by A. L Long
I could have argued with the person looking back at me, but in the end, my alter ego would win out. Turning away from the mirror, I removed my clothes, avoiding any more bad thoughts. Living on Ramen noodles and bread was taking a toll on my body and, other than being more toned, my once chubby body was on the edge of making me look anorexic. At least Dotty offered all of her employees a free meal during their shift.
Pulling back the thin shower curtain, I entered the shower, hoping that the water would stay warm enough for me to enjoy it. Maybe this time I would be able to rinse the conditioner from my hair without freezing to death. The water was just the right temperature. The minute it hit my body it took me to a different place where the only thing I wanted to think about was the warmth of the water hitting my body. Closing my eyes, I tilted my head back only to be greeted by the large crack in the ceiling that the landlord must have tried to fix more than once. He would have been better off replacing the ceiling instead of painting to cover the large amount of caulk he must have used.
My tranquil moment ended as I felt the water get colder. Rushing through conditioning my hair and forgoing the set time of two minutes, I quickly rinsed it off. It was a good thing I found a conditioner I could leave in, extra cheap, to give my hair the added conditioning it needed. I was blessed with most of my mom’s features, but having tame hair wasn’t one of them.
Feeling ten times better than I did when I got home, my stomach protested since I hadn’t taken advantage of my free meal at the diner. I had been so busy that when my lunch break rolled around, I could only grab a few packaged crackers so I could take care of the lunch crowd. It was always like that when Dotty ran her meatloaf special. I didn’t know what she put in it, but it was the best I had ever tasted. I only wished I had brought some home to eat instead of my only dinner choice of Ramen noodles or Spaghetti-O’s, which I had been saving for a special occasion. I guess moving out of this place could be considered a special occasion even though it was still more than a month away. Hopefully, one day I could afford real food. What I wouldn’t do for a nice steak!
Chapter Three
HANNA
I got to the diner with five minutes to spare, and Dotty was already looking over the menu to see what she would offer as today’s lunch special. It didn’t matter what she chose, everything on the menu was amazing. Being partial to her Beef Stroganoff, I pointed to the item and said confidently, “I think the Stroganoff would be a great hit today.”
Smiling up at me, she gave me a double wink and replied, “Stroganoff it is, sweetie.”
Nodding my head with a smile, I turned on my heels to place my things in my locker. Adjusting my dress, I grabbed a clean apron from the rack and tied it around my waist. Taking a quick look in the mirror I had attached to the door, I straightened out my ponytail before closing the locker. Dotty was already out front writing the daily special on the chalkboard. With the weather being nice, Dotty always placed the freestanding board on the sidewalk close to the entrance so that anyone walking by would see it.
Wiping down the last of the laminated menus, I checked the time, knowing it would be time to open the doors. As I unlocked the door, several of the regulars were waiting on the other side. I swung the door wide open, greeting each customer as they walked through the door. I would have my day cut out for me. I was having second thoughts about deciding to work today instead of taking my scheduled day off. When Carrie asked if I would cover her shift so she could take her youngest boy to the doctor, I jumped at the chance to pick up an extra shift. She was a single mom with three kids and the father of her kids never found the time for them. Her kids were amazing, and sometimes when she had to work her night job, I would volunteer to watch them. Seeing that she needed the money more than I did, I never charged her.
Waiting until the last customer entered the diner, I let go of the glass door and drew out my order pad and took breakfast orders. Most of the people that came for breakfast knew exactly what they wanted to order, and having known most of them for some time now, I knew exactly what they wanted too. Occasionally they would get a little adventurous and change their order.
Heading back to the kitchen I gave Drew all the orders I had collected before filling the small pots with coffee. Drew started as the main cook about the time I started waitressing. Dotty needed someone to cover the morning shift, and with Drew’s school schedule it worked out perfect, even though he didn’t know a thing about cooking. I guess he had a hidden talent. Everyone in the diner always complimented him on his cooking.
As I headed out the steel swinging door, I saw déjà vu had snuck in. Sitting at the counter, in the same spot, was Mr. Handsome. I didn’t know his real name, so I gave him one that was most fitting for him. Knowing he liked drinking coffee, I stepped over to where he sat and grabbed a coffee mug from under the counter. As I filled it to the brim, I could feel his eyes on me. All I did was smile and say, “Morning, sir. I’ll be back to get your order.”
“‘Sir’ seems so formal. Please, call me Aiden,” he advised as he placed his hand on my wrist.
