The Heavenly Grille Café (Heavenly Grille Cafe Book 1)

by J. T. Livingston

  Amanda tossed a napkin at him, which he reflexively caught in mid-air. She added cream and sugar to her cup of coffee and grinned back at him. “Well I had to eat enough for both of us. Weren’t you hungry? You hardly touched any of that yummy food.”

  Doug shook his head. “Not really. I... actually had a late lunch a couple of hours before I got here. I’ll probably have something a little later on tonight, though.”

  “That’s right. You start working the night shift tonight, right?”

  Doug nodded. “How about you, Amanda? Where are you headed now that your belly is obviously full? It is full, isn’t it?”

  Amanda pushed back from the table a little and exhaled slowly. “Yes, my belly is quite full, thank you very much. As to where I’m headed? Well…I wish I knew...”

  “What is that supposed to mean? You don’t know where you’re going?”

  Amanda wrinkled her nose and offered a half-smile. “Not really, no. You know, I don’t usually tell total strangers the story of my life, but... you don’t really feel like a stranger anymore, so here goes. I’ll give you the short version. Within the past year and a half, my Dad, who was my only living relative by the way, died from cancer; I managed to lose the house he raised me in; and, this morning, I lost my job due to new management and company downsizing, and all. So… here I am, I don’t even know where this is by the way, but everything I own is packed inside my car.” She looked at her watch and continued, “I left a Tampa parking lot about eight hours ago with no real destination in mind. I drove for six hours, only stopped once for gas, and then that awesome glowing halo outside caught my eye and lured me here to get something to eat. Actually, now that I think about it, if it hadn’t been for the glow from that halo, I don’t think I would have ever found this place. It’s a little off the beaten path.”

  Doug sat listening to her story with his hands clasped together and positioned beneath his chin.

  Amanda felt those piercing green eyes staring at her and looked up. “Oh, God, don’t look at me like that. Pity is the last thing I need.”

  Doug continued to stare at her and, without any warning, reached across the table to take her hand in his. “I’m very sorry for the loss of your father, Amanda. That must have been hard for you. You said he was your only living relative?”

  Amanda exhaled and nodded. “Yep, it was just the two of us. My mom died when I was seven, freak accident…but that’s another story. He really was a great father. I miss him... so much.”

  Doug released her hand and sipped at his coffee before responding. “So, you really don’t know where you’re going? No destination in mind?”

  Amanda held her coffee cup in both hands and stared into it. “Nope, not a clue. If this was hot tea instead of coffee, maybe the tea leaves would provide me a hint of where I should go. But…I’ve got a little money saved, not a lot, but hopefully enough to hold me over until I can find a job and a place to live.”

  Bertie and Max were more than half-way across the room, but since angels have exceptional hearing ability, they couldn’t help but eavesdrop on Amanda and Doug’s conversation.

  “Oh, Max,” Bertie sighed. “We’ve got to do something to help that poor girl. She’s so young, and she’s all alone in this world.”

  “Well, Bertie,” Max nodded. “Maybe that’s why she’s here. Do you really believe it was only a coincidence that she tripped over our Doug in the parking lot?”

  Bertie looked deep in thought, and after a few moments, her sassy-blue eyes came to life, sparkling with obvious inspiration. She stared at Max, raised her eyebrows, and began nodding her head.

  Max watched her and shook his own head slowly from side to side while pressing his huge lips together in an obvious pout. He and Bertie had worked side by side for fifty years and he knew only too well what that sparkle in her eye probably meant. “Quit nodding your head, Bertie. You look like one of the bobbling head things in people’s cars.” He shook his finger at her grinning face. “No, Bertie, don’t even go there. I know exactly what you’re thinking, and NO! It is NOT going to happen.”

  Bertie continued the exaggerated nodding her head. “Oh, come on, Max, lighten up! Think outside the box for a change! Isn’t that what people are saying these days?” Bertie pinched his cheek and laughed heartily. “Come on, Maximus…pretty please?”

  Max crossed his arms and shook his head again, “No, absolutely not! It is against the rules.”

