The Strawberry Hearts Diner(21)

Vicky shook her head. “Rule says that only two can go out the door with anyone, and Nettie says that includes us. But she has a lemon sheet cake ready to go.”

“What about for the Strawberry Festival?” Jancy asked.

“We close up an hour or so early.”

“And I make extra for that day,” Nettie said.

Vicky flipped on all the lights and unlocked the door. “Shane and Ryder are already here.”

“And Woody is parking right beside them,” Emily said.

“Woody is early. Must be makin’ up for the fact that he was late a couple of days last week,” Nettie said.

Jancy caught a glimpse of Shane patting Woody on the shoulder as they made their way toward the diner. But she kept a close watch on Emily, whose eyes were glued on the trio. Something was definitely going on. Although she kept reminding herself that it was none of her business, despite Nellie’s instructions, curiosity was rising at a fast speed.

“Hey, Jancy, coffee for all three of us,” Woody said as they headed for a booth.

“Black, right?” she asked.

“Sunday morning pancakes or the big breakfast?” Nettie yelled from the back.

“You know us too well,” Woody hollered. “I’m goin’ to gain ten pounds today with a big breakfast and then another fifteen with the get-together at the park. Y’all goin’ to open back up for supper? I might just clog up my arteries real good if you are.”

Nettie poked her head out the door. “You could gain fifty pounds and still be too skinny. Biscuits are in the oven. Give ’em five minutes and they’ll come out to you pipin’ hot. And we aren’t opening back up after the picnic.”

“M-m-mornin’.” Shane flashed a bright smile past Nettie and toward the cash register area where Jancy and Emily were standing side by side. Jancy couldn’t tell if he was flirting with her or Emily or merely happy to be in the diner with breakfast on the way.

Ryder waved at Nettie. “Pancakes with sausage for me.”

“Pancakes w-with bacon, M-Miz Nettie. I’ll help you take the coffee to the table, Jancy.” Shane covered the distance from the booth to the counter in three long strides.

“You goin’ to the picnic?” Shane asked Jancy, derailing her train of thought. “I’ll be playin’ the fiddle for the dancin’.”

“Yes, I am and lookin’ forward to it,” she answered. “I had no idea you played the fiddle.”

“Grandpa taught m-me. I don’t read music. I just play by ear.” Shane smiled. “Reckon you could save m-m-me a dance?”

“Be glad to,” Jancy said. “But if you are dancin’, who will play?”

“I’ll step in and do my best,” Woody said. “I ain’t the musician this boy is, but I can do well enough for a set or two.”

“Do you still know how to clog?” Shane asked.

“How do you . . .” She paused. She’d never danced anywhere but in the backyard until she’d left Pick. She’d seen the kids clogging on the stage at the park at the festival the one year that she’d attended, and it looked like so much fun that she’d taught herself the steps.

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you sometime if you’ll save a dance for m-me,” Shane said.

“Haven’t danced a clog in years,” she said.

“It’s like ridin’ a bicycle. It all comes back to you,” Emily said as she picked up Woody’s breakfast and took it to the booth. “I can’t wait to dance. You going to be my partner, Ryder?”

“Sure, I will, darlin’.” He grinned.

There was a moment when their eyes locked, but it was gone so quickly that Jancy couldn’t be sure that it had even happened. The diner started filling up so fast then that she only caught a glimpse of the guys when they left. It turned into a constant hustle to keep coffee cups and orders filled. Then, boom, things began to slow down and Emily slipped a five-dollar bill into her pocket.

“I believe this belongs to you, since you took their order. Woody handed it to me when he left. Because we both kind of waited on the table, he didn’t know who to give it to, but that side belongs to you.”

“Thanks. I didn’t think we’d be this busy on a Sunday with a big thing later this afternoon.” Jancy filled three glasses with sweet tea.

“Neither did Nettie. It’s a good thing that we’re here to work the front. Now it’s over—except for any truckers that we’ll get—because everyone is off to Sunday school and then church.”

Jancy picked up a wet bar rag and a small tub to clean off the last table. “I don’t think I ever worked so hard or got so many tips in three hours in my life.”

“I’ll help get the tables cleared and then we can take a break and eat,” Emily said. “We got off track this morning about me comin’ in so late,” she whispered as she put cups and plates into the tub.

Jancy had made a promise to Nettie that she’d find out what was going on with Emily, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear about it. Knowing meant she had an obligation to tell, and she liked where things were with all three of them. Tattling somehow didn’t seem right, and yet, she’d agreed to help Nettie. Talk about being between the old rock and a hard place.