Queenie's Cafe

by SUE FINEMAN

Luke stood. “I’ll help.”

  “What can you do in a kitchen?”

  “You’d be surprised,” he muttered.

  Jay laughed. “Call me when you decide what you’re gonna do with the motel.”

  Luke knew what to do with the motel, but Laura didn’t seem so sure. If she didn’t make up her mind soon, he’d have to move on to another project.

  Luke and Laura worked together in the kitchen, making salad for the dinner shift. She kept turning and running into him. “Sorry. This place wasn’t meant for two cooks. Queenie used to call it a ‘one-butt kitchen’ and hers was big enough to fill the room.”

  His gaze slid from her eyes to her lips and back. Laura turned away, her face burning. Was he going to kiss her?

  “You don’t want me to kiss you?”

  When she turned back, his gaze burned into hers and she couldn’t look away. “Is that part of the partnership deal?”

  “Do you want it to be part of the deal?”

  “I don’t want anything messin’ with the business. No strings, no promises, nothing personal.”

  His wet hands gripped her shoulders, soaking her uniform sleeves, but when his warm lips covered hers, she didn’t care about her uniform. At that moment she didn’t care about anything but his kiss. Her knees turned to rubber and the warmth that spread through her body had nothing at all to do with the temperature in the café.

  “That wasn’t business,” murmured Luke, as the bell on the front door rang. “That was all pleasure.”

  “Customers,” she whispered, pulling away.

  What did a rich businessman see in her? In school, the boys always went for the pretty girls, and she wasn’t anything special. Nobody had ever told her she was pretty, and aside from talking and flirting with customers, she didn’t know how to socialize. Until she left Kingston, she’d only been kissed a half dozen times. The one high school dance she’d gone to, Freddie Buttons stuck his tongue in her mouth and groped her breasts. She kneed him like her father taught her and he let go. But Freddie hadn’t made her feel like this. Nobody had ever kissed her like Luke, not even Corbin, and he’d kissed her several times. There were no sparks with Corbin, and although she enjoyed their dates, she was always glad when they were over.

  Dinner was always easier with someone to help, but Luke did more than help. He made the time pass more quickly. She did need help. Her spirit was willing, but her back and legs complained constantly from spending fifteen or sixteen hours a day on her feet. How long could she keep doing everything herself?

  Was Luke right? Should she cut it down to two meals a day? No, at that rate, she’d never be able to pay off her bills, and she hated owing people money. Maybe Dad’s obsession with money had rubbed off on her.

  What Laura thought was opening day curiosity had turned into normal business. She never served fewer than thirty people a day, more than Queenie ever had. She’d make a success of this place with Luke’s corporation or without it, if she had enough stamina to stay on her feet for this many hours every day.

  Finally the last customer left. Luke twisted the lock on the door, put the CLOSED sign in the window, and turned out the lights in the dining area. “I’ll finish up here, Laura. You go take a hot shower and put your feet up. I’ll be over in a few minutes.”

  Tired and sweaty from working all day, Laura walked back to her little apartment, trusting Luke to lock up for her. A hot shower would help ease her aching back and soak away the tension in her shoulders.

  She was in the shower when he came in, calling, “Do you always leave your doors unlocked?”

  “Just when I’m expecting someone.”

  She turned off the water and reached for a towel, but instead of the towel, she was surprised to find Luke standing there. Clutching the shower curtain, she said, “What are you doing in my bathroom?”

  “You left the door open.”

  “Please hand me the towel.”

  He held the towel out of her reach. “Turn around and I’ll dry your back.”

  “Just hand me the damn towel and get out of here.”

  He handed her the towel. “No help wanted?”

  She stood in the shower looking like a drowned cat and he had the nerve to stand there smiling? “Would you please get out of my bathroom while I get dressed?”

  He took the terry robe off the hook and handed it to her.

  After wrapping her hair in the towel, she pulled the robe over her damp body and stepped from behind the shower curtain.

  “Is it my turn now, Laura?”