  Bertie punched his shoulder. She had an unwelcomed habit of punching people’s shoulders when she was trying to get a point across. “Give me a break, Max…against whose rules?”

  “My rules!” Max whispered loudly.

  “Oh, shush!” she grinned, punching his shoulder yet again. “Your rules don’t count!”

  Max continued shaking his head, but Bertie could tell he was weakening.

  “Come on, Max…”

  “It’s too dangerous, Bertie.”

  “Oh, hogwash! Dangerous for who?”

  “Dangerous for whom,” Max corrected her. “We’ve never had a mortal work at the Heavenly Grille, and you know it. Just think of the consequences if she happened to guess upon the truth?”

  Bertie shrugged. “So what if she did? So what if she finds out we’re angels. Would that be so terrible?”

  “Bertie…you know as well as I do that we are supposed to keep our real identities a secret. Only the children guess the truth.”

  “Yep,” Bertie nodded, “That’s true, and nobody listens to the little children, do they?”

  They were both quiet for a moment as they continued to watch, and listen to, the young couple sitting at the corner table. Most of the diners had left and gone home to their busy lives. There were only two other customers currently in the café and Max and Bertie both knew they only had about an hour before the night crowd began arriving.

  “Oh, what the Hell,” Bertie sighed in exasperation. “Come on, Max! We don’t have much time before this place is packed again with customers. Look at that poor child. She has no one. She is truly all alone in this world. You know it’s the right thing to do.”

  He had once been known as Maximus, an undefeated gladiator whose final battle had been lost to three man-hungry tigers. He had fought and died galantly, but the gentle giant who had operated the Heavenly Grille Café for the past one hundred years now smiled back at the naughty angel who had worked by his side for so long. “Okay, Bertie, I still feel like this might be a mistake, but, you win... this time.”

  Bertie reached up and gave his cheek a playful slap. “That-a-boy, Maximus! You see... thinking outside the box isn’t so hard, is it? You won’t be sorry, big fella.”

  Max watched as Bertie made her way to the corner table, coffee pot in hand, and looked upward. “I can only hope and pray not... I surely do.”

  CHAPTER 6

  -Heaven-

  Bertie’s Arrival in Heaven

  Martin paced back and forth, hands behind his back, glancing periodically at the huge screen before him. He grabbed the back of his neck with both hands and closed his eyes, praying that Max would be quick to remind Bertie of the possible consequences should Amanda ever discover their true identities. Why, it could jeopardize their entire operation at their current location; and, surely they recognized the cause of the sadness that had crept inside Doug when he was talking to Amanda. The newly assigned angel was subconsciously mourning a life he never had the chance to experience – a chance at love, marriage, children, and grandchildren.

  Martin ceased pacing, closed his eyes, and sighed heavily as his thoughts focused on Heaven’s naughty angel.

  Bertie had been a true test of his patience since her arrival in Heaven one hundred years ago. He knew from the moment they met that he would have his hands full mentoring her. Thinking back to her arrival date in December 1911, Martin couldn’t suppress a small smile...

  It had been business as usual that day. The reception area had been full with almost one hundred new arrivals, all of
whom, exhibited a sense of serenity and peace, accepting the fact that their earthly lives had ended and they would now be spending eternity with their Heavenly Father. All, that is, except for one.

  “Hey, what the Hell happened? Where am I? Who are all you people? Hey! Somebody answer me!”

  Martin exhaled, prayed for patience, and made his way to the very back of the waiting area. It was there that he found Bertie twirling around, alternating between lifting her robe and punching people near her on their shoulders.

  “Hey, you!” she shouted to an elderly man in front of her, punching him on his right shoulder. “Do you know where we are and what the Hell is going on here? One minute I’m walking down the road, headed to Fern’s Market, and the next thing I know, I’m here in marshmallow world. Damn! Have you ever seen so much whiteness? There’s no color at all in this place.”

  Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, the skinniest, tallest black man she’d ever seen in her life appeared at her side. “Well, I’ll be damned!” laughed Bertie, “I take it back; there is some color in this place after all.” She gave the black man a welcoming punch on his shoulder. “Well, hey there. Man, you are one skinny, black man. You look like you could use a good meal! Speaking of which, I’m hungry. Do you know where a gal can get something to eat around here? And, again.... where the Hell am I? I mean, there’s like, nothing here, just a bunch of WHITENESS.” She looked over at the skinny, black man, who did not appear to be in a very hospitable mood.

  Martin sighed inwardly. It had been a few hundred years since he’d had a truly difficult recruit on his hands. “Trust me, you’re not really hungry. We don’t get hungry here, but there is food to eat, nonetheless. Please, Miss...Bertie, come with me.” He tried to take her elbow and lead her away.

  Bertie pushed him away, almost knocking him on his Heavenly caboose. “Whoa there! Easy, fella. These other folks may be willing to follow you anywhere, but, I don’t know you from Adam and, trust me, it will be a cold day in Hell before I follow you anywhere. Just who the Hell do you think you are, anyway?”

  The people around them began slowly moving forward and Bertie began to follow them.

  Once again, Martin attempted to grab her elbow, this time with a firmer grip. “You’re not ready, Bertie; you won’t be going with them just yet.”

  “Hey! How do you know my name?” Bertie quipped as she watched the throng of people quickly dissipating into the all-encompassing whiteness. “Where are they all going? What’s going on here? Where am I? What are you going to do to me? I know Judo so don’t you go trying any funny stuff with me!” She looked around her at the empty space surrounding her. It was just her and the skinny, black man now. “And where in Hell are my clothes?” She pulled at her robe. “I look awful in white; it washes me out.”

  Martin waited patiently while Bertie continued to mumble to herself, allowing her all the time she needed to remember. When she had quieted down, Martin looked at her and smiled. “Let’s try this again, shall we?” He held out both arms in welcome and embraced her. “Hello, Bertie. My name is Martin. I will be your mentor for however long it takes.”

  Bertie looked more confused than ever but allowed herself to be embraced by the stranger who stood before her. “However long it takes for what?”

  “For your transition phase to be completed.”

  Bertie bit down hard on the inside of her cheek and nodded. “And just what am I gonna transition into? Oh, wait, now I get it. I know what’s going on here. You’re one of those alien, Martian creatures and I’ve been abducted, haven’t I? Well, you sure as Hell ain’t gonna be doing no experiments on me, that’s for damn sure!”

  Martin frowned and shook his head. “Try again, Bertie.”

  A blinding white light, streaked with brilliant gold shards, pierced the area surrounding Bertie and she suddenly remembered what had happened. She would have loved to have sat down at the moment she realized she was dead, but there was no place to sit. “Whew…oh, wow…let’s see…I remember I was walking to Fern’s Corner Market. My best friend, Fernie, lives and works there. She had loaned me a new book to read. You see, I was baptized a few weeks ago, and I have so much to learn about God ‘cause my parents weren’t very religious folks, so they didn’t bother teaching us anything. But my friend, Fernie, had this new book called “My Life in Christ” written by some saint.”

  Martin nodded. “Yes, St. John of Kronstadt…”

  Bertie began pacing. “Yep, that’s the fella. Anyway, I tried to read it but it just wasn’t making much sense to me, so Fernie had suggested I bring it back and we would sit down together and read it once or twice a week. Fernie knows EVERYTHING there is to know about God; she’s the preacher’s daughter and we’ve been best friends since we started walking and talking.” Bertie looked around her and swallowed hard. “Damn…I’m really dead, huh?”

  Martin held open his arms and welcomed Bertie, once again, into his embrace. “Yes, Bertie... you are. You were hit from behind by one of those new automobiles. There was a malfunction and the driver lost control of the vehicle, I’m afraid. The young man who was driving was very distraught about what happened.”

  “He was distraught! How the Hell do you think I feel?” Bertie pulled back and rubbed up and down on her arms. “Hmmm… I feel fine. No broken bones. No pain. Are you sure I’m dead?”

  “It was an instant death, Bertie. You felt nothing, no pain.”

