“Why not?”
George gave him an enigmatic grin. “They start at 6:30 p.m. Don’t be late. Quickel is a stickler for punctuality.”
Tanner didn’t know Mayor Quickel very well, other than the man always ordered extra rolls and peppermill gravy with every meal he ate at the diner, even a hamburger and fries. “Got it.”
George looked around the almost empty lot. “Guess that’s it. On to a new chapter in my life.” He clapped Tanner on the shoulder and got into his car, an old jalopy he’d had for almost as long as he’d owned the diner.
Tanner waved goodbye but didn’t get into his Jeep rightaway, letting what had just happened sink in. He was officially the owner of Sunshine Diner. He could hardly believe it, but he had the paperwork in his hand to prove it.
Harper was right. He did need to celebrate. He glanced at his watch. It was only eight thirty. In his excitement over finalizing the diner purchase he’d skipped breakfast, and now his stomach was growling. Then he grinned. Today was Wednesday, and both he and Anita worked second shift tonight. There was a good chance she was home right now, and he couldn’t think of a better person to celebrate with. Of course, he wasn’t ready to tell her, or the staff, just yet. Mabel wasn’t coming back from her white-water rafting trip until next Wednesday, and he didn’t want to make an announcement until the entire Sunshine crew was available.
So what if Anita asked why he wanted to have breakfast with him? Easy answer: there was nothing wrong with two friends sharing a meal together. After talking with his mother Sunday afternoon, he’d made a convincing case for his and Anita’s friendship, enough that he believed what he was saying... almost. The important thing was that his mother had believed him. Since then she hadn’t said a peep about Anita.
He got into his Jeep and headed for her house. It wouldn’t be easy to keep this news to himself, but he only had to for a little bit longer.
***
Meow... meow...
Anita shoved a pillow over her face. For the past hour—at least it felt that long—Peanut had caterwauled nonstop. She grabbed her phone from the nightstand and checked the time. Seven thirty. Not all that early, but she’d had a tough time sleeping last night, and Wednesdays were her one opportunity to sleep in. Peanut apparently had other ideas—and he had interrupted a wonderful dream she was having about Tanner.
She crammed her pillow back behind her head, trying to reason with herself. She couldn’t shut off her feelings right away. That would take time. And so what if she’d had a dream about him? Dreams didn’t mean anything.
Better she concentrated on the news Harper had given her when she called on Sunday, asking to meet in front of the building. She had finally gotten in touch with the owner, and he was willing to set up a walk-through for them. “He didn’t say when exactly, but in the next few days.”
“Who is he?” Anita asked.
“He goes by Bob, no last name, which makes me wonder if he’s really named Bob. Anyway, he is interested in discussing a sale with the right owner. I figured we could at least do an outside inspection of #3 this afternoon, since there’s never anyone around downtown on a Sunday.”
That’s what they did, both of them making copious notes about the outward appearance of the building, including the crumbling asphalt right outside the back entrance. “We can ask him to fix all this up for you, or to lower the price so you can do the repairs yourself,” Harper had said when they were finished. “I’ll let you know when he’s ready to do the walk-through.”
Meow... meow...
She threw off her covers and marched out the door, still in the tank top and matching pajama shorts she’d thrown on last night. She didn’t bother to put on a jacket. She didn’t bother to scold Peanut either. He would ignore her anyway. A chill went through her, and she hurried.
Get the ladder. Climb the ladder. Get the cat. Put the ladder back.She knew the drill.
But when she got to the top rung, he was still in the center of the roof. “Don’t do this to me.” She was tired and cold and in no mood to deal with a fussy feline. When he didn’t move, she used a tried-and-true method: bribery. “Come on, Peanut,” she said in the baby voice she used on the rare occasions he decided to be cooperative. “Let’s get down from here and get a treat.”
He backed farther away.
“Darn, darn, darn.” After a second’s hesitation, she climbed up the rest of the rungs and gingerly maneuvered herself onto the roof. Lying on her stomach with her feet dangling over the edge, she yelled, “Get over here, you dumb cat!”
He dashed off into the weeping willow.
“Argh!” That was it. She was buying a set of earplugs. That way he could stay up here and meow himself hoarse.
She scooted back a few inches, then wagged her foot, feeling for the ladder behind her—
Crash!
No, no, no, no!She glanced over her shoulder. No ladder.
Anita scrambled to a sitting position and peered over the edge of the roof. There was the ladder, lying on her concrete patio, Peanut sitting next to it and looking up at her.
Meow.
Closing her eyes, she fought for calm, but instead she became dizzy. Her eyes flew open. She looked at the weeping willow. It had held Peanut’s weight, but it wouldn’t hold hers. Then her eyes darted to the opposite side where Mabel and her husband, Porter, lived. They were gone on their annual trip to Colorado and Wyoming and wouldn’t be back until next week.