If his intention was to get my attention, he accomplished his task. The minute his hand contacted my skin, something shot through my arm and to my core. It was the strangest feeling, and something I had never experienced before. His touch almost caused me to overfill his cup, which would have been a disaster, especially if I ended up burning myself or worse yet, burning him. Just like yesterday, my cheeks felt like they were on fire and I knew they had to be as bright as the red in his silk tie. Leaving him to ponder his choice, I headed back to the kitchen to take a few moments to collect myself. Thankfully, the coast was clear, and I avoided another mishap like yesterday.
~*~*~*~
The morning was going along smoothly with no more surprises, other than a small child spilling their glass of orange juice three times. To save the little girl’s mom from paying for another glass, I thought it would be best to give her a to-go cup with a lid. Pressing my apron with my hand, I headed back over to the counter where Mr. Handsome, Aidan, was seated to take his order. Just like yesterday, he was finely dressed, only this time in a dark suit matched with a gray shirt and a red tie. Placing the two plates on the cart near the waitress station, I pulled my notepad from my apron and approached him with a smile.
Licking the tip of my pen in a somewhat flirty manner, I leaned against the counter and asked with a welcoming smile, “What will it be, sir?”
The minute he lifted his brow, I could tell that he wasn’t amused by my joking mannerism or calling him sir instead of by his name. I just didn’t feel comfortable addressing him by his first name. As he placed the menu on the counter, I thought for sure he would correct me, but instead he said, “I’ll have the County Skillet with a side of dollar pancakes and two slices of bacon. I’ve been told it is the best.”
It seemed he had a joking side as well. Taking the pot of coffee from under the counter, I filled his cup, which was now half full, and answered, “Coming right up.”
When I went back to the kitchen to place his order, Dotty was standing on the other side of the door. I had my notepad in my hand and she pulled it from my grasp. I did not understand why she would have done that, but with a smile on her face, she looked up at me and said, “I will take care of Mr. Drake myself.”
“So, the mystery man now has a last name,” I said to myself as I watched her focus on the notepad. It made little sense that she would know who Aiden was considering he had only appeared at the diner yesterday. Taking a stab in the dark, I asked. “Do you know him, Dotty?”
Her expression changed when she replied, “Yeah, you could say that.”
It seemed like she avoided my question as she turned around and headed to the fridge. I wasn’t sure if Mr. Drake being in the diner was a good thing and based on Dotty’s face, she wasn’t sure either.
When Aiden had finished, it was no surprise I had received another twenty-dollar tip. Again, he managed to leave before I could thank him. A
t this rate, if he continued to come here every morning, I could purchase a farm in no time.
With my shift finally over, I headed to the back of the diner to grab my things. Just as I was heading out of the diner, Dolly stopped me. Taking my soiled apron from my hand and dropping it in the laundry basket, she asked, “Do you have a minute to chat?”
It was the first time Dotty had requested a chat. I wasn’t sure what she needed from me, but I was sure I wasn’t getting fired or anything. Following her into her office, I took a seat beside her desk and waited as she closed the door. There was something different about the way she looked. There was a concerned look on her face, like she had something weighing on her and she didn’t know how to say what she needed to say.
Placing my hand over hers, I asked softly, “What is it, Dotty? What do you need to tell me?”
Looking up at me, she replied, “I’m an old woman, and this diner has taken a toll on this body of mine. As much as I love this place, I’m afraid that I will have to sell it.”
“What do you mean, sell it? I thought you loved this diner?” I questioned.
“I do love it, but unfortunately, this place isn’t doing so well and taking out another loan isn’t an option for me.” I could tell that the words weren’t easy for her to say as she paused for a moment before she continued. “The gentleman that you have been waiting on, Mr. Drake, has an interest in the diner and will pay me a healthy sum for it.”
“You can’t sell it, Dotty,” I said a little louder than I should have.
“I have to, Hanna, and unless you can buy it, I have no other choice,” Dotty admitted.
It saddened me to know that she would let go everything she had worked so hard for. If I had the money, I would have given it to her to save the diner from being bought, but unfortunately, I didn’t. What saddened me even more was that once she sold this place, I would be out of a job. And just like everything else in Houston, the diner would probably be torn down to make room for a shopping mall or a business center.
Before I left, I felt the need to give her a big hug. Dotty was like family. She felt more like family than my brother, and after losing my mother, she was the closest thing to a mom I had. Opening the door, Byron was standing outside the door waiting to talk to Dotty. I was sure he was waiting to talk to her about taking a little time off. It was getting close to the weekend and Byron always tried to get it off. Even though Dotty always told him she wasn’t able to give him the time off he needed, he always continued to try. Giving him a quick wave, I headed out the back door.
Chapter Four
HANNA
“Okay, here’s the deal. You have been coming to here every morning for a month and I know that you are planning on buying the diner from Dotty. So why the hell do you feel the need to continue to come in every morning, ordering the same thing? Why don’t you just buy the damn place and get it over with?” I voiced harshly, letting my protective side get the best of me.
