Lulu's Café

by T. I. Lowe

  “Do you mind keeping me company while I work on this stuff for today’s soup?” Lulu asked as she continued to peel the first potato.

  Leah glanced at the door before easing back down in her chair. “Only if I can help.”

  Lulu had watched the poor girl all morning and hated to guess at what could have happened to her to cause so much visible damage. She seemed so fragile and tightly bound by grief. Lulu would have never expected the young lady’s willingness to help out.

  “What’s your name, sweetheart?”

  “Leah.”

  “An L name. This is fate.” Lulu smiled as she got up to fetch another knife from the kitchen. She grabbed the onions and garlic for peeling also, trying to prolong Leah’s company. As she sat back down, she noticed the cast that was nearly undetectable under the long-sleeved shirt.

  “Can you manage with a broken arm?” she asked as she held up the knife.

  “I’m right-handed, and I can use my fingers on my left hand.” Leah raised her left hand and waved the fingers that were peeking from the cast.

  Lulu handed the knife over to a slightly shaky Leah, and both women set out on the task at hand. Lulu observed that Leah worked quickly and efficiently for someone far from being up to par. She commented on Leah’s neat knife skills and asked if she had much practice. This question only got her a slight shrug, but the action seemed to cause the young woman pain. Lulu chatted about a special singing at her church next week and discussed how she would try to manage judging a pie contest and make it in time to listen to the singing group. She went over the day’s menu as Leah politely listened and worked in silence. Lulu tried engaging Leah in conversation.

  “I’ve lived here all my life. It’s a great town. How about you? Where are you from?”

  “Up North,” Leah said.

  “So, what brings you down South?”

  “Relocating.” Leah finished up her last potato and reached for the carrots.

  “Where are you relocating to?”

  “Down South,” Leah said with a slight smile.

  Lulu roared with laughter. “Spoken like a true smart-mouth!” She gave up after that. Once they completed prepping the vegetables, Lulu gathered everything up into the basket. “I need to get these in the pot. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  Leah watched the petite lady disappear into the kitchen. She slipped out of the chair and wandered around the dining area to stretch her legs and get a better look at the paintings on the wall. One painting was of a rooster with a burnt-orange head, which gradually blended into a rainbow of brightly colored feathers that fanned through to his tail. Another was of a large sunflower with deep-golden petals that appeared to be dancing in a breeze. One canvas was decorated in blues and greens that swirled in brilliant patterns. It reminded Leah of ocean waves in an abstract way. Her absolute favorite piece of artwork was the beach sunrise. The glowing oranges and yellows seem to seep from the teal waters and burst into the sky.

  “I need to see that for myself,” she whispered as she studied the breathtaking artwork. After admiring the picture for a while, Leah made her way back into the restroom, splashed some cold water on her face, and rewashed her hands. When she returned to try for another good-bye, a large basket of luscious red apples sat on the table along with two paring knives, two round cutting boards, an apple corer, and a large bowl. She decided to sit back down and wait for further instructions. She glanced at her watch and was surprised that it was only ten thirty in the morning. Lulu joined her at the table with two glasses of ice water.

  “Would you mind helping me prepare these apples for tartlets?” Lulu handed Leah one of the water glasses and took a long sip from her own.

  “Sure.” Leah took a sip from her glass and thought how energetic Lulu appeared when compared to her own slothful movements.

  “Drinking water can help reduce swelling,” Lulu said matter-of-factly. Without waiting for a response, Lulu dove into apple slicing. “I like to leave the skin on, so just core it and cut it into thin slices,” she said as she demonstrated.

  After they sliced all the apples, Lulu squeezed some fresh lemon juice over the slices and gave them a good toss.

  “I’m trying out a new recipe for vegetable soup today. Would you mind sticking around a little while longer and giving me your opinion on it?” Lulu asked. “Sometimes I don’t know if these locals really like something or if they are just trying to appease me.”

  Leah glanced at her watch. She had already been in the café for over three hours. Although she really had no desire to leave the oddly cozy place, she knew she needed to locate a hotel soon.

