While I Was Away(45)

Adele frowned. No, it wasn't the quite the same as her dream. At least, not exactly. This waitress had blonde hair, not red. And the vinyl on the seats looked old, worn, even cracked in some places. Definitely not the brand new shine she'd gotten used to seeing.

Still, it was close enough to freak her the fuck out.

“Sweetie?” the waitress asked again. Adele just stared at her. “Miss, are you alright?”

The bell above the door behind them let out a jingle, then a shadow fell over them both.

“She's fine,” River's calm voice brought her back to earth. “Can we get a booth?”

His arm fell across Adele's shoulder, and he nonchalantly led her down the length of the diner. While they took their seats, the waitress got them two waters, then dropped menus on the table before leaving.

“I know this place,” Adele breathed, her eyes bouncing everywhere.

The black letter board behind the counter, announcing the day's specials. The formica counter tops. Everything looked the same at first glance, then after a second look, she would realize it was just a little different. Like she'd only ever seen it through an old photograph, and was just now seeing it in person for the first time.

Oh my god.

“Anything to eat?” the waitress popped up again, a pad in hand.

“Let's see,” River made a big show of looking over the menu. “How're the Reuben sandwiches here?”

“Honey, we've got the best Reuben's this side of the L.A. River,” she informed him. “Fresh corned beef.”

“Alright, I'll take one of those, and a double bacon cheeseburger to go, and a slice of -”

Strawberry-rhubarb pie, because it's my favorite.

But of course, they didn't actually sell strawberry-rhubarb pie. Who did? No, the pie Adele'd had on the train had come from her memories – it was a favorite dessert, made by her doting grandmother. So if the pie had come from her brain, that meant the diner had come from ...

“Where's Jones?” she blurted out. Both her brother and the waitress froze, their eyes locked on her.

“I'm sorry, sweetie, what?” diner lady asked.

“Jones,” Adele said, then she shook her head, trying to clear it. “He ... he comes here a lot. He's a nurse. He's ... he's a friend of mine, and I need to talk to him.”

“Sorry, honey, but I don't know no Jones,” the waitress sighed.

“Adele,” River spoke in a low voice. “Just leave it for now, we can -”

“Johannes,” she kept going. “His name is Johannes Lund.”

“Oh, Joey! Joey baby,” the waitress laughed. “'Johannes' is such a mouthful, ain't it? Yeah, I know Joe, he practically lives here. The cook is his brother-in-law.”

He practically lives here. The diner was his memory. Jesus christ, I was dreaming my memories and his. How is this possible!?

“Has Jones – er, um, Joe been in here today?” Adele asked.

“Oh yeah, been and gone early this morning. Sent him off with breakfast and lunch in a bag.”

“Oh. Will he be back tonight?”

“Not likely, sweetie.”

“Tomorrow then. Does he have breakfast here every day?” Adele pressed. She'd sleep outside under those front steps if it came down to it.

“Most days, yeah, but he won't be in tomorrow, either,” the waitress said.

“Why not? You said he basically lives here,” Adele pointed out, getting frustrated.

“I know, but he came in today to tell ol' Clive that he wouldn't be around, he was driving outta town for the week.”

Shit.

“He left,” Adele groaned, dropping her head.

“He works at some fancy hospital, you could try to catch him there,” the waitress shrugged, clearly getting annoyed with the conversation. “Was there anything else?”

“He didn't say where he was going, did he?” Adele pressed her luck. The blonde narrowed her eyes.

“No, he didn't, but even if he had, I doubt he'd appreciate me telling some random girl. Reuben and a double bacon burger, both to go, coming right up.”

“Alright,” River hissed as soon as the waitress had stomped away. “What the hell is going on? You realize she's gonna spit in both my orders now.”

“I've been here,” Adele whispered, her eyes wandering all over the diner.

“What? I thought you said -”

She shook her head. When was she going to learn? She couldn't just blurt things out. Sure, she knew she was more than a little crazy, but she didn't need everyone else figuring it out, too. At least not yet.

“It's familiar,” she corrected herself. “I think Jones, or Nurse Lund, talked about it. I mean, he comes here a lot, right? All the time, apparently, and what do people usually talk about? Things they do and places they go to all the time.”

“Fascinating, Adele, but what's it supposed to mean?”

This was why she'd wanted River to drive her – his calm, easy going nature allowed her brain to really work. August was too loud and Ocean was too overbearing, but River operated on a level similar to her own. He asked questions not because he wanted the answers, but so she could figure them out for herself.