“Out with it,” said Ruby as Sky placed a ticket on the cook’s order holder. “You’ve been grinning like a jackass eating briars all day. What gives?”
Still smiling, she looked at her boss. “I have a date. Tonight. An honest-to-goodness date for the first time in…years, with the sweetest, most thoughtful, and handsomest man ever.”
Ruby placed a hand over her heart and sighed. “Well, in that case, girlfriend, smile away.” She glanced at her watch. “What time is this momentous event taking place?”
“He’s coming by the house about eight.”
“Things have been slow all day. Why don’t you go ahead and take off? Louise and I can handle things.”
Sky hesitated. She could use the extra time for an important errand but hated to leave in case things got busy. “Are you sure? It’s just after five. I’d hate to leave y’all in a lurch.”
“Go. We got this.”
She quickly untied her apron. “Okay. You talked me into it.” Tossing the apron on a nail by the employee lockers, she grabbed her things and headed for the back door. Suddenly, she remembered Ruby hadn’t posted the schedule for next week, nor did Sky mention her impending departure, so she turned and went back out front. As she waited for Ruby to finish with a customer, a woman walked in the front door.
It took all of ten seconds for Sky to recognize the now grown up and beautiful Anna Watkins.
The years had been kind to her. She was tall, slender and moved with an easy grace. The long chestnut hair of the girl in the prom photo was now worn in a short, wavy bob. Her face was well modeled and feminine, radiating both delicacy and strength. She shrugged out of her coat and threw it over one side of a booth, then slid into the other seat.
In a moment of insanity, Sky placed her things on the counter and walked toward the newcomer. “Hi. I was just getting off, but since the others are busy, can I get you something to drink and a menu?”
Liquid brown eyes darted around the room, then settled on Sky. “Just coffee, please.”
When Sky placed the requested drink and a menu on the table, the woman looked up.
“Are you from around here?”
Before Sky could answer, she continued. “I’m looking for someone who lives on Pin Oak Lane. Four-thirty-two. Can you give me directions? My GPS doesn’t have a clue.”
It took monumental effort to keep her voice light and her expression neutral. “Of course. I live on that street.” She gave the woman directions and turned to go.
“You said you live on that street. Do you know Max Logan?”
She paused. “We’re…friends. He lives next door to me.”
Color drained from the woman’s face before it returned with a vengeance, staining it a bright red. “Thank you for your help.”
Sky didn’t miss the tremble in Anna’s hands as she picked up the menu. “You’re welcome. Someone will be by to take your order in a minute.”
She turned around and walked to where Ruby prepared a fresh pot of coffee. “I gave the woman in six some coffee. Left her a menu but not sure she wants to eat. And I forgot to ask about the schedule for next week.”
Sky left with a heavy heart. Anna’s sudden appearance didn’t bode well for her date tonight.
She pushed the encounter from her mind and headed across the street to The Sassy Sash. The owner was one of Sky’s friends and a regular customer at the diner. Jeannie had excellent taste, and Sky always enjoyed browsing the selections while they visited.
But today, for the first time in forever, she intended to indulge herself a bit. She had a date. A real date. With a handsome man. The prospect of a better job soon was icing on the cake. And that called for a celebration of sorts. She couldn’t remember the last time she did something so utterly selfish and maybe even extravagant. Obviously, the sexy young girl was long since gone, but tonight, she wanted to be her again, if only in her mind, and racy new undergarments would help.
Thirty minutes later, she exited the store with a pink, lacy bra and panty set…and three condoms courtesy of the store’s owner.
When Jeannie asked if she was prepared, Sky thought she meant prepared to go out. After her friend stopped laughing and said, “I mean prepared,” Sky nearly died of embarrassment.
Jeannie just smiled and pulled the foil packs from her purse. “A woman should always be prepared.”
Sky didn’t bother with the heater all the way home. The heat from her face was enough to melt an iceberg.
Max’s truck wasn’t in his spot when Sky arrived home with Maddie, though Logan’s remained parked out front. As she pulled to a stop, she saw the teen sitting on the back step, elbows on his knees, head down.
He looked up as they exited the car but didn’t speak.
Something about his dejection touched her mother’s heart. “Maddie…go on inside and get your things so we can go to Bonnie’s.”
“Okay.” She looked toward Logan and smiled. “Hi, Logan.” She turned to her mother. “Mama, can Logan come over for some cookies while I get my stuff ready? He’s Max’s friend, and it wouldn’t be nice not to.”
To refuse at this point wasn’t an option. “I have some cookies I bought at the Christmas festival. Would you like some?”
At first, she thought he would refuse, but he sat up a little straighter. “What kind?”
“Chocolate chip.”
He hesitated, then glanced around. “Sure. I guess so.”
“Does Max have any milk to go with them?”
He ducked his head. “I drank it this morning.”
