10

No way on God’s green earth could they make a vegetarian out of me. That was just wrong. The Doc said I could have lean meat, but limited carbs. Bailey wanted me to try the diner’s new veggie burger. She’d be here in ten minutes, and I couldn’t even get out of bed. Why was I so tired? I’d been trying to follow all the doc’s orders. I ought to be feeling a hundred percent by now. I never took naps, but after helping out at the diner that morning, I’d come upstairs and collapsed on my bed. How long was getting better going to take anyway? I had work to do, and most importantly, our wedding raced toward me at full speed. I was only working in second gear at best. I rolled out of bed.

The bell on the diner entrance jingled. Probably my beloved. I washed my face and ran a comb through my hair. Moving around gave me a little energy. Coffee. I needed coffee. But that was on the limited list as well. I used to fly down the stairs from my apartment, two and three steps at a time, but now I walked down, one step at a time. I couldn’t afford to appear winded. Everyone would look at me with fear in their eyes.

The scent of coffee, fried eggs, and hash browns mingled with random chatter, forks clinking plates, and an occasional laugh, helped shake off my mood.

Bailey loved those scented wax burning things she’d set up in my mother’s bed and breakfast. I’d told her if they could capture the essence of my diner in the mornings, they might have something.

“Well, hey, sleepyhead.” Toppy wiped down the counter and motioned me to a barstool.

OK, I’d ignore that. Surely my uncle, above all people, knew that I didn’t usually take naps. Why’d he have to announce it to the whole world? Great. Here came Bailey with a plate in her hand. That could only mean one thing. Yep, the dreaded veggie burger. She smiled, kissed me on the cheek, and plunked it down in front of me. She’d pinned a bit of the flowers I’d given her on her apron.

“Go on, you’ll love it, I promise.” She sat on the stool next to me, elbow resting on the counter, chin in hand.

Toppy leaned back and crossed his arms.

“I didn’t think I’d have an audience.” I could see Tracy and Liz gaping through the kitchen window. I glanced over my shoulder. Diner patrons watched too. I recognized a few truckers. If I acted as if I liked it for Bailey’s sake, I’d be a sissy in front of those grizzled men. Oh, well, making her happy trumped embarrassment. I took a bite. Garlic. I did love garlic. Good texture. Definitely not beef, but not bad, especially with the fresh tomato from Toppy’s garden, and grilled onions. I nodded my head at Bailey and then took another bite. No, not bad at all. I reached for the ketchup.

Bailey slapped my hand and put the bottle behind her back. “Wait, that has sugar in it.”

“Can’t be much,” I pried the bottle from her hands.

“Try this instead. Homemade. No sugar.” Toppy slid a bottle of salsa toward me.

I smirked at him, shoved away the ketchup, and poured the salsa on my plate. I dipped my burger into it and took another bite. That manned it up a bit, didn’t it?

The hush in the diner reverted to the usual conversational buzz.

Bailey’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Which made eating a veggie burger worth it, after all.

“I knew you’d like it. We’ll get you healthy in no time.” She patted me on the back. “I’ve got to get back to work.” She scribbled a note on her order pad, tore it away, and stuffed it into my pocket.

Every bite of that new-fangled food found its way down my throat. It was the first time I’d felt hungry in days. I took my plate to the kitchen where Tracy washed dishes, so I handed it to her.

“You really like it? Mom and Toppy worked on that recipe for hours. Lots of people are ordering it. Can you believe it?” She submerged my plate into the soapy water.

“Frankly, no, I can’t believe it. It tastes pretty good, I’ll give you that, but this is a diner. We get mostly truckers. If we convert to mostly rabbit food, we’ll lose all the clientele.” I pulled a towel from an overhanging rack and dried dishes.

“That’s just it, Scott,” Toppy said from the grill. “We are getting a different bunch of people from town. Mostly ladies, sure, but they are asking for the veggie burger, the salads, and the fruit platters we’re serving. We still have the greasy fare for the regulars. It’s a win-win. In case you haven’t noticed, we are nearly full all the time, which is why Tracy’s washing dishes while the dishwasher is also running. You might want to consider buying some more plates and silverware.” He flipped a burger and covered it with onions.

“Look, Scott.” Liz opened the large refrigerator door. One whole shelf resembled the fresh fruit department at the grocery store.

“Colorful.” I didn’t mean to be belligerent. There were so many changes, and at a rapid-fire pace.

Liz just laughed it off at me and pulled out a bowl of strawberries. She offered me one.

“Mmm, these are sweet.” I grabbed a handful and winked at her.

Everyone seemed so pleased. It was a shame it took a heart attack to discover these things. And they didn’t seem to need me at all.

“I’m going over to the washout. Call my cell if you need me.” Maybe I could get some work done over there this afternoon.

