Another day had dawned, and she was in Crossroads for a reason. There were things to do and people to see, so she got up and dressed, made herself a cup of coffee and some toast, and then set up a little office area in the kitchen, with her printer and laptop. Wi-Fi was strong, and so was her phone signal. If there was a need for her workplace to contact her, she was good to go.
She worked through the first part of the morning on work from her job, then began checking real estate estimates, and making notes of small repairs to the house that needed to be done. There was a loose pane in one of the kitchen windows, because it rattled a little in the wind. She was going to need a handyman for several projects.
When noon rolled around, she shut down the laptop, brushed her hair and grabbed her purse and keys, and paused to zip her coat up against the wind as she left the house. She was going to lunch at the Yellow Rose to thank Pearl in person, but most of all, she didn’t want to be alone.
The parking lot was already filling up when she arrived, so she made sure to park where she wouldn’t get blocked in and wasted no time getting in out of the cold.
The Rose was warm and lively and full of people talking and eating and having discussions with the people at the tables around them. It was like being at a family reunion, and trying to make sure you caught up on all the new family gossip.
She saw an empty seat at one of the little tables near the corner and sat down. As she glanced up at the wall, her gaze went straight to the painting hanging there. It took her a few moments to realize it was a painting of this very dining room, and of Pearl, and customers in it. And then she saw the artist’s signature and gasped. It was a Magnolia Brennen original.
A waitress saw her heading that way and called out, “Be right with you,” then delivered the food she was carrying to a table before grabbing a menu and the carafe of coffee and heading for Nora’s table. “Cold enough to freeze the hair off a turtle,” she said, and then giggled at her own joke. “I’m Darla. What are you drinking today?”
“Coffee, please, and I’ll have whatever the special is today,” Nora said.
“It’s chili beans and cornbread, and a dessert. Your choice,” Darla said.
“I’ll have that,” Nora said, “and tell Pearl that Nora Borden is here. I need to settle up with her for organizing the cleaning crew at my dad’s house.”
“Will do,” Darla said, and went off to turn in the order. “Hey, Pearl, there’s a Nora Borden out front. She wants to settle up with you about getting a house cleaned?”
“Oh, great! She got here, then,” Pearl said, and turned to her grill cook. “Hey, Davey, I’m going out front a minute. Be right back.”
Davey nodded. “I’ll catch your orders.”
Pearl spotted Nora sitting by herself in the corner the moment she walked out into the diner.God love her. She looks exhausted, Pearl thought. But as she started weaving her way through the tables, Nora saw her coming and stood up to greet her.
“Pearl! I know you’re busy, but I had to thank you personally for helping me.”
Pearl hugged her. “Oh hush, girl. It was nothing. I’m so sorry about Tom, but I know it was a blessed relief. Damn Alzheimer’s anyway. Are you okay? You’re a little pale.”
Nora sighed. “I am tired, but I’ll catch up on rest here. I want to settle up with what else I owe you.”
“You don’t owe me anymore. We’re good. I gotta get back to the kitchen, but I expect to be seeing a lot of youwhile you’re here. You take care and rest up, you hear?” Pearl said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Nora said, and sat down.
Moments later, Darla brought her order, and she wasted no time digging in. The food was warm, and filling, and it tasted like home. She ate her way through her lunch and finished it off with a small bowl of peach cobbler.
Darla had already left her ticket on the table, and she was on her way to the register to pay when Pearl carried a to-go order to the cash register. “This is Jacob Kingston’s order. Somebody call and let him know it’s ready,” Pearl said.
“Oh, I’ll take it to him,” Nora said. “I wanted to say hello to him anyway. This is a good excuse to interrupt his workday. Just add his ticket to mine.”
Pearl smiled. She knew how close Nora and Asher, Jacob’s oldest, had been when they were in school. “Sure thing. Why not, and that’s really sweet of you,” Pearl said.
Darla added the second ticket to Nora’s meal.
Nora swiped her credit card, then picked up the bag and left the Yellow Rose with a bounce in her step. If the opportunity arose, maybe she’d finally find out what Asher Kingston had done with his life.
* * *
The Tumbleweed was nearly empty. Since Jacob didn’t serve food, most of the morning clientele went home, and after lunch, the afternoon clientele would show up. It was a win-win for him, and gave him a breather, too. He was sweeping up beneath the seats at the bar when he heard the door open. He turned just as a young woman walked in.
A big smile spread across his face as he propped the broom against the bar and went to meet her.
“Nora, honey! As I live and breathe! What a surprise!” he said, and gave her a big hug.
She was smiling from ear to ear as she handed him the sack she was carrying. “I was just leaving the Rose when Pearl brought your lunch to the register. I volunteered to deliver it, and it’s on me.”
