by Mayne, Debby
"Would you like for me to join you?" Dante asked, a hopeful look on his face.
"Thanks, but not this time."
"Okay, I understand." He nodded toward the kitchen. "I'll be here for a little while longer. Let me know if there's anything I can do."
Sunny had mixed feelings about parting ways from Dante. She did need to get back to work, but that magnetic force between that always sizzled through her made her want to stay with him … even if they had no hope for anything beyond boss and employee.
*
Dante went to the front and seated people as they came in. When all the tables were filled, he asked Estelle to go to the kitchen and bring back a plate of appetizers for those who were willing to wait in line.
She returned about ten minutes later with two platters—one with ham-wrapped cheddar cheese and the other with fried sliced okra. "Sunny says her mama makes the best fried okra, and she was able to whip this up in minutes."
All of the customers inside the front of the restaurant took an appetizer, most of them choosing the okra over the ham and cheese. He asked Estelle to get Twila to make some more. She nodded and grinned.
Twila personally delivered the platter of okra this time. "We have everything under control in the kitchen for the time bein'. I thought I'd see what all these lovely people like about southern cuisine." She turned around and started chatting with the first person in line.
Dante was fascinated by the Tatum women. They both had the gift of gab, and it was always interesting to hear what they had to say. He'd admired Sunny's breezy personality, and now Twila was blowing him away.
"I'm so happy y'all are enjoyin' my okra. Want me to do some tomatoes next? I spotted a few green ones that are perfect for slicin' and batterin' and fryin' up." She glanced over her shoulder and flashed a conspiratorial grin at Dante before turning back to the crowd that had gathered around her. "How about it?"
After a few sounds of appreciation, Twila took off for the kitchen. One of the older guys in line chuckled. "She sure is a looker. In fact, she looks an awful like that pretty manager over there waitin' on tables."
"They're mother and daughter," Dante explained.
The man made a clicking sound with his tongue. "I thought they might be sisters. I never would've guessed she was the mother."
Dante knew that Twila was only sixteen years older than her daughter, but he didn't want to say anything. "I'll tell her you said that."
It took about an hour to get everyone in line seated and served. Dante left his post at the front and walked toward the kitchen. "How's it going back here?"
Twila leaned around the half-wall. "It's goin' good. Business here is hoppin'. I don't know what kind of advertisin' you do, but keep it up because it's certainly working."
"Since your daughter has been here I haven't had to do much advertising at all. People come back to see her."
"That's my girl. Where's the other cook … Riley, is it? I thought he'd be here lookin' over my shoulder. I know I would if someone came in and tried to take over my kitchen."
Dante knew that Riley was irritated about her being there, but he wasn't about to tell Twila. "I'll call him later and see if he'll stop by tomorrow."
Twila's attention was diverted to something behind Dante, so he turned around. It was Ms. Chambray hobbling through the diner with her cane. He excused himself and went to help her.
"Hey there, Bubba Dante." She lifted her head and closed her eyes. "Something sure does smell mighty good."
"Why don't you take a seat over there," he said, pointing to the only vacant table in the diner. "I'll get you a plate of our special, meatloaf and mashed potatoes."
"I already had dinner, but it sure does smell delicious. Maybe just a half order."
He followed her to the table and helped her get situated. "Coming right up."
Twila insisted on bringing Ms. Chambray's food to her, so he stayed in the back and helped with some of the cleanup. Pop had always insisted that he learn his way around every part of the restaurant, so no one had to tell him what to do. "Your employees will respect you more if you know their jobs," Pop had said. And he was right.
Estelle offered to close the restaurant, so he went back out to the dining area with Sunny. Ms. Chambray had cleaned her plate and was trying to get up. She reached for Dante. "Give me a hand, will you, Bubba Dante? Oh, and since you're here, why don't you go with us to the hospital? I'm sure Sunny would like the support."
Dante glanced over at Sunny whose chin had dropped. He was about to bow out, but Twila's eyebrows shot up. "I think that's a great idea. I could use some extra support too."