  She wanted to ask him why he didn’t go home and shower there, but she didn’t. “I’ll get you a clean towel.” Aside from a little harmless flirting with the customers, Laura didn’t have much experience with men. Until today, her relationship with Luke had been strictly business, so she wasn’t quite sure what to think. Why was he here?

  Minutes later, he came out wearing the towel and nothing else. She was embarrassed to see him like this, yet she couldn’t take her eyes off him. He was tanned all over, at least the parts she could see. His muscles were well developed and his body was solid and well-proportioned. He was the most handsome man she’d ever seen with his clothes on, but seeing him this way took her breath away. “Please put your clothes on, Luke. You’re making me uncomfortable.”

  He moved closer. “You make me uncomfortable, too, but we can fix that.” He put his hand on her shoulder and, with his eyes still on hers, slowly opened her robe and pulled her against his bare chest. When her breasts touched his chest, her body caught fire and her heart thumped wildly.

  He leaned down and kissed her gently, releasing the liquid heat in her body and erasing the question of why he was here.

  “I can’t do this, Luke.”

  He stepped back and she quickly pulled her robe closed. The moment was over, and she was both disappointed and relieved. He came here expecting sex and the thought alone embarrassed her.

  Most women her age had had numerous boyfriends, and she could still count the number of times she’d been on a date. Luke was obviously experienced, but she wasn’t, and she didn’t know what to expect or how to act. What if she did something wrong and he laughed at her? She’d die of embarrassment and he’d never want to kiss her again.

  Or do business with her.

  Luke saw the confusion in Laura’s eyes. She was giving him mixed messages, saying one thing and telling him something else with her kisses. He wouldn’t push. He’d never had to push a woman to make love with him. Women usually came on to him, especially after they learned about his mother winning the lottery.

  “I need to sleep, Luke.”

  “Then go to bed. I’ll lock up.” He gave her a goodnight kiss, and she disappeared into the bedroom and closed the door.

  He should find himself a girlfriend and forget Laura Whitfield, but he was tired of the women he’d been dating. It was always the same thing with them. After a few dates, they’d suggest marriage, travel, and a lazy, comfortable life. Of course, they expected his mother to pay for it from her lottery winnings. He wouldn’t ask his mother to finance a life of ease, not when she’d worked so hard all her life. He had all the things he’d ever wanted, including a well-paying job he loved. What more did he need, except a woman?

  He found the other tiny bedroom in Laura’s apartment, dropped his towel, and climbed into bed. The bed was lumpy and the sheets had been mended, but he was too tired to care. One deep sigh and he was asleep.

  <>

  “I hate this damn place,” Bruce yelled.

  Florence didn’t much like it either, and they’d spent almost all of Queenie’s life insurance money on it. “I’ll go out and look for a job.”

  “The hell you will.”

  “Well, I ain’t gonna hook no more. I’m getting too old for that nonsense.”

  Bruce sat at the kitchen table and buried his face in his hands. She thought he’d be happy here, but he was miserable.

  Florence walked out to the screened porch o
verlooking the lake. There were lights out on the lake, people out fishing. She loved to fish, but you couldn’t pay her enough to go out there at night. You couldn’t see the gators at night.

  Bruce wanted to try to find the guy who sold them this place, but even if they found him, he wouldn’t give them anything. She’d dealt with men like that for most of her life. They lied and cheated folks and then disappeared. The only thing to do was put the place on the market and try to get some of their money back.

  If they could find someone stupid enough to buy a business with no business.

  <>

  The next morning, Laura was surprised to find Luke in her bathroom, shaving. “What are you doing here?”

  “I slept in the other bedroom.”

  “You stayed here all night?”

  “I won’t tell if you won’t,” he said, eyes twinkling. “Okay, the bathroom is all yours. I’ll go on over and start the coffee.”

  He wasn’t wearing the same clothes he wore yesterday. “Where did you get those clean clothes?”

  “I keep an overnight bag in my car.”