  Lulu seemed to pick up on her hesitation. She hurried to the counter, where she grabbed two magazines and a freshly baked pumpkin muffin that her helper had just pulled from the oven. “Here.” Lulu handed Leah the treat along with the magazines. “This will hold you over until the soup is done.”

  Leah accepted the offer and sat back down. After every morsel of the muffin was consumed and she finished her glass of water, Leah opened one of the magazines and began skimming through it. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed another apron-clad young woman come in the café and join the other two ladies in the kitchen.

  The waitress bustled back into the dining area and wiped down the tables. She refreshed napkin holders and replaced the breakfast menus with lunch menus. As she placed one on Leah’s table, she introduced herself as Alice and asked if she could get her anything.

  “Do you have a Diet Pepsi?”

  “No, ma’am,” Alice said.

  “How about a Diet Coke?”

  “No, ma’am. We don’t serve any type of soda. Lulu says they are bad for you. We serve iced tea, juices, coffee, flavored seltzer waters, and plain water.”

  “Wow. This has to be the first restaurant I have ever been to that doesn’t serve soda.”

  “Yeah. Me too.” Alice laughed. “I make sure to get my soda fix before my shift.”

  “I guess I’ll just take some more water, please.”

  Alice brought back a small pitcher of ice water. She filled Leah’s glass, then set the pitcher on the table. “Lulu said to leave it with you.” She smiled politely and then headed back to the counter. She pulled out a small chalkboard and wrote out the day’s specials. Harvest vegetable was declared the soup of the day and apple ginger tartlets were the dessert of the day.

  It was well after eleven, and the tables began to refill quickly. Leah enjoyed the sweet and savory aromas drifting from the kitchen. Her mouth started to water, so she picked up the menu and studied it. The selection consisted of interesting salads with homemade dressings, turkey burgers, various healthy sandwich choices, and vegetable sides. A note reminded customers that the menu changed seasonally or whenever Lulu got a wild hair to do so.

  Several minutes later, Alice dropped off a generous bowl of vegetable soup and an apple tartlet.

  “I didn’t order yet,” Leah said as the waitress started to walk away.

  Alice turned around. “Lulu said to bring you that, on the house. Around here, you do as Lulu says, no questions asked.” She then scooted over to another table to take an older couple’s order.

  Leah glanced around to find a packed house. She waved Alice over and asked her what day it was.

  “It’s Saturday,” Alice said and gently patted Leah’s hand before heading to the kitchen.

  That explains why the café is so busy. Wait . . . Saturday? How long has it been since the accident? Almost two weeks? She couldn’t do the math. The frustration and unsuccessful attempt at concentration brought on a headache. She dismissed the trivia and studied the bountiful meal before her.

  Just looking at the steaming bowl, filled with every vegetable imaginable, was instantly soothing. After scraping the bowl clean, Leah moved on to the dainty apple tartlet. The thin, crisp apples, combined with an equally thin crust, were quite enjoyable. The subtle hints of cinnamon and ginger didn’t overpower the delicate flavor of the apples. He
r only disappointment was when it was all gone.

  With the dishes now empty and the pitcher of water completely drained, Leah sat back and marveled at how well she had eaten. She had no doubt she was well over the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables for the day. Ignoring what the waitress said about being on the house, Leah paid and left a hefty tip. She was gathering her things when Lulu strolled out of the kitchen with two cups of freshly brewed coffee.

  “Will you keep me company for a while longer?” Lulu asked as she sat at Leah’s table.

  “I really should go, but one more cup of coffee does sound good.” Leah accepted the coffee, thinking it would perk her up some before searching for a hotel.

  The two ladies sat chatting about the beautiful paintings, the unique menu, and the breathtaking view of the park and river from the café. Before Leah realized it, her watch indicated it was approaching two in the afternoon.

  She absently picked at the itchy stitches in her lip while trying to figure out how to get away from the sweet lady.