Chapter 15
Sunny tightened her jaw. She really didn't want Dante tagging along, but she couldn't very well say anything now. There would be too many questions.
Dante gave her an apologetic look before turning to Mama. "I don't want to be in the way."
"Oh, don't be silly, Bubba Dante. You're never in the way." Miss Lucille batted her eyelashes in an exaggeratedly coquettish manner. "I've always enjoyed being seen with good looking men."
"I have to admit I'm nervous as a cat in a room full of rockin' chairs," Mama said. "Goin' to a new doctor is always a little unsettling. Havin' you with us will make me feel better." She grinned at Sunny before adding, "It'll be more like a bunch of friends hangin' out than a regular doctor's appointment."
"Oh, trust me, this will be unlike any doctor's appointment you've ever had," Miss Lucille said. "C'mon, let's get outta here. I don't want to keep Dr. Simone waiting."
They all piled into a cab, with Miss Lucille in the front with the driver. Mama wanted Dante in the middle in the backseat, so they obliged. The closeness prevented any hope Sunny had of not touching him.
Miss Lucille chatted with the driver all the way to the hospital and seemed oblivious to the people in the backseat. Mama and Dante made small talk, while Sunny looked out the window.
"Hey, sweetie, why so quiet?" Mama leaned forward and looked at Sunny. "I don't think I've ever heard you go this long without talkin'." She settled back. "Bless her heart, she comes by that honestly, don't you?" She leaned forward again. "Oh, you don't have to answer that. I think there's some law about not havin' to incriminate yourself."
Once the hospital was in view, Miss Lucille turned around. "We're almost there. As soon as we get out, let's say a prayer for Dr. Simone."
The driver pulled up to the front of the hospital, and Miss Lucille started to pay. However, Dante was forceful in insisting he cover the cab ride. "She's my employee," he explained. "It's the least I can do."
At first, Sunny was surprised that Miss Lucille didn't argue. But Miss Lucille leaned over and whispered, "Some men are insulted when you don't let them pay, and I'd never want to hurt Bubba Dante's feelings."
Miss Lucille was definitely old school on the surface. But looking closely at how she interacted, she was clearly in charge, and no one dared to challenge that.
They all held hands in the middle of the sidewalk. "Okay, bow your heads," Miss Lucille commanded. Once everyone had their heads bowed, she said a very short prayer for guidance and wisdom. "Okay, let's go see what she has to say."
Sunny noticed that Mama suddenly grew quiet. She looked at her and saw something else—a timidity that she'd never seen in her entire life. Mama had always been the most fearless person Sunny had ever known.
They rode up the elevator to the oncology floor and headed down the hall toward a row of offices. Miss Lucille walked right up to one with a nameplate that read Simone McRay, MD. Dante scooted ahead and opened the door for the ladies.
A slender woman with a blond up-do greeted them in the waiting room. She smiled directly at Miss Lucille.
"I'm so glad you could stick around for us, Dr. Simone." Miss Lucille took a step to the side and gestured toward Mama. "This here's my friend Twila Tatum from Charleston, South Carolina. She recently found out she has breast cancer, and I want to make sure she gets the best care possible."
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The doctor smiled at Mama and extended her hand. "Who have you been seeing in Charleston?" she asked.
As Mama and the doctor chatted, Miss Lucille pulled Sunny and Dante aside. "Let's give them some space. I don't want to interfere."
Sunny almost laughed out loud. She'd never seen Miss Lucille hesitate even a second before interfering if she thought it would do any good.
"I'm taking her back for an exam," Dr. Simone said. "We'll only be a few minutes."
"Take all the time you need," Miss Lucille said. "We're not goin' anywhere."
The three of them sat while Mama followed Dr. Simone. Sunny was uncomfortable, so she picked up a magazine and started thumbing through it.
"I'm glad your mama didn't give me any static about coming here," Miss Lucille said. "Because if she had, she would have had a fight on her hands. Dr. Simone is the best oncologist in the country, as far as I'm concerned." She snickered. "And she puts up with me, so she's a saint."
