By the time I reach the counter again, Charlie is at his usual barstool.
“Hey,” he says, smiling as he spots me.
He looks at me and my bad mood starts to melt.
“Hi,” I say as I pop my gum.
“You okay?” he asks. Whether it’s because we’ve been friends for so long or because he’s a cop, he can read me like a book.
“James came in.” I lean against the counter and cross my arms.
“What the hell did he want?” Charlie’s happy mood vanishes in an instant.
“Apparently, that date Thea went on was with his son.” I push off the counter and turn around to grab a mug for his coffee.
“Seriously?” he asks.
I nod as I grab the coffee pot and pour it into his mug. “I didn’t ask enough questions when she told me about it. Had I known it was with Jake Osborne, I wouldn’t have let her go,” I say over my shoulder.
“It’s not your fault, Beth Ann,” he says as I turn back to him and hand him his mug.
“I know, but maybe I could have protected her more. Saved another Calloway woman from the curse of the Osbornes.”
Charlie chokes on his coffee, stifling a laugh. I see a grin on his face over the top of his mug.
“I don’t know what you ever saw in him,” he mutters.
“Truthfully, I don’t either,” I say, as I lean back against the counter. James was nice enough in the beginning and I guess that’s what hooked me. It wasn’t until we were deep into our relationship that things started changing between us and he became someone I no longer recognized.
“Caroline would kill me if she knew I let her daughter go out with his son,” I mutter.
Charlie cocks his head to the side. “We did have that mutual hatred in common.” He searches my face. “Did you go back to sleep after our phone call? You look tired.”
“Thanks,” I laugh, “for telling me I look like shit.”
He backpedals now. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know.” I grin now. “Just giving you hell. But the answer is no, I didn’t. Baked instead.” I walk over to the side of the counter and grab the display plate before walking back over to him.
“Cinnamon roll snickerdoodles, Caroline’s favorite,” I say, setting the plate down in front of him.
Charlie surveys the cookies carefully before selecting one. He takes a bite and nods. “Caroline had good taste.” He swallows and then asks, “Did you talk to Thea about therapy?”
“No,” I sigh, “she was still asleep when I left and I didn’t want to disturb her.”
“Haveyouthought about it? It might be good for you both. What about that therapist you used to see?”
“She doesn't practice anymore.” Part of my hesitation about going back to therapy is that I would have to start back at square one. It took me long enough to find one when I was dealing with heartbreak from James.
“Could be worth pursuing," Charlie says. “I just want the best for you both.”
It’s as if time inside the restaurant slows down. The knot in my stomach transforms into butterflies. I so desperately want to tell him how I truly feel.
I take a shaky breath and feel the words barreling to the surface, ready to tumble over my tongue. I open my mouth just as a loud crash echoes through the diner. Penny stands in front of an occupied booth, a tray of food splattered across the floor at her feet. The woman in the booth starts apologizing profusely as she pulls her toddler into the seat. The diner springs back to real-time around me and I rush over to help, feelings of Charlie momentarily forgotten.
Chapter Seven
Beth is still in bed, but I’m too excited to sleep. Today is my first official day at Beth Ann’s Diner and I’ve been buzzing with anticipation all night. Streetlamps guide part of my way as I begin my usual trek to the diner, my arms full of a tray of cookies and a lemon pie I’d made when I was too amped up to sleep. The sun is rising as I arrive at the diner. The sky is painted in bright, beautiful opalite colors, and the new recipe I’ve been wanting to try — blueberry lemon scones — is gnawing at the back of my mind.