  “But it’s so unfair, I can’t be dead…” Bertie replied softly, something totally opposite her naturally boisterous personality. “I’m only twenty-six years old. I have a husband and... OH, MY GOD, my kids! I have two small kids! Who’s going to take care of my kids?”

  Martin placed his hand upon her shoulder and immediately calmed her down. “Your children will be fine, Bertie. Trust me. It’s you I’m worried about now.”

  “Why the Hell are you worried about me? I’m dead, remember? What else can go wrong?”

  When Martin turned and began walking away, Bertie was quick to follow. “Hey, Bones…I mean…oh, Hell, I’ve forgotten your damn name… Hey! Wait for me! Why did you say you were worried about me? Damn! Slow down, will you! This isn’t a race, is it?”

  Martin placed his palms together in silent prayer and thought, “This one is going to take some time, Lord. Please.... grant me the patience that will most definitely be required. . .”

  “Hey, you! Martin, right? You’re absolutely positive that I’m dead? I mean, you could be wrong, you know!” Bertie raced to catch up with the skinny, black man.

  Martin sighed as she caught up to him and punched him on the shoulder. He shook his head and prayed silently once again. “Patience, Lord…please grant me patience…”

  “…knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

  -James 1:3 (NKJV)

  CHAPTER 7

  Amanda’s Dream

  The radio alarm sounded promptly at 5:15 AM. Amanda turned over in the comfortable twin-sized bed and searched in the early morning darkness until she found the snooze control button. She pushed it down and turned back over, pulling the white, down comforter over her head. She immediately returned to the strange dream she had been having before the alarm sounded.

  “Amanda?”

  The voice was soft and gentle, almost ethereal, and seemed to be coming from somewhere above Amanda’s head. She spun around in all directions before finally looking upward. The darkness that had previously enveloped Amanda’s dream suddenly dissipated in short bursts of brilliant light. Amanda was surprised, not scared, to see a woman’s smiling face smile looking down upon her. It actually took her a few moments before she recognized the face. It was her mother’s face.

  “Mama?” Amanda whispered hoarsely, clasping her hands over her mouth in disbelief.

  The woman continued to smile at Amanda and simply nodded. Almost as an afterthought, the woman slowly turned her face to the right as yet another image began to materialize in the clouds above Amanda’s head. This wa
s a face she recognized immediately. It was her father’s face.

  Amanda fell to her knees, lifted her hands heavenward, and began crying tears of joy and longing. She gulped in huge gasps of air as she tried to regain some control of her emotions, so afraid that if she closed her eyes for one second, the images would disappear. “Oh, Daddy… oh, my God... Daddy...it’s really you…”

  The two images smiled in unison as the woman laid her head upon the man’s shoulder.

  “Hey there, baby girl,” the woman said. “My, what a beautiful young woman you’ve become, but then…I knew you would.”

  Tears continued to stream down Amanda’s cheeks. She had her parents with her, both of them, and there was so much she wanted to say to them; but, she couldn’t seem to find her voice.

  Stephen Turner finally broke the blissful silence among them. “You look wonderful, Princess, and I hope you know how very much I miss you, but, this place... Heaven…oh, Amanda, it’s amazing, so amazing. Everything is just as you and I use to talk about…the beauty and the peace…but, most importantly, Princess, I found your mother.” He looked over at the woman beside him, the only woman he had ever truly loved, and kissed the top of her head. “I wish we could take the time to tell you about everything we have seen here, but, that’s not why we’ve come to you today. We really don’t have much time, Amanda.”

  Amanda nodded her understanding and wiped the tears with the back of her hand. She wanted to speak to her parents but she still had trouble getting her voice to work for her.

  “Amanda, you must pull yourself together now and listen to what we have to say; it’s very important,” her mother began explaining. “You must understand that you did not end up at the café by chance. There’s a reason why you are working there and today is a very important day because you will meet someone today who needs your help. You may not think there is anything you can do to help this person, but you must trust and believe that God has put you there for a very specific reason. It’s very important that you keep your eyes, and your heart, open so that you’ll recognize this person. Do you understand, dear?”