Sunny glanced up at Dante who smiled. "Ms. Chambray, you're a sweetheart. I bet she considers you her best patient."
Miss Lucille shrugged. "Maybe so, maybe not, but what does it matter? She took over after my old doctor retired, and she's keepin' me healthy … and my cancer never came back. I'm giving her … and God all the credit."
Sunny couldn't concentrate on the magazine, so she closed it and put it back on the table. "I just wish she'd told me about it before. I had no idea Mama was sufferin' alone. I would have been right there with her if I'd known."
Miss Lucille made a face. "That's probably why she didn't tell you. Some people don't like worrying others."
"My mother is like that too," Dante said. "She didn't have cancer, but the doctor found some suspicious spots during a mammogram. My family never found out until all the other tests came out negative."
They chatted about family secrets over the next half hour, until Mama and the doctor joined them. The doctor was smiling. "Looks good from what I can tell. I'm running some tests, though, so we'll know more in a few days."
Mama let out a deep sigh. "Looks like my doctor back in Charleston did a good job."
"Yes," Dr. Simone agreed. "In fact, I actually know him. We met at a conference a couple of years ago."
"But you're still the best," Miss Lucille said.
The doctor laughed. "I'm glad you have confidence in me, Ms. Chambray." She turned to Mama and extended her hand again. "If you have any questions, just call the number on my card. Otherwise, I'll call you to let you know as soon as the results come in."
As soon as they got out in the hallway, Miss Lucille linked arms with Mama. "See, I told you she was nice."
Mama nodded. "You sure did, and I agree. I like my doctor back home, but I have to admit there is somethin' special about Dr. Simone. Did you know that she's from North Carolina?"
"I sure did." Miss Lucille chuckled. "In fact, that was why I picked her out of the entire team of oncologists. I wanted a woman doctor, and I love North Carolina. It's gorgeous there in the spring and fall."
"I'm not so sure that's the best way to pick a doctor," Sunny said.
"And why not?" Miss Lucille said. "It worked for me."
"Okay." Sunny slowed down and fell behind Mama and Miss Lucille. Dante hung back with her.
"This was definitely an answer to prayers," he said softly. "I'm glad I was there to hear it firsthand."
Sunny nodded. "Yeah, I'm glad you were too."
"You are?" He looked surprised.
"Yes, I am." She swallowed hard as she looked down.
"But you said—" He cut himself off. "Never mind."
"Dante, it's not that I didn't want you to go. It's just that I'm so confused by everything."
"I thought we were starting over."
"There's something else we should probably talk about, but this isn't a good time."
Dante's face tightened, forming deep lines on his forehead. But he didn't say anything else until they got outside.
"Do you wanna come over and celebrate?" Miss Lucille asked him.
"No thanks," he replied. "In fact, I'll get a cab for you ladies, and then I'll just go on home. I have some paperwork to look over before I sign the lease on the new location."
"Have you decided what to call your new place yet?" Miss Lucille asked. "If you haven't, I'd like to help you come up with something."
"I'll probably just call it Bubba's Home Cookin' in Harlem."
Miss Lucille made a face. "That's not very creative. I think it should be original."
"I like Bubba's Home Cookin' in Harlem," Mama said. "That way people know what they're gettin'—especially if they've been to the original location."
"But won't the food be different?" Sunny asked. "Mama and Riley have different recipes for the same dishes."
"Speaking of Riley …" Dante said. "He's planning to go to the diner tomorrow. I called to find out what his plans were about returning." He nodded toward Mama. "I hope you're okay with that."
"Of course I am. I'm actually lookin' forward to it. He keeps a kitchen just like I do."
"But he's very different from you," Dante warned.
Mama tilted her head back and laughed. "I think I'm the one who's different."
"We'll see." Dante lifted his hand to summon a cab. After it stopped, he held the door for the ladies. "I'll stop by the diner and see how you're getting along."
