CHAPTER 38
I gave Abe a little wave before picking up an armful of ready plates and carrying them to their waiting diners. When I glanced at Abe again, he’d shed his jacket and was looking at his phone. Good. That meant he was staying, at least for a little while.
I pointed myself in his direction. I didn’t care if Octavia was glaring at me. Family came first.
When he saw me, my darling husband opened his arms. His hug was a blessing, but I kept it short.
I stepped back. “Is he—?”
“He’s—”
We both laughed at speaking simultaneously.
“Yes, he’s okay.” Abe stopped smiling and let out a sigh. “But he’s a basket case, hon. I have to go take care of him, and possibly the hardware store, too.”
“Instead of studying.”
“Instead of studying.”
I studied him. I was eager, or maybe it was anxious, to hear what Don had said about why the authorities had detained him. What he’d told Abe in private. Why being questioned for hours at the station had so shaken Don, an adult who owned a successful small business. Except I didn’t have time at the moment for a leisurely debriefing.
“Taking care of family,” Abe said. “That’s life, and speaking of life, I see your power’s out. Can I still get a bite to eat?”
“Always.” I checked the wall clock. “It’s already past eleven. Breakfast or lunch?”
“I’d love two over easy with hash browns and bacon, if you can. And grits?”
“It’s yours, all of it. Sit anywhere. I have to get a few things from the walk-in, then I’ll give Turner your order.” I turned to go.
He reached for my hand. “How are you feeling today, sugar?”
“Pregnancy-wise?”
He nodded.
“I’m doing a lot better. And you’re a sweetheart to ask. Other, uh, shenanigans have been going on, but not in here.” I rubbed my belly. “Now let me go. I still have customers to feed.”
“Can I help?”
I tilted my head and smiled at him. “You’re the best, you know that? A little help would be awesome.” I pointed at Danna lugging boxes from the service entrance toward the walk-in. “Give Danna a hand?”
“I’m on it.”
I headed to the walk-in to grab the lunch stuff, swapping places with Danna and Abe when they arrived carrying boxes. Lunch stuff stashed in our kitchen fridge, Abe’s order given to Turner, I grabbed the last two full coffee carafes and made the rounds, pouring and taking orders and money, until I reached Octavia.
“I might be able to heat tea water on the stove for you,” I said.
“Don’t bother. Cold water is fine. Could I please have a spinach and Swiss omelet with wheat toast and a bowl of fruit?”
The detective was a vegetarian who’d never ordered anything but the healthiest items on our menu.
“You got it.” I jotted her request on my order pad.
“Thanks.” Her expression was serious, but she kept her tone level and not harsh. “You seem pretty busy. If you get a minute free, I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
Polite went a long way to making me want to cooperate. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you. I’d appreciate it.” She focused on her phone again.
On my way back to the kitchen area, I took an order for three lunches and cleared a table.
I stuck the new slip up on the carousel. “We have Burger Triumvirate at the far four-top. One hamburger, the works. One cheeseburger, no veggies. One turkey burger, with mushrooms and provolone, extra onions.”
“Got it.” Turner lowered his voice. “I bumped Abe’s order to the head of the line. If you dish up the grits, it’s ready to go.”
“That’s great, thanks.” I dished and looked around.
Abe had apparently finished helping and now sat alone at a two-top. I brought his food over.
He thanked me. “I guess stress makes me hungry.”
“I can understand that.”
“And I’m afraid I’m going to wolf this down and head out.”
“I was thinking of taking Don a little food after we close. Good?”
“He’d love that,” Abe broke his yolks and moved the potatoes into them, which is the same way I prefer to eat that combo.
“Then I’ll do it. Was his power out, too?” I asked.
Abe swallowed. “I don’t know. I won’t find out until I get there. But I saw the guys out.” The guys being Abe’s former electrical lineman coworkers. “Your electricity should be back before too long.” He forked in another bite.
“I hope so. Love you.”
His smile was all I needed to see.
I turned back toward my livelihood. Danna was coming out of the restroom in the back, which made me aware that I could use a break, too. As I passed her, I indicated where I was going. When I emerged, refreshed if not rested, she and Turner had swapped places. He could probably use a break, too.
The bell on the door jangled and kept jangling. A handful turned to a half dozen and then a crowd of people seeking lunch. They all looked wet, but the patter of rain on windows had lessened, and I thought the skies might be brightening. Abe slipped out after the last few entered.
I told Turner to take a break while he could. He stripped off his apron, and I changed mine for a fresh one.
I jumped when a new and deafening crack sounded. Almost immediately thunder followed, making an impressively loud noise. We were limping along on low light and cooking with gas, but if lightning struck this building or my barn—or heaven forbid, a person—things could change in an instant.
The bell jangled once more. I swore under my breath at what I saw. It wasn’t exactly a lightning strike, but the expression on Chief Harris’s face was as stormy as they come. And she was staring straight at me.