I found Bailey taking orders in the dining room. I waited for her to finish. “Hey, Beloved, I’m going across the street to work for a while. Dinner tonight?” I gently rubbed her arm.

“Sure, I can’t wait to show you more of the wedding plans. Whew, even keeping it simple is work. I’m loving every minute of it, though.” Her eyes shone.

I could get lost in that gaze of hers even standing in the middle of a packed diner.

“I wish it snowed more in Texas. It would be so romantic to leave the church in a sleigh, wouldn’t it?” She looked skyward in her daydream.

That wasn’t something I could make happen, but I could pray about it. Snow would definitely be a miracle in Texas. Not impossible, but rare. I walked over to the washout in better spirits. Things might be getting back to normal. Well, except for the weird food, the pitying looks, and the fact that nobody would let me do anything without warning me to be careful. Actually, nothing felt normal, except Bailey didn’t seem to be worried about going on with the wedding.

The wedding. Without my parents. Moving into the inn that had been my mother’s domain. The hurt stung me. What happened to my one-track mind? The anxiety that plagued me, that had finally sent me to the ground with a heart attack, gripped my chest again. Oh, no. Maybe if I just stood still for a minute the pain would subside. Please don’t let Bailey be looking out the window. I willed my breathing to slow and took a few steps toward the washout. The pain eased off. Should I call the doctor? I had to get a grip on this. A few more steps and I felt better.

“Hey, Boss, I’m glad you’ve got time for a stroll. We’ve been super busy this morning, but that’s a good thing, right?” Greg Pearson took off his cap and wiped the sweat off his forehead with a red rag.

“A very good thing. Let me go in and take a look at the books, and then I’ll pitch in.” I headed for the cubicle that served as an office. I hadn’t spent much time in there lately.

“You can if you want, but your sweetheart has already done the reckoning. She said things look pretty good. If you just want to go home for the day, we’ve got this.” Greg put his hat back on and motioned the next truck into the dock.

“Sure, Scott, we’ve got it down to a science. No need to hang around unless you just want to shoot the bull between trucks.” Todd pulled a chair from against the wall and rolled it over to me.

Treating me with kid gloves would have to stop. But I did feel tired. And I’d just had a nap. It must be the full stomach making me sleepy. Maybe an hour in the prayer garden would help. Did I have the energy to walk up there this afternoon? I decided to drive. I bid the guys goodbye with a tip of my cap and headed back across the street for my truck. Something was different. It sure didn’t feel like my truck, or look like it inside. My piles of soda cans were gone. A fragrance thingy hung from the rear view mirror.

Women. Bailey went out of her way to see that I didn’t have to do anything. This would kill me faster than any heart attack. She pitied me, I could feel it.

I drove up to the inn. Why couldn’t my heart just slow down? No way could I walk all the way to the back of the property to the prayer garden. I rolled down the window and laid my head on the steering wheel. The spicy smell of the dead leaves I’d just driven over filled my senses. “Lord, what’s going on here? Please help me feel better. Even with everyone pitching in, I still feel overwhelmed.” I heard footsteps crunching leaves in the driveway.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt, sorry.” Melissa Murphy stepped up to the truck.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” I opened the truck door and stepped out.

Melissa leaned on the truck. “My day off. Thought I’d explore some old haunts. Your fiancée invited me, remember?” She bent over and scooped up a handful of leaves crunching them and letting them fall to the ground again.

“Does she know you’re here? She’s at the diner.” This could get awkward.

“I didn’t stop there because I saw you driving this way. I just assumed you were coming to see her. I’m surprised you didn’t hear me drive up behind you.”

“Kind of preoccupied, I guess.” I took my hat off, scratched my head, and then put it on again. Yep, this was uncomfortable. Knowing it might hurt Bailey was the worst of it.

Melissa’s voice softened. “I couldn’t help but overhear your prayer. I can understand you being overwhelmed.”

“Things should be back to normal by now. I want everything back to normal.” I kicked the ground, sending leaves shooting across the driveway.

“I’m afraid it’s not that simple with a heart attack. You’ve got to give it some time. If you follow the plan, you should be all right. You can make a new normal.” She crossed her arms and looked sideways at me.

“Right, veggie burger normal. I get it. But I’m not doing anything at all. With all this rest, you’d think I’d have gained some strength by now.” I turned around and gripped the window ledge, leaning back.

“Oh, you’ve delegated all right, but you’ve not given up.” Melissa stepped around to face me.

“What do you mean ‘not given up.’ I’m not going to give up, but I am letting everyone help, per orders.” I didn’t intend to sound so sharp.

“I mean you are still overseeing everything in your mind. You can trust your friends and family to stand in for you a bit. Really let it go, Scott. The work will still be here. Why don’t you take some actual time off, and rest up for the wedding? Then you can start back in gradually after your honeymoon.”