“Ha-ha… you really do have a spicy side. For a minute, I thought you were shy and incapable of voicing an opinion,” he said arrogantly.
My temperature just got hotter. I wasn’t sure if I should be angry at the audacity of his remark or the fact he was right. It was another trait I inherited from my mom. Looking him squarely in the eye, I pulled a clean water glass from under the counter, filled it with water, and left him to his thoughts. There was no reason to take his order since I already knew what he wanted.
I had only taken one step before he placed his hand on my arm and inquired, “What time do you get off?”
I wasn’t sure what his motive was for asking, and with the need to prove him wrong about his previous comment, I answered confidently, “When I’m done.”
It may have been a sarcastic reply, but it felt good and, in all honesty, it was information he didn’t need to know. Sure, I could have easily told him, but I needed to hold my ground and forget about the effect he was having on me.
Saying nothing more, I left him to stew and headed to the kitchen to turn in his order. Maybe instead of getting his order right out, I might just wait until it was room temperature. Now, there’s a thought.
~*~*~*~
My day wasn’t going as quickly as I had hoped. It might have been because Aiden was still sitting in the same spot as when he came in five hours ago. My only assumption was that he was waiting until I got off. Little did he know the diner had a back door and I didn’t have to go out the front door of the diner to get to my car. For all he knew, I was helping the cook or something when in actuality I had left.
By the time my shift ended, Aidan, Mr. Drake, had already left, which made it easier to leave. Most of the afternoon crowd had also left, which would make it easier on Dotty when it was time to close. I offered to stay until she closed at six o’clock, but she insisted that she could handle it. Tugging my backpack over my shoulder, I waved goodbye to Byron and exited the diner through the back door.
I guess I should have been paying more attention to my surroundings. Leaning against a very expensive car, which was parked next to mine, Aiden was staring right at me, stopping me in my tracks. I was about to turn around, not willing to hear what he had to say, but something told me that eventually we would run into each other again.
Walking towards him with all the confidence I could seize, I kept my focus on his eyes like we were having a staring match. He might have pinpointed my shyness and lack of confidence, but one thing he missed was my stubbornness, and just like my mom, I hated to lose.
Pretending to harbor the confidence he knew I lacked, I stepped in front of him, placing my hands on my hips as though that was where they belonged, I asked bluntly, “Have you been waiting here all this time?”
Pushing from his shiny car, he stood tall and said, “I have. You weren’t exactly precise when I asked when you got off.”
“Well, did it ever occur to you that I didn’t want you to know?” I asked as I walked past him. This man, no matter how gorgeous he was… was getting on my nerves.
“I did, but I think you’d want to at least hear what I have to say.” His confidence, although annoying, had my attention.
“I’m listening,” I replied, holding on to the key that I had pushed inside the lock on the door.
“I have a proposition for you, or rather, a way to make the one thing you want more than anything in this world yours.”
The smile on his face was more than that. It was like a mischievous grin. If he hadn’t had my attention before, he had it now. Moving closer to him, I pulled the key from the door and rounded the front of the car. Somehow, I felt that hearing what he had to say was going to get me into trouble.
Standing tall in front of him, I said, “Go on, I’m listening.” My body became tense, anticipating what he was about to say.
“I have a confession,” he admitted, pushing away from his expensive car and positioning himself within inches from where I was standing. “There is a reason I have been coming to the diner these past weeks.”
My focus was on his lips and I hadn’t noticed that the wind had picked up slightly until he grazed his finger along my cheek to push aside the stray hair that had escaped from my hair tie. Although surprising, I welcomed the feel of his touch against my skin.
Trying to compose myself against the effect he was having on me, I took a step back before I replied to his comment. “And that would be, what?”
“I had to find out for myself who the girl was that used to own the small farm in Danbury.”
I couldn’t have heard him correctly because he didn’t just say farm and Danbury in the same sentence. “Excuse me?” I questioned, feeling confused and annoyed at the same time.
“I have to admit that I was delighted to find that the Hanna Marsh I met overthrew my expectations tenfold,” he said candidly.
“Are you saying that the only reason you were at the diner was to find me? Why would you even do that?” My anger was on the edge of boiling over. Aiden Drake, no matter how
good looking he was, just struck a sore spot with me. Stalking wasn’t a trait that I found attractive in a man.
“Yes, and to make you an offer.”
“I’m still listening, but not for long. Spill.”
“Okay, let’s just say I have something you want and you have something I want.”
“Huh, and what would that be?” I was just about over this man. He had better get to the point soon, or I was going to leave.