“Is there anywhereelsethat has a room free?” I ask, feeling myself grow more and more irritated by the second.
“The b&b across the street is closed for renovation, and Sally, who owns the one around the corner, is visiting family until the new year,” she explains.
“So,nothen?”
She shakes her head. “I reallyamsorry.”
She couldn’t have just told me no instead of going through all that?
I heave out a deep breath. “Fine. Thanks for nothing.” I spin on my heel and stalk back out into the snow storm outside. I’m sure on my way out I hear her mutter something under her breath but I’m not in the mood to confront her so I let it slide.
I lift my gaze across the street to a diner and my stomach growls in response. I haven’t eaten since before I left early this morning and I’m starving. I cross the street and step inside, the bell above the door chimes, announcing my presence.
The entire diner is decorated in sunflower yellow, so bright I feel like I need sunglasses to see.
Christmas decorations cover almost every inch of the diner. Multi-coloured tinsel frames every window, and huge baubles hang from the ceiling. There’s a tall Christmas tree in the corner which is decorated in a mishmash of colours.
Ugh.
The counter runs across the far end, as a wall of windows looks out over the main road running through town. A thick blanket of snow covers everything in sight, it looks like a scene fromNarnia.
It’s largely empty in here, only a few tables occupied as soft Christmas music plays quietly in the background. I take a seat in one of the booths, and pick up the menu.
My attention is pulled to two women who I guess are waitresses here, they’re stood at the counter laughing, the sound carrying through the diner. The one on the right is wearing a red Santa hat that flashes with every swish of her head.
Why do people insist on wearing those stupid hats every year?
I can’t see their faces as they’re deep in conversation, but the one wearing the hat glances over her shoulder directly at me and smiles. The one beside her turns to see what she’s looking at and giggles. The one in the hat shakes her head and makes her way towards me, pulling out a notebook and pen from her apron.
“Look at you, huh? Got all dressed up in your tailor made suit just come and visit my little old diner on Christmas Eve. I’m honoured.” She greets me with a wide smile, her full pink lips spreading out across her face.
She saidherdiner.She owns it?
“I’ll get a black coffee with no sugar.” I say, not really wanting to engage in conversation.
She makes a note in her notepad. “Sure. Anything else?”
“No. Thanks.”
She lingers for a brief moment before turning and walking away.
I pull out my phone to look for a nearby town that might actually have somewhere I could crash for a few nights, but being out in the middle of nowhere, the closest town is over thirty miles away and with the weather outside worsening, I doubt I could find anyone to drive me there.
Looks like I’m stuck here.Fuck.
My day is just getting better and better by the minute. I toss my phone onto the table and blow out an exasperated breath, pinching the bridge of my nose just as the woman returns with my coffee, setting it down in front of me.
“Bad day?” she asks.
“You could say that,” I say without meeting her eye.
“You know, you might feel better after having something to eat, I know I always do. We do a mean cheeseburger here, or if that’s not your thing, we have a steak sandwich… Oh! And the waffles areto diefor, they’re our best seller,” she rambles.
“I don’t really think food is going to help me right now,” I snap, regretting it immediately. It’s not her fault I’m having a bad day.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see her body stiffen uncomfortably as she shifts from one foot to the other. “Oh, um oka-”
“I’m sorry,” I say, cutting her off. I meet her eyes and I can see the hurt and confusion behind them. Guilt claws at me. “I’m sorry if I’m being rude, it’s just been one of those days.”
