“I’m sorry, kiddo. The furniture store can’t get the stuff delivered for two more days. They said that’s only because they’re putting a rush on the order, or we’d be waiting another week.”
“What are we gonna do if we don’t have beds? Sleep on the floor?”
Derrick looked around the empty living room of their new house. The hardwood floors gleamed to a high shine. The open floor plan opened to a staircase, leading to the bedrooms upstairs when you walked in the front door. To the right was what Ms. Patti called the formal living room. On the other side of the staircase were the family room and kitchen. A large stone fireplace on the far wall would be great for winter time and the holidays. He found himself looking forward to Christmas with Ian, something he hadn’t been able to do when he’d lived with his mother.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m not sleeping on the floor. How about we head over to the B&B and see if Miss Edna can put us up for the next night or two? Comfy beds and sausage and biscuits for breakfast sounds better than sleeping on hardwood floors and fast-food drive-through cardboard breakfast, right?”
“I guess.” Ian scuffed his sneaker-clad foot against the floor. “What are we gonna do about school? If we stay for two more days, I’m going to miss classes.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll call and make sure the school knows. It’ll be an excused absence. You haven’t missed much, so everything’s gonna be fine.”
When his answer was met with silence, Derrick studied Ian, noting his slumped shoulders and resigned expression. After he’d been so enthusiastic earlier at the diner, he hoped they’d turned a corner. Now it seemed they’d taken two steps backward. And he had no idea how to make things better.
“Are you—never mind.”
“What? You can ask me anything.”
Ian walked across the living room and lifted one of the slats in the blinds and looked outside. “Are you gonna be working while we’re here? It’s okay if you have to.”
Reading between the lines, Derrick knew that it was anything but okay. Was his son feeling neglected? He’d already cut back on his hours, as much as he could anything. Heading the Austin office wasn’t exactly an eight-to-five job.
“I don’t plan on working. This is our time, you and me, bud. It’s a little too cold for swimming, but maybe we use some of the other things at the clubhouse. Shoot some hoops. How’s that sound?”
At Ian’s enthusiastic nod, Derrick made a promise to make time to spend doing activities with him. Think about setting something up in the backyard they could do together.
“Alright, let’s get settled into the B&B and change clothes. We can head over to the clubhouse after that.”
Pulling out his phone, he quickly dialed the B&B. Miss Edna assured him they were welcome and could stay as long as needed. One problem solved. Now, to figure out the complex puzzle that was a nine-year-old boy.
Daisy carried the heavy-laden tray to the table filled with visitors. From their brief conversation, they were visiting friends in Santa Lucia, which wasn’t far away, just over the county line. Their friends mentioned Shiloh Springs and recommended they stop at Daisy’s place when they were going through town. They’d had a million questions about her, the diner, the town, and the townsfolk. Normally she’d have been happy to oblige their small talk, but seeing it was the weekend, she’d been slammed pretty much all morning and early afternoon.
After unloading the tray, she did stay and answer a few more questions about their town, because she loved Shiloh Springs and everything about it. One of the best decisions of her life was when she’d left her old life behind and moved back to help Uncle Joe run the diner. As far as she was concerned, she never planned on living anywhere else ever again.
After another half hour or so of nonstop orders, things finally started slowing and she was able to draw in a deep breath. Looking around the place, she wondered what others saw when they walked in the door. Over the past couple of years, she made some changes, mostly minor and cosmetic, but they gave the place a modern yet nostalgic vibe. Booths lined two of the walls, including seating beside the big picture window with the diner’s name emblazoned in big letters.
When the bell over the door tinkled, she glanced up, smiling when she spotted her friends. Serena, Tessa, and Beth walked in and made a beeline for one of the open tables. Daisy didn’t say a word when they grabbed another nearby table and pulled it over, lining it up with the table they’d chosen, making a bigger seating area. Guess they were expecting company.
“Afternoon, ladies.”
“Hi, Daisy. We’ve got a couple more coming. Hope you don’t mind my pushiness in moving your stuff around.”
“Not a problem. You saved me the trouble. How many are we waiting for?”
“Camilla’s here, so she’s coming. Also, Nica’s home. Not sure if Ms. Patti will make it or not. She said she’d stop by if she finished up early with her clients.”
“So five, maybe six. Do y’all need menus or do you know what you want?”
“Menus? We don’t need no stinking menus.” Beth’s lips curled upward when she quoted the famous line. Daisy chuckled at her bad, over-the-top accent.