  This morning he was all business. Last night he wanted something else. If he’d pushed a little, just a little, she wouldn’t still be a virgin.

  She’d given it a lot of thought before she went to sleep last night. She needed his financial support right now, and she didn’t want to get into something personal and risk ruining their business relationship. No matter how attracted she was to him, business had to come first. He’d have to look elsewhere for sex.

  Queenie never had any respect for women who slept with men outside marriage. She’d made that very clear, but Laura could never bring herself to talk with Queenie about men or what it was like to fall in love. Queenie said she’d only loved one man, and that was Laura’s father. Laura couldn’t remember ever seeing her flirt with any man. No playful bantering with the customers. No joking around about sex. No special smiles. Nothing.

  Queenie had hated it when the men teased Laura. She’d often accused Laura of flirting, but smiling and joking was just being friendly and making people feel welcome. It also brought her more in tips.

  All those years of working her butt off in the café, and instead of thanking her, Queenie’s voice taunted her from the grave. “You’re lazy... lazy... lazy... lazy.”

  She dressed and walked to the café. Luke had the coffee on and breakfast started. She poured herself a cup of coffee. “You don’t have to cook, Luke.”

  “I’ll cook this morning. You wait tables.”

  “Okay.” She wouldn’t turn down his help. “I’m going to try an all-you-can-eat buffet brunch on Sunday. Maybe I can pull in some after-church business.”

  “All you can eat? I hope Jay doesn’t come. He’ll eat you out of business.”

  Rusty, a nervous little man who lived at the motel, came in. Laura smiled. “Rusty, I didn’t know you were back.”

  “Yeah. My dad drove me home last night. Cindy says you’re gonna kick us out.”

  “No, I won’t kick you out.”

  “But I don’t have any money for rent this time.”

  Luke said, “Why don’t you help Laura here in the café in exchange for rent?”

  Rusty’s eyes lit up. “Okay. What do you want me to do?”

  “Wash dishes, sweep the floors, help her clean up, stuff like that.”

  “Wait a minute here, Mr. Windsor,” said Laura. “I own this business, not you. You’re not even a partner, not yet anyway.” He was already taking over. This was her business, and she’d run it the way she wanted, without interference from him or anyone else.

  Rusty’s face fell. “You don’t want me to work here?”

  “Of course I want you to work here, Rusty. You’re hired. You can work one to nine, and you can eat here, too.”

  “Alll riiight! Is it okay if Sleepy lives with me now?”

  “Sure. You can have Doc, too, if you can find him.”

  “Cindy said he ran away.”

  Laura hadn’t seen Doc since she’d come home. He’d probably gotten killed on the highway or tangled with a wild animal. Whatever happened, he was gone, and Sleepy would have a good home. Rusty loved animals.

  Rusty left and the regulars started to stream in. Laura told everyone about the Sunday brunch, knowing word would spread quickly in this little town.

  Laura continued working with Luke, but she paid attention and tried not to run into him again. She didn’t have time to play his games. She had a business to run.

  “Laura, is business picking up or is it just my imagination?”

  “It’s picking up. Maybe I can pay off the new carpet this year and paint the outside. And then, I’ll start buying new furniture.”

  Luke set a stack of dirty plates in the sink. “What kind of furniture? Booths? Tables and chairs? What do you want?”

  She rinsed out her towel and leaned back against the counter. “I’d love something a little old-fashioned, maybe dark wood.”

  “Old-fashioned, as in some round tables, some square with fold-up extensions, and old style chairs that don’t match?”

  “It sounds nice, but I don’t need any more debt.” She walked back to the dining area to wash off tables while Luke talked on the phone.

  He came out smiling. “We’ll see the furniture on Monday. It’s Chubby’s old stuff. We put it in storage when we remodeled the barbecue place.”

  She couldn’t afford furniture now, even if it was used, but he looked so pleased with himself she relented. “Okay, we’ll go look Monday morning, but I have to be back in the afternoon to get things done around here.”

  <>

  Early Sunday afternoon, Marv came in for lunch. “Laura, there’s a man sitting outside in his car staring at the building.”