And have Bailey look full of pity at me? No, I wanted her to see my strength, my ability to provide and protect her. I slapped the window ledge. Ouch. I jerked it back and rubbed it against my leg.

“Scott, what have you done?” Melissa took my hand in hers. “You could have broken a bone.” She felt around my hand turning it over.

“It’s fine. Ouch!”

She’d squeezed just below my baby finger.

“I don’t think it’s broken, but good grief. Scott, it’s swelling.” She continued to hold my hand.

I tried to pull it away. “It’s fine, I tell you.” Again, I didn’t mean to speak so sharply.

“Hi, Melissa.” Bailey walked up. She spoke to Melissa, but her eyes were on me.

I jerked my hand away. Darn it, just when things seemed OK between us. Fabulous. Of course she’ll be hurt. Who wouldn’t be? Walking up on your fiancé with his hand being examined by his ex. Would she let this stupid little scene set us back?

“Hey, I decided to take you up on your offer. I saw Scott headed this way as I drove in and thought you’d be here too.” She reached for a brief hug.

Bailey responded graciously.

“Your boyfriend just socked his truck like his hand’s made of titanium or something. I think he’s bruised a little muscle.” She pointed to my pinky finger.

“What? Why on earth did you do that?” Bailey picked up my hand and turned it over soothing it with her fingers.

Awkward again. When in doubt, say something funny. “You know me, Bailey. I talk with my hands. I underestimated the distance from my expression to the truck door. Actually, I was demonstrating my super-human strength.” I flexed my muscles like a cartoon character and gave a raucous laugh.

“I’ll forgive you if you’ll eat your healthy food.” She didn’t seem bothered, but she didn’t seem totally at ease either. “Come on inside, Melissa. I’m through for the day and was about to relax. I’ll fix us a cup of hot chocolate.” She headed toward the front porch.

“That’d be great. I haven’t had a day off in a couple of weeks. Dr. Harkin keeps me busy. I don’t think he ever takes a break.” She followed Bailey to the inn steps.

“I’ve got to get back to the diner.” I tipped my hat at the ladies. Right, like I’d have anything to do when I got there. Sticking around here? Not an option. The women stood on the porch and waved as I backed my truck into the street.

I was never so glad to get away. I stopped the truck at the end of the driveway. Should I leave those two women alone together? What did it matter? Didn’t Melissa have a thing for the doc, or the other way around? I wasn’t sure, but Melissa was no threat to Bailey.

Let it go. That’s what Melissa said. How could I? My family legacy, and now my future with Bailey, had everything to do with the businesses. I turned my back for just a few days and they’d turned the diner into a health food cafe. Let it go. What would I do if I didn’t have the responsibility? Besides spending time with Bailey. It took me a second to think. I’d go fishing.

Bingo.

I whipped the cell phone from my pocket and sent her a text. I’m going to Caddo for some fishing. I think I’ll camp out there as well. I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you.

Yes, that would help me relax. I’d haul my canoe onto the back of my truck. No, I’d better not try to lift it. I could hear Toppy and Bailey having a fit over that. I’d rent a boat at the lake and spend the day fishing. But I needed to load up my tent and equipment. A night under the stars, and then fishing all day tomorrow. Business? What business? I’d conquer the lake instead. We could have a fish fry this weekend.

Invigorated by this liberating plan, I put the truck in gear and rolled forward. Bailey flew out of the house. I stopped the truck. She landed breathlessly at the passenger side door as I rolled the window down.

“You’re going fishing?” She opened the door and slid in beside me, eyes wide with excitement. Or rather fear?

“Can’t you read, Beloved? That’s what I said.”

“By yourself? I think it’s wonderful, but alone?” That worried, panicked look paled her face. What would it take to make her admire me again?

“I’ve done it a thousand times. I thought y’all wanted me to get some rest, forget about work for a while. Sheesh, can’t win.” I smirked and then winked, hoping she’d lighten up.

“I know but, well, why don’t you, let’s see. Why don’t you ask Toppy or the Pearson brothers to go with you?” She gripped the steering wheel.

“I’m not a baby or an invalid. I can take care of myself. You’re so intent on running things around here. Why don’t you just do it and leave me alone?” Hadn’t that been what I’d wanted to say for a week now? It didn’t feel good, though. The tears in her eyes pierced me in the heart.

She wouldn’t look at me. Her voice was all choky when she said “OK” and got out of the truck. She slammed the door and didn’t look back.

I opened my mouth to call her back, but stopped. This man planned to fish, and they could just have the run of the place. There’d probably be grass burgers on the menu when I got back. I peeled out and made the sharp left back toward the diner and washout. My heart pounded. I tried not to think about it stopping. Was my face wet? Oh, how manly, I’d yelled at my fiancée and then tears streamed down my face.

I couldn’t get to the lake fast enough.