Before she could shoot back a reply, the bell over the door sounded again, and she spotted Nica Boudreau entering. The perky blond hadn’t been home in a while, much to Ms. Patti’s consternation. She’d been finishing up her senior year of college, having finished one master’s degree and working on a second. Nobody worked harder than Nica at achieving her goals, and Daisy admired the heck out of her. Though she personally hadn’t had the luxury or wherewithal to advance her own education, she knew the lone Boudreau daughter had her future planned out, and never deviated or strayed far from the path. She envied that kind of dedication and determination.
“Daisy!” Nica gave Daisy a quick hug, her smile ticking up the corners of her mouth. “Long time, no see.”
“I wondered when you’d be darkening my doors again. If I’d know, I’d have had Ike make some of his five-alarm chili you like so much. Extra spicy with enough of a kick to set the drapes on fire.”
“This is just an unplanned visit. Got homesick and needed to feel the dirt of the Big House between my toes. School’s fine and all, but there’s nothing like coming home, being around family, to help ground your soul.”
“Well, y’all sit. I’ll be back with water and sweet tea in a second.”
It didn’t take long for her to pass out glasses filled with sweet tea. She returned with a full pitcher, leaving it on their table, so they could refill their glasses instead of waiting. While the crowd had started to clear, there were still customers who needed tending. Besides, it was time for Jackie to head home. Turned out, she’d been a godsend, and fit in well with Ike. As long as she wanted to work at the diner, she’d have a job.
She glanced up when she caught movement from the corner of her eye and spotted Heath and Camilla outside the big picture window. Heath had pulled Camilla into a passionate embrace, kissing her like he never wanted to let her go. Fortunately, Camilla didn’t look like she wanted to be anywhere else than in his arms. When they broke apart, Heath spotted Daisy watching and waved, giving her a wink. Camilla swatted him playfully before turning and walking through the front door. Heath walked down the sidewalk, probably headed toward the sheriff’s office to visit with his brother.
“Sorry I’m late.” Camilla slid onto an empty chair and picked up a glass of water, rubbing it against her forehead. “I was unavoidably detained.”
When the other ladies laughed, Daisy got the impression this wasn’t an unusual situation with Camilla and Heath. Immediately, her mind flew to thoughts of Derrick, and she felt heat rush into her face.
Stop it. Never gonna happen, girl. Daydreams and wishes can’t change reality. Let it go.
“Good to see you, Camilla. How’s the move going?”
“We’ve almost got everything lined up, Daisy. Everything back in North Carolina is packed. The movers are scheduled. My place is sold. I’ll have to head back long enough for the closing, and any last-minute stuff, but otherwise, in two weeks I’ll be a permanent resident of Shiloh Springs.”
“How’s Heath settling into working from Austin? I know it has to be a big change from all the frenetic energy of Washington D.C.”
“He’s loving it. And his office is thrilled to have somebody with his experience. All in all, everything’s working out for both of us. I can write anywhere, as long as I’ve got Wi-Fi and a laptop. Speaking of, the new book comes out next month.”
Daisy grinned. “I know. I’ve already got it pre-ordered, so it’ll be on my e-reader the minute it’s available.”
“Me, too!” A chorus of female voices echoed Daisy’s. Camilla blushed at their words.
“Alright, ladies. Now that we’ve embarrassed the new girl, how about I take your orders?”
“Any recommendations?” Camilla looked at Daisy, a question in her gaze.
“Ike made pot roast today with potatoes, carrots, and brown gravy. Homemade yeast rolls.”
Every hand at the table raised, and Daisy felt a surge of emotion well up deep inside. Knowing these ladies, her friends, trusted her suggestion made her feel almost like she was a part of their group. Oh, she wasn’t really an outsider, having a deep friendship with every one of them, but that wasn’t the same as being an intimate part of the Boudreau clan. Of course, since all of the Boudreau men were like brothers to her, anything more than friendship would have been icky.
“Got it. Let me get these orders to Ike. It’ll be out in a few minutes. Let me know if y’all need anything.”
Less than five minutes later, Ike had their orders ready, and she delivered them to the table. Placing two baskets of rolls in the middle of the table, she started to turn away and head for the kitchen.
“Hold it right there, girlfriend. You’re not getting away that easy,” Tessa’s voice teased, and Daisy spun around, brow quirked.
“What? Did I forget something?”
“Yes. You haven’t told us how things are going with you and Derrick Williamson.”
Daisy threw her hands in the air. “Why is everybody asking me that? There isn’t a ‘me and Derrick’.”
“Yet,” Serena added, her eyes sparkling with laughter.
Daisy crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at the women. “I want to know who started this rumor, because I need to nip it in the bud.”
They each looked at the other and with one voice answered, “Momma Boudreau!”
Daisy’s scream echoed through the diner because she knew she’d been defeated by an expert.
Because when Ms. Patti spoke, it might as well be written in stone. She just hoped Derrick didn’t hear about this.