  “Those look like they are about overdue to be removed,” Lulu said.

  “I think so too. I haven’t figured out what to do with them yet.” Leah stared down at the empty coffee cup. “Could you direct me to a hotel? I’ve been up for over twenty-four hours . . . I think.”

  “Can you hold out for a few more minutes?”

  Leah nodded and wondered what the woman was up to.

  “I think I have the perfect place for you to stay.”

  “Okay. As long as it’s near, I guess I can hold out a little longer,” Leah said.

  “It’s in walking distance. Trust me.” Lulu patted her new friend’s arm before heading back to the counter.

  Leah tried to stretch her sore back, causing her left side to pinch in sharp pain. She was contemplating taking some pain medicine when she noticed a tall, blond-haired guy stroll through the door and head straight to the counter. In a flash, a short brunette came up on his heels. They placed their orders, and the tall guy paid. Leah watched as they chatted with the others at the counter.

  Leah gave a quiet snort as she noticed the guy was wearing ratty cargo shorts, a T-shirt, and flip-flops. Where she came from, the shorts were put away long before October. She pondered for a minute and was pretty sure it was already November now. Leah thought the warm-skinned woman, looking all fancy in her designer jeans and sequined tank top, resembled an exotic Barbie doll. She looked down at her own attire of a long-sleeved black shirt, black stretch pants, and a long, bulky coat. The only color came from the multicolored scarf that she now self-consciously gathered closer around her neck.

  The woman at the counter grabbed her take-out bag and was turning to leave when she caught Leah’s eye. She spun back around to face the tall guy and stretched way up to plant a kiss on his lips. As she did this, his gaze landed on Leah and remained there for the duration of the kiss. Leah was unable to free herself from the snare of his gaze. The beautiful brunette eventually let go of him and sashayed out of the café, leaving the guy frozen in his tracks. He gave Leah a measured look before following the young woman out the door.

  Crowley Mason looked down at the brunette bombshell beside him.

  “Why did you kiss me?” He and Ana were lifelong friends, but they both knew they’d never be anything more than that.

  “You did kiss me back,” she said, raising a perfectly plucked eyebrow.

  “I’m a gentleman. It would have been rude not to. Now answer my question.”

  Ana dropped the sweet girlie act. “Jenna stopped by and informed me that a strange woman had been hanging around Lulu’s all day. You are the most eligible bachelor around, and I didn’t want some gold digger messing in your life.” Ana placed her well-manicured hand on her hip. “I was trying to do you a favor, sir.”

  Crowley’s mouth twitched to refrain from laughing. “Ana, strangers pass through this town all the time on their way to the beach. Lulu’s is a famous stop for tourists, you know.”

  “This woman ain’t just passing through, Crowley. She’s been sitting in that café since way early this morning. Why on earth would anyone sit there that long? It’s just plain weird.” Ana frowned.

  “You didn’t get a good look at that woman, did you?”

  “No, but I guess you did!” Ana said, unable to hide the obvious jealousy.

  Crowley chose to ignore her jab. “She was riddled with nasty bruises and stitched-up cuts. There was a cast on her arm. I’m guessing she is recovering from some awful accident. Wouldn’t you be moving a little slow too?”

  It was evident from Ana’s expression that she felt foolish, and Crowley knew he had made his point. Reluctantly, he still had one more problem to discuss. He placed her in a fierce bear hug and mussed her hair. “Ana, you know I love you. As a sister. Your friendship is priceless to me.”

  “I think you’ve explained that already to my stubborn butt about a hundred times. I obviously don’t know how to take a hint.” She leaned her forehead against his taut abdomen. “Can’t blame a girl for trying.” Full of sass, Ana tried to push the tension away even further. “Besides, I could never be with a man who actually makes me go fishing.” She wrinkled her nose and looked up at him. “Gross!”

  Crowley chuckled with relief. “I see your point. You’re a lucky woman to figure that out before it was too late. You should see the giant catfish I caught this morning. I’m going to have Lulu make a stew out of the monster.”

