I’m not sure why she’s looking at me like I stole from her tip jar, this is only the second time I’ve been in this diner.
Did I leave her a tip last time? Maybe I didn’t.
The car lot I have been working at for the past month or so let me go this morning, I have been taking odd jobs for cash under the table and they are hard to find. Right now, I have about twenty-five dollars in my wallet.
“Good morning, Clive, have a seat anywhere.” The waitress calls out in a chipper, friendly voice that she did not use when she was talking to me.
A tall, older man walks across the diner to the booth across from me. He’s dressed like he works a ranch in jeans, boots, and a vest over his long sleeve flannel shirt, and takes off his cowboy hat to set it upside down on the table, as he slides into the booth.
His face looks weathered from the sun and his hands that he’s linked on the table in front of him look like old leather, but his shoulders are broad, and he looks like he’s in great shape. I avert my eyes and look out the window just in time because I can feel him looking at me.
The waitress steps up to his table and sets a cup in front of him to fill with coffee, “How you doin’ today, sweetie?”
“Well, I’ve been better.” His voice is deep but gravelly, “Opal told me she’s retiring this morning.”
“You’re kiddin’ me! Opal retiring? I thought the day would never come.” The waitress’ voice is full of surprise as she fills his cup while shaking her head, hand over her heart.
He picks up the cup and takes a sip as he grunts an affirmative, “I know, now I have to find someone who doesn’t mind being a full-time housekeeper and cook.” He looks at the waitress, “You know anyone who doesn’t mind hard work and wants room and board?”
My prayers have been answered. Before he came in, I was trying to figure out what in the world I was going to do, so I didn’t let the waitress answer his question.
“I don’t mind hard work or living on site.” My voice comes out strong and confident, but I have a feeling it won’t last long.
Two heads swivel in my direction and my heart nearly jumps into my throat once his attention is on me. I’ve never been a direct person, my father used to tell me that I need tospeak up for myself if I don’t want to be anyone’s doormat, so when those hard blue eyes lock on mine, I know I’m talking to a man who won’t put up with anyone yanking his chain.
“I - I need a job, and I’m a fast learner, I’ll learn anything you want me to.”
So much for sounding strong and confident.
His eyes narrow ever so slightly and he looks me over, the waitress puts her hand on her cocked hip and tilts her head to the side. “And you are?” Contempt is thick in her voice.
I don’t break eye contact with the man as he studies me like he can see through to my soul. I also don’t answer the waitress but wait for him to ask me anything he wants to know.
“Thank you, Marcy, I’ll let you know if I need anything else.” The dismissal is gruff but gentle.
The waitress rolls her eyes as she walks away to stand behind the breakfast bar, pretending to wipe down the countertop.
He picks up his coffee cup and cowboy hat from the tabletop and moves to my booth. I notice the salty sweat ring around the band of his hat as he sits down and gently places the hat upside down on the table by the window. I don’t know why I’m so nervous, but when I lean back, I have to fist my hands in my lap to hide the shaking.
He gets settled in the seat across from me and takes another drink of his coffee as he observes me, “I’m not in the habit of hiring strangers off the street to live in my home with my family, so now’s the time to tell me why you’re desperate enough to take a job you know nothing about from a man you’ve never met.”
Telling him the truth will surely make him get up and walk away without looking back, I can’t tell him I basically need a place to hide. But I can’t go back to the hotel, I don’t have enough money for another night.
He sees my hesitation and holds his finger up and points at me, “I’m going to tell you the same thing I tell my children, you get one chance to tell the truth, and I’ll know if you’re lying.”
I swallow audibly and take a deep breath; his eyes never leave mine as I tell him the truth. I don’t leave anything out, I even tell him about jumping from job to job to get paid in cash.
When I finish, I look down at the table and wait for him to get up and walk away, I wouldn’t blame him, two years ago I would have got up and walked away. Who would want to get wrapped up in this kind of trouble?
I can feel his eyes boring a hole through me as the silence seems to drag on. After a few moments, I hear his rough voice, “Can you start today?”
A relief I haven’t felt in a long time sends the breath from my lungs as the muscles across my shoulders loosen, I have to tamp back the emotion that is bubbling inside. I snap my eyes up to meet his and say, “Yes!” It comes out as a whisper because of the lump in my throat and I nod my head.
CHAPTER THREE
CURRENTLY
SOMEWHERE ONthe coast of Oregon