Sunny noticed that he looked directly at Mama as he spoke. That shouldn't have bothered her, but it did.
*
Dante walked a couple of blocks before he got a cab for himself. Being with Sunny always made him antsy, and he needed to release a little extra energy before he sat. As he walked, he thought about how little it took to upset Sunny. As much as he enjoyed being around her, he wasn't sure he could continue with the way things were going. Her skittishness was starting to get on his nerves. Good thing she wasn't like that as a restaurant manager.
The next morning, he got to his office before anyone else. It was a lot easier to get work done without all the noise that started once Pop and his brothers arrived. However, Anthony came in shortly afterward, and he made a beeline for Dante's office.
"So how's the Harlem location coming along?" Anthony asked.
"All I have to do is sign the papers, and it's mine."
"What all do you have to do to get it ready for business?"
Dante shook his head. "Very little, actually. The previous tenants finished it out pretty well, so all I have to do is cosmetic to give it that 'down-home' feeling."
Anthony laughed. "Make sure you have Mom take a look at it to see if it's authentic."
"Nah, she's been in the city too long to know. I think I'll let my employees give me some pointers."
Anthony plopped down on the side chair, folded his arms, and extended his legs. "So are you fully staffed?"
"Not completely, but I have some of the key people in place."
"Yeah, you mentioned something about Sunny's mother. Do you think she'll be able to handle the workload of such a busy place?" He grimaced. "I mean, you know what happens when people get older. The stress can be killer on someone who isn't used to city business."
Dante laughed. "You should meet Twila. She might be from the South, but she can probably work circles around any of your seasoned city chefs."
"Then I might just have to stop by and see if she's interested in switching to Italian food."
"You do, and you'll have a fight on your hands, bro."
"Just kidding." Anthony stood. "You don't worry about me. I'm just glad you're doing so well. Let me know if there's anything else."
Dante thought for a second and pointed to the chair. "There is something else. Sit back down. I think it'll take a while."
"Sounds serious." Anthony sat. "What's up?"
"You know how I feel about Sunny, right?"
"Of course I do. You showed me the ring you bought."
"Yeah, the one she turned down." Dante closed his eyes and massaged
his temples. "I keep trying to break through, and just when I think I've made progress, she puts up a shield."
"What happened?"
Dante told Anthony all about what she'd said about being hurt by her high school boyfriend. He explained how she'd seem to warm up to him, only to stiff-arm him when he thought things were going well.
"That's no way to have a relationship," Anthony said. "Either she likes you, or she doesn't."
"That's just it. I think she does, but she's afraid to."
Anthony shook his head. "Life's too short to put with that. If she isn't into you, it's time to move on." He paused and rubbed his chin. "Do you think she can continue working for you if things don't work out in the romance department?"
Dante nodded. "She asked if she needed to look for another job. I told her she was the best thing that could have happened to Bubba's Diner, and she seemed okay with sticking around."
"What are you gonna do?"
"I think I'll take your advice. It's time to move on." As Dante said those words aloud, he felt as though an essential element of life had drained from his body.
Chapter 16
Sunny watched Mama apply her lipstick as she got ready for work the next day. "You look happy."
Mama spun around and faced her. "Maybe I shouldn't be this happy, but I am. I feel like I've just gotten a new lease on life. A new purpose."
"I'm glad things are working out so well for you."
The smile faded from Mama's face as soon as it formed. "What's wrong, sweetie? I hope you're not upset about my bein' here 'cause if you are, I can go right back home and find myself another job."
"No, that's not it." Sunny placed her hand on Mama's shoulder and looked her in the eye. "In fact, I love having you here. It's just that … well, I don't know how to say—"
"It's Bubba Dante, isn't it?"
In spite of the fact that Mama had nailed why Sunny was so blue, she laughed. "Oh no, not you too."
"What?" Mama leaned back.
"Bubba Dante. His name is Dante."
"I reckon I've been hangin' around Miss Lucille too much," Mama said. "She's influencin' me."