  “You need to wear sunblock and a hat.” Ana’s eyes lit up in a teasing smile. “Those crow’s-feet around your eyes are going to get worse.” She pushed away from him and pulled her salad out of the bag.

  Crowley watched her for a few minutes. He had tried to make a go of the dating relationship and really had wanted it to work, but he couldn’t get past the feeling of dating his sister. He also knew that Ana loved and respected him too much to deny his wishes of remaining good friends.

  “You know I love you too,” she said as he walked away.

  He raised his hand without turning around. “I know.” He made his way over to a bench where the stranger’s vehicle was parked and sat down to enjoy his lunch. Crowley was about to take the first bite of his chicken club wrap when he noticed Jessup Barns shuffling by.

  “Some weather we having. Here it is November and it still feels like August,” Jessup commented without slurring, which was surprising.

  Crowley shrugged. “I don’t mind. Winter will show up eventually.” He tore his wrap in half and offered a portion of it to Jessup as the little man sat beside him.

  “True.” Jessup accepted the food and took a big bite.

  Crowley did the same and regarded him out of the corner of his eye, relieved to see he was dressed in semi-clean clothes and having a lucid day. Jessup was a decent man deep down. Sadly, he fell into a bottle when he couldn’t deal with circumstances and his whole life went to pot.

  Jessup let out a low whistle. “Now that’s a nice set of wheels right there. Don’t you think?” He nodded his head toward the Jeep Wagoneer.

  “I sure do. I could use a set just like them for beach trips.” Crowley took another bite of his wrap.

  “Now that you mention it, I think that would be a perfect beach cruiser.”

  Crowley chuckled at the idea of Jessup cruising the beach in anything, especially since the little man didn’t even have a driver’s license or enough wits to earn the privilege back.

  “You have a good one,” Jessup mumbled once he finished his part of Crowley’s lunch.

  “You too,” Crowley said as he watched the man cross the street to the riverside park.

  Crowley polished off the rest of his wrap and devoured the apple tartlet in three bites. He had lost track of time earlier while he was fishing and had not eaten all day. Once he was finished, he tossed his trash into a metal bin and slowly walked around the Jeep to give it a good looking over.

  His phone had beeped nonstop all morning with texts and calls about a strange w
oman, who looked like death warmed over, in town. Hearing that she was hanging around Lulu’s had raised a red flag with Crowley. Lulu was considered his longtime guardian, but Crowley actually felt obligated to take care of her. So, of course, he ended his fishing trip early and came over to check on her.

  Nothing could have prepared him for what he found sitting in the café. It wasn’t just the obvious evidence of the young woman’s broken body. It was the haunted look in her eyes. He knew instantly that this wasn’t a typical tourist heading to the beach, but a woman on the run.

  The vehicle gave away very few clues. Crowley spotted a large suitcase and duffel bag, along with several empty coffee cups, in the backseat. The teal-colored Jeep had a temporary tag that gave no indication as to where it had been purchased.

  After circling once more, Crowley sat back on the bench to sip his tea and wait for the departure of the lady. He contemplated going inside and getting something else to eat when he heard Lulu at the door with the young woman. He slid his sunglasses down to mask his concerned eyes and struck a casual pose, resting his arms over the back of the bench. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as she stiffly walked to her vehicle. Just walking seemed to be causing her a great deal of pain.

  “Nice day we’re having,” Crowley said.

  Leah jumped a bit at the sound of his deep voice. She opened the passenger door and placed her purse on the seat before replying to him. “Isn’t it November?” She raised her right palm up to the sky as if gauging the temperature.

  He knew instantly that this woman was in the wrong parts by her northern accent. “Ma’am, you’re in the South, and the South refuses to play by the seasons’ typical rules.” Crowley studied her all-black wardrobe, noting the black ball cap pushed low over her blonde locks. He could see fading bruises peeking out around the edges of her scarf. “So we just have to play along with the South’s rules.” He lifted his legs slightly and flapped the bottoms of his flip-flops to make his point.