The way he asked must have conveyed more than he meant to reveal because she turned to look at him, chewing on her lower lip before answering. “A little place on the edge of town. I think you’ll like it.”
Did she have any idea how appealing she was? He wanted to reach out and touch her face, just to make contact, to connect with the slightest hint of intimacy. Instead, he put the car in reverse and said, “Lead the way, Ms. Green.”
She directed him to a state route exiting the town and heading east. Less than a mile from the city limits, she directed him to turn right into a gravel lane winding down a steep hill with trees arching overhead. He parked beside a low brown building with a silver metal roof. A sign hung above the door. Dewey’s Diner.
Bryony exited the car before Cal could walk around and open her door.
When he joined her outside the car, she asked, “Where are the forms?”
“Oh, rats! I forgot them.”
Bryony smiled. “Are there forms, Cal?”
“There are always forms, Bryony, but the truth is I wanted to have dinner with you.”
“You could have asked if I wanted to go to dinner.”
“Would you have accepted the invitation?”
“Probably not.” This time her eyes lit up when she smiled.
The diner sat on the edge of a large pond. Ducks swam near the edge. Children stood on a small landing over the water holding small paper cups. They picked what looked like dried peas and corn out of the cups and tossed them onto the surface of the water, squealing as the ducks raced over to pick up the food with their broad beaks.
“I hope those children are not feeding our dinner,” Cal said. “Tell me duck’s not on the menu.”
“No duck,” Bryony said. “Chicken, beef, fish. You’re not vegetarian, are you?”
“I could live off vegetables every day of my life if I needed to. I love vegetables in all their shapes, sizes, and colors, my favorite being the kind grown underground, the root vegetables, potatoes, turnips, parsnips, and so on. But since other varieties of food are available, I’d have to say I am equally fond of all the groups. Grains, fruits, oils, meat. Call me city-grown, but while I’m open to the full range of culinary options, I don’t want to eat the family members of ducks who have been fed in my presence.”
Over-talking balanced his physical energy and helped him focus. In fact, his mother taught him to manage himself when he was young by reeling off stream of consciousness. The practice kept him in line, its effectiveness revealed tonight in the reduction of his preoccupation with a desire to kiss Bryony Green.
“Ready to go in?” Bryony asked.
“This looks great. I’m starving.” He followed her to the side of the building and in through a door with worn paint.
The interior offered low lights, an odor reminiscent of the era prior to the statewide smoking ban, and the aroma of fried food. Three men sat at a bar, their bellies hanging over their belts, each one caressing a tall brown bottle, their eyes directed at an entertainment news program on the television. Not the romantic setting he would have chosen. Cal wondered if the ambience reflected her interest in him. If so, he would have to rate her interest at the low end of the scale.
Bryony led him to a table for two in front of a huge, bowed window overlooking the pond. She sat down and gestured toward the seat opposite. “Is this good for you?”
“It’s fine.” He sat, unable to not compare Dewey’s to the places he would have introduced to her in Cleveland. His choice would have been upscale, trendy, foodie, fun. Should he be offended she put so little effort into picking a better spot?
“Hey, hon.” A waitress approached the table, her faded black polo shirt stuffed into worn jeans with unbelted loops at the waist.
“Hi, Maggie,” Bryony said. “How’s Howard?”
“Better,” the waitress answered. “He’s home now, but it might take another six weeks before he can work again.”
“Who’s cooking tonight?”
“Jimmy was supposed to, but he got the flu, so Lillian’s back there.”
“Oh.” Bryony seemed surprised. “I wondered why the coffee shop hadn’t been properly closed out for the day. Tell her I’ll go back and finish after I eat.”
“You will?” Cal had imagined they might spend a longer evening together.
“I’m sorry,” Bryony said. “I should have introduced you. Cal, this is Maggie. Maggie, this is Cal Forster. He’s subbing at the high school while Chuck Henderson recovers. Maggie’s an old friend of mine, Cal. She and her husband own this place.”
“My husband, Howard, is recovering from a double knee replacement,” Maggie said. “Bryony and Lillian have been helping out with the cooking.” She put her hand on Bryony’s arm. “Bless you, hon.”
“I don’t do much,” Bryony said. “I call around to organize a schedule for cooks.”
“Well, I couldn’t have done it without you and Lil.” Maggie brought the pad up, poised to write. “Now what can I get for you two?”
Cal picked up the menu as Bryony answered.
“Two baskets of chicken, fries, and coleslaw. I’ll have water, no ice. What do you want to drink, Cal?”
She had ordered for him? “Um, water’s fine,” he said.
Maggie snatched the menu out of his hand and replaced it in the stainless steel holder attached to the tray for salt and pepper shakers.
A bit disoriented, Cal wondered if he had fallen into an episode of Andy Griffith. Everybody seemed to know each other, help out when times were bad, and he was a heel for comparing Dewey’s to upcoming urban eateries. The two kinds of venues were like grits and spring rolls, in a world wide enough for both.
Before Maggie could leave, and because he wanted to make amends for his unexpressed, shameful, insulting thoughts, Cal said, “Listen, I hope your husband has a quick and full recovery. If you’re interested, I teach the work study program at Fieldstone High. I have a few students who might benefit from working here.”
“That’s a great idea.” Bryony put her hand on his arm for a moment. “Why didn’t I think of it?” She removed her hand and turned to Maggie. “The student he placed with Lillian is a Godsend.”
Warmed by her touch, Cal fell into a quick overview of his program, after which he and Bryony tag-teamed on the impact at BeanHereNow. Bryony focused on the business benefit. Cal extolled the positive effect on the student placed there. Hard to miss how well they performed as a team.
