The Strawberry Hearts Diner(80)

“I’m going to miss Emily living at the house,” Jancy said. “I can’t believe I was afraid that things would change when she got here.”

“Got to admit—I had a little worry about how things would go with you two and with Vicky. It’s the first time that we’ve had a fourth person in the mix. Look at that.” Nettie pointed to the carousel where Vicky and Emily pinned up the orders. “One more is all we got, and we might have fifteen minutes before the noon rush starts to prop up our feet.”

“Nettie, I told Shane about—well, you know—but I didn’t tell him about my probation thing, and my conscience is killin’ me,” she said.

“Hey, Vicky!” Shane’s deep drawl floated through the window. “I just come in for a cup of coffee and to see Jancy a m-minute.”

She took a deep breath and peeked out the window into the dining area. “Give me some advice, Nettie.”

“Where is that girl who kicks butt and takes names? I like her better than one that cowers in the corner. Shake off the fear and tell him tonight. You are a good person, and remember what I told you about loving yourself.”

Her back suddenly felt as if it had a rod of steel. She pushed through the doors and made her way behind the counter. “Hi, darlin’. Glass of lemonade comin’ right up.”

“And a tart, please,” Shane said and then lowered his voice. “That’s the first time you’ve called m-me darlin’ right out in public.”

“I’ve thought it lots of times.” She set the glass and tart in front of him. “So do you like it or does it embarrass you?”

“Love it.” He wrapped her hand up in his. “I could sit right here all day and w-wait for you to say it again.”

“Darlin’.” She grinned. “We’ve both got work to do, but tonight I promise I’ll say it a hundred times.”

“I can’t w-wait.” He gently squeezed her hand.

“Order up!” Nettie called as she slid a plate and a basket onto the shelf.

Vicky grabbed it. “There’s a tour bus parked out there. Looks like we’ll be really busy for the next hour or so.”

“Y’all need m-me to m-man the drink machine for you?” Shane asked. “I’ve got an hour to spare.”

“That would be wonderful,” Vicky said.

“Looks like a senior citizens’ group. That means lots of blue-plate specials and not so many burger baskets,” Jancy said.

Emily gave Jancy a hip bump. “Nettie has sent me to the front and says she needs Mama in the kitchen.” She turned to face Shane. “Did y’all get the deck started before he got called up to Frankston?”

“Not yet, but we’ve got all next week,” Shane answered. “Ryder will need something to keep him busy so he’s not so nervous about sayin’ his vows at the w-wedding.”

The door opened and people began to file inside, filling every booth and bar stool in the diner. Emily worked one side and Jancy the other while Shane took care of filling and helping serve the drink orders.

Jancy was all the way to the end of the diner when an old guy with a twinkle in his eye said, “Is that waitress on the other end kin to Katherine Heigl?”

“Not that I know of,” Jancy said.

“Well, shoot. I was going to get her autograph. Guess it ain’t my lucky day,” he said.

“Two sweet teas, a lemonade, and a Pepsi.” Shane set drinks down in front of the two elderly guys. “Wh-where y’all headed?”

“Vegas or bust.” The other one pumped his fist into the air. “And I’m going to win one of them big million-dollar pots and get my picture in the newspaper. And, honey, you can get me a double cheeseburger basket with a double order of sweet potato fries. Cholesterol be damned. We’re on vacation from the nursing home.”

Jancy wrote on the order pad. “Well, good luck and have a great time.”

“Would have been better luck if we’d gotten an autograph. Come to think of it, are you kin to Reese Witherspoon? You look a lot like her when she played June Carter in the Johnny Cash movie.”

“She’s prettier than that, but she can sing a lot like June.” Shane patted the old guy on the shoulder.

The place was hopping for a solid hour, and then, presto, the bus was gone and everything was quiet again. Jancy sat down in a booth and patted the place behind her. “Dinner is on the house for helping us, right Emily?”

“Yes, sir. I’ll put in our orders and help get them ready. Burgers or lunch special?” she asked.

“Burger for me,” Jancy said.

“Same here, only I want sweet potato fries instead of regular ones,” Shane told her.

“Sure thing,” she said.

Shane got up and made his way behind the counter, where he drew up two glasses of sweet tea. “That was fun. I love old people. W-wish they could have stayed longer and told us stories about their past. It would be nice if m-my grandpa could go on trips like that. They have those kinds of things at his place, but he says sitting that long hurts him. It took him two days to get over comin’ up here to the diner that day.”

Emily brought their dinner and set it on the table, then disappeared back into the kitchen. “I loved seeing him, but next time let’s go to him so he’s not in pain. And I’ve got something I really want to tell you . . .”