She nodded. “I’ll bring you sausage. Hmm?”
He nodded his head. “Oh, and could you direct me to your restroom?” He was thankful for his brief hospital stay and for learning some twenty-first century words from the staff.
She pointed to a door to his right and then smiled when he rose to go to it. He disappeared into the restroom as the chimes sounded over the front door.
#
Bernadette’s smile faded as she turned away and delivered the order to the chef. She looked toward the patrons who had just entered the diner.
“Welcome to Tess' Diner. How many?”
“We are not here to dine,” said a man with a British accent. Bernadette took in the sight of him in the same antique style of dress as the man in the bathroom. He was older but just as handsome.
But it was the girl that captured Bernadette’s attention. Fable Ramsey, what was she doing here with the Lt. Colonel? Were they connected? Gran had told her a little about Fable. Not why she was important, but that she needed to survive and that Bernadette should feed her when she could. Bernadette found it to be a pleasure. Fable was grateful for every thing. Bernadette liked her. She looked around the diner now with the barest amount of interest. She wanted to be somewhere else. Her loose hair was painted in orange and red, splashed with bronze and traces of gold. It fell all around her shoulders, drawing every eye to her.
“I’m looking for someone,” the man said.
Bernadette looked over her shoulder at the door to the restroom.
“Is the Renaissance Fair going on in the park?” another customer asked the medievaly looking man after coming close and checking out his attire.
“Yes,” Fable, who was dressed in modern clothes, answered. “Near Belvedere Castle.”
Bernadette was finally able to greet Fable when the man interrupted them again.
“Dorothea West,” he said, looking rather tortured. “Is she employed here?” When Bernadette began to shake her head, he continued quickly. “I’m her husband, Richard West.Lieutenant-colonelRichard West.”
At his introduction, the Fable Ramsey went still as death. In fact, Bernadette asked her if she was all right. The girl nodded but her stunned expression hadn’t changed.
“No, sorry,” Bernadette said, turning back to the man. “Your wife isn’t here.”
He went pale and gave her a stricken look. “Are you certain?”
When Bernadette nodded, he turned to the girl. But she was no help, staring into his eyes with tears in hers.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked him in a soft voice.
Tell her what? Bernadette wondered. What was it about her that was drawing the woman who was more than a waitress closer to her? Something—Bernadette wasn’t sure what it was, laid buried deep in Fable’s consciousness.
“Miss!” the patron at table six called impatiently.
Bernadette nodded to him then turned back to the couple. “Don’t go away.” she said before hurrying to the customer at table six was waving his hand at her.
After she handed him his bill she returned to the renaissance man and the redhead, but they were gone.
To her right, the handsome patron who ordered the three egg omelet left the restroom and returned to his table.
Bernadette gave the front door a regretful sigh then looked around as if she expected someone to appear. She lowered her voice. “What’s this all about? I expected the Lieutenant Colonel, but why was Fable with him?” Her gaze settled on the patron who’d just taken his seat again. She considered his clothes, his British accent… “Does he have something to do with the man who just left?”
She hurried to bring his coffee and set it down before him.
“You look a bit pale,” he noted. “Are you unwell?”
“There was a guy in here a minute ago with clothes like yours,” Bernadette answered. Were they connected? And why hadn’t her gran filled her in on the extra details? “He had a sword–
“A sword?” he asked, suddenly very interested. “Was he alone?”
Bernadette shook her head. “He was with Fable. A girl I know. He was asking me about–
