The Strawberry Hearts Diner(19)

“Jealous! What in the devil for?”

“I’m jealous because she has y’all, and she might be jealous because I’m in her house and she’s afraid I’ll mess with the dynamics y’all have,” Jancy said.

“That’s a crock of bull crap,” Nettie said. “That’s like sayin’ we only got space in our hearts for one person. You both need to get over it.”

“I’ll try,” Jancy said. “But she’s got first dibs on the whole enchilada. I’m just the hired help.”

“Your grandmother was my friend. You are my friend.” Nettie’s finger was a blur as it shook in front of her face. “Now get your butt out there on the porch and stop pouting. And keep your eyes and ears open. I want to know why Emily is acting so weird.”

“Nettie! I told you why she’s acting strange.”

“No, you told me why you are. I think her problem goes a lot deeper than a little snit of jealousy,” she said. “Go!”

“I don’t want to. I haven’t been invited.”

“I’m tellin’ you, not invitin’ you. And if you see anything or find out what’s goin’ on with her, I want to know.”

“What makes you think I’d rat her out if I did find out something?” Jancy asked.

“You don’t want to see Vicky drop dead with a heart attack that we could have prevented if we’d known the facts.”

“Okay, but only because I respect you and Vicky so much,” Jancy said on a sigh.

“And get that long face straightened up before you get out there.”

“Yes, ma’am,” she said, but it wasn’t with a smile.

Vicky was in the kitchen talking to someone on the phone about a delivery. The bathroom door slammed loudly, so evidently Nettie had claimed that room. Jancy pushed the front door open to find Ryder and Shane sitting on the porch steps and Emily on the swing.

“Come on out here with us,” Shane said. “You can sit here beside me.”

Emily patted the place beside her. “There’s room on the swing.”

The golden scepter had been extended once again. Did she bow her head and accept the favor, or did she ignore the queen and sit beside Shane? One didn’t sound any better than the other, but Nettie had given her orders, so she sat down on the swing.

“So what do you w-want to be wh-when you grow up?” Shane asked.

“Why’d you ask that?” Jancy kept the swing going with a foot.

“We were talkin’ about how things change after we get out of high school. I couldn’t wait to get out of Pick, but after six weeks of college, I just wanted to come home and work in the diner,” Emily said.

“And you, Ryder?” Jancy asked.

“Same. I went to school to be a marine biologist and wound up taking an offshore rig job. I like it fine, but I hate being away from home. That’s why I’m going to take a desk job in Frankston the first of August,” he answered Jancy, but his eyes were on Emily the whole time.

“Shane?” Jancy asked.

“I always w-wanted to do body w-work on cars, so I’m the success story.” He grinned. “Now you, Jancy.”

“I’m a waitress. I’ll probably always be a waitress. I like what I do just fine. My mama wanted me to be a hairdresser, but . . .” She shrugged. “Tips aren’t nearly as good and I don’t even like doin’ my hair. I can’t imagine doin’ something I don’t like all day.”

“Anything else you’d like to do in the future?” Emily asked.

“I want to be a wife and a mother, but I’m not in a hurry for either.”

“Me, too, but I am in a hurry.”

Jancy could have sworn that she saw her look right at Ryder—or was it Shane?





CHAPTER FIVE


Mornin’, Vicky.” Jancy yawned as she stepped out of the bathroom. “Looks like the weatherman might be right. It’s not raining. We need a hot and sunny day for the big picnic.”

“It should be interesting to see if old P-Nose even shows up,” Vicky said.

“P-Nose?” Jancy cocked her head to one side.

“Think about it,” Vicky said.

“Oh!” Jancy clapped a hand over her mouth. “It does look like one, doesn’t it?”

“A short one.” Vicky nodded and closed the bathroom door behind her.

Giggling, Jancy turned to find Emily coming from the kitchen. She had bags under her eyes, and she was wearing the same clothes she’d had on the night before.

The giggling stopped. “Are you sneakin’ in or did you fall asleep on the porch?”

“Shh . . .” Emily put a finger over her lips. “I’m pleading the Fifth.”

“Good mornin’.” Nettie threw open her bedroom door.

Emily slipped inside her room.

Nettie rubbed sleep from her eyes. “I thought I heard voices.”

“Vicky and I were laughing at Carlton’s nose.”

“Why his nose?” Nettie asked.

“Vicky calls him P-Nose. Think about it,” Jancy said.

Nettie nodded. “It ought to look like that. Way he pokes his nose into everyone’s business and tries to screw them.”