  She walked to the window and pulled up the blind. Corbin sat in his silver Toyota sedan, his mouth gaping open in shock, staring at Laura’s inheritance. He wore a white shirt and tie, so he’d probably come here directly from church. She could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times she’d ever been in a church, but he took his mother every Sunday.

  Her eyes shifted slightly until she spotted the tiny woman sitting beside Corbin. Her mouth moved constantly, and Laura could only imagine what she was saying. The café looked like a flamingo exploded on it, spewing feathers and internal organs in a haphazard pattern. The locals didn’t say anything about it because they knew she was doing her best, but Corbin must be shocked.

  More of the regulars came in, and Laura moved away from the windows to take orders. Would they come inside or just sit out there in the car and stare? Maybe they thought the café was too disgusting to come inside.

  She’d never met Corbin’s mother, and right now she wasn’t sure she wanted to.

  She finished taking orders and retreated to the kitchen. The bell on the door rang and she called, “Be right with you.”

  Luke came into the kitchen. “Hi. Need some help?”

  “Sure.” She pointed to the orders. “You can get their drinks while I make the sandwiches.”

  Luke had just left with a tray of cold drinks and two coffee cups when the bell on the door rang again. Corbin was on the small side, but next to his mother, he looked huge. She couldn’t be five feet tall, and so slender she was almost emaciated. She glanced around the café and curled her upper lip. Her lips started moving again, but Laura couldn’t hear a thing, because she was whispering to Corbin. Laura didn’t need to hear her speak. Her expression said everything. The woman didn’t want to be here. And Laura didn’t want her here. She didn’t want either of them here, but she couldn’t throw them out.

  She finished the sandwiches and pushed the plates over the counter to Luke. “Would you mind serving these?”

  Luke glanced at her and at the people still standing by the door. He took the plates to the tables, found the ketchup, and hung back talking to the customers while Laura walked to the door to greet Corbin and his mother.

  “Hi, Corbin.�
�

  The woman stopped whispering and stared at Laura, looking her up and down.

  Corbin cleared his throat. “Laura, this is my mother, Beatrice Brill. Mother, this is Laura Whitfield.”

  Laura extended her hand. “How nice to meet you, Mrs. Brill. I hope you came for lunch today.” Laura grabbed two menus and escorted her guests to a table.

  “Would you have time to sit with us?” Corbin asked.

  “No, sorry. I’m the owner of this charming establishment, and I’m also the chief cook and bottle washer.”

  “You poor dear,” said Mrs. Brill. She spoke quietly, but Laura not only heard the words, she heard the meaning behind the words.

  Laura lifted her chin. “I know it doesn’t look like much, but Queenie left this place to me, and I intend to make something of it.” Nobody was putting her down directly or by implication.

  She looked around for Luke, pleading with her eyes. A slight motion of her head was all it took. He was by her side in an instant. “Luke, this is Beatrice Brill and her son, Corbin Brill, from West Palm Beach. Corbin, Luke Windsor is my new business partner. We’re going to turn this café into a thriving business.”

  “Well, that’ll certainly take some doing, won’t it?” said Mrs. Brill, and Laura felt like slapping her. The other customers, all locals and regular customers, grew quiet. Corbin’s face reddened. He jumped out of his chair and leaned toward Laura. “I need to speak with you in private.”

  “Now?”

  “Right now.”

  “Go ahead,” said Luke. “I’ll take care of Mrs. Brill.”

  Laura walked out to the parking lot with Corbin, wondering what was so important.

  He didn’t say anything until they were standing in the shade beside the door. “Laura, I... I came to ask you something, and it looks like I came just in time. Surely you’re not planning to work in this...” He waved his hand at the building. “...horrid place.”

  She crossed her arms. “This horrid place is my place of business. I know it doesn’t look like much on the outside, but I’ve been working on the inside, and—”

  “Laura, please be reasonable. A woman of your breeding doesn’t belong in a place like this.”