back with a small cup of dressing. “Try this.”
Frank narrowed his eyes. “Is it Russian?”
“It is.”
He shook his head. “You’re damn good.”
Laughing, I went over to help Evie out, leaving him to eat in peace. When his plate was ready, Enoch brought it out himself and stood there chatting with Frank.
Great. He’s won over two of my siblings. What’s next?