Megan watched me with a hawkish stare, and I wondered how she’d managed to get any other customers served with the amount of attention she was paying to the one at the counter. From the corner of my eye, as I reset a table with utensils, I saw Jude pay at the register. Megan laughed wildly about something he said. He was leaving and I had no idea if I’d see him again. My willpower failed and I looked his way. He headed to the door but stopped and looked back at me long and hard before walking out. The breath I’d been holding flowed out of me. Megan had caught the exchange but this time looked more defeated than angry.

I was relieved when the last of the lunch rush had dwindled. My heart had finally settled to a steady beat, and the absurd trembling in my hands had finally gone away. But I desperately needed a moment alone.

“Charlie, I’m going to take a quick break,” I said and slid into the restroom. The cool water from the sink did nothing to stop the tears that burned my eyes. I sat there alone for a good ten minutes sorting out everything that was going on in my head.

At one point, I convinced myself that I’d overreacted and that I shouldn’t have walked out on them. But then I would replay the horrible moments when Jude had blamed me for everything, and I went right back to feeling justified in having left.

I stepped out of the bathroom still in a haze of mind debates when Charlie grabbed my arm and pushed me back inside. She shut the door behind her. “What on earth was that all about?” she asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“Megan is so pissed, she’s ready to spit bullets.”

“So what else is new? What has you in such a lather?” Charlie often didn’t make sense when she explained things, but this was silly even for her.

“Well, he gave Megan a really big tip and everything, so he must like her. But the guy didn’t take his eyes off you the entire time.” She took advantage of our cozy meeting in the crummy little bathroom to check her hair in the mirror. “And, boy, did Megan notice. She was shooting death rays out of those blue eyes of hers all the way across the dining room.”

“He tipped her big because he’s rich, and he was watching me because we know each other. I used to work for his dad.” I decided not to say anymore. I’d signed a stupid contract when I got hired on that basically told me to seal my mouth shut about the family business even after I left their employment. I was regretting everything about the job now.

“He’s rich?” Apparently that was the only piece of my confession that’d caught her attention. “No wonder he hands out twenty dollar bills like they are quarters.”

“Don’t tell Megan. It’ll only make her more rabid about him. Let her think it’s because he likes her. That will make life easier for all of us.” I reached for the doorknob hoping our clandestine meeting was over.

“Just watch yourself around her, Eden. She can be real mean when she wants, and after today, I think she’s gonna have it out for you.”

Charlie had been right about Megan’s anger. The glares she impaled me with could have cut glass. She finally finished her work and threw her apron dramatically on the hook. “I’m out of this hell hole for the day.” In case we hadn’t realized that she was mad, she made a point of smacking the door open as she left.

My shoulders relaxed. I couldn’t have been happier to see the backside of her.

“She’s not going far,” Charlie commented as she finished sweeping.

“What do you mean? Does she live nearby?” That thought bugged me.

“No, she lives across town, but when she gets a good tip, she goes next door to the bar and hangs out with some of the creeps over there. Sometimes the construction workers head over there after work to play pool and have beers  . . . including you-know-who.” Charlie went to the door and peeked out. “But I don’t see his motorcycle out there, so he must have skipped it today.”

It was stupid for me to even think about it or care about it, but I wondered if Jude had been playing pool, possibly even with my new nemesis Megan, the night of the disastrous cookie party.

I helped Rick finish the pots and pans, and Charlie took off to go visit her mother. The quiet in the shop once everyone had gone was comforting but lonely. I went upstairs to shower and halfway through the torturously slow trickle of water, I decided I needed to hear my mom’s voice.

I towel-dried my hair, combed it back, and stuck some coins into the pocket of my jeans. Work had slowed across the street, and I didn’t see any sign of Jude. I locked the diner behind me and then headed to the phone booth.

I’d barely reached the first corner of the bar when Megan stepped out onto the sidewalk with two guys sporting greasy hair and an array of tattoos. She’d changed into a very small tank top and shorts. Her long nails were gripped around one of the guy’s arms.

“Ooh, look what the diner coughed up,” Megan sneered.

I ignored her and focused on my phone booth destination. She muttered something to the guys, and they all had a good round of laughter over her clever comments, whatever they were. I tucked myself into the booth and took a surreptitious glance toward the bar. Thankfully, they’d gone back inside.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Mom.”

“Edie! Is everything all right?”

I’d worked up an enthusiastic yes, but there was no way I could fake feelings with my mom.

“Edie,” she repeated in a tone that assured me she knew everything was not fine.

“I’m lonely, Mom, but I think I’m going to try and stick this out for a bit longer. But . . .”

“But, nothing. Edie come home now. It’s so nice up here. The cabin is small, but we can take turns sleeping on the floor.”

The lump in my throat made it hard to talk. “How are Janie and Sophie?”

“Janie took a walk with your dad and Sophie’s sleeping. She got stung by a bee, so she’s sleepy from the Benadryl.”

“Is she all right?”

“She’s fine.” She chuckled into the phone. “But by the way she howled, I was sure she’d lost a limb or something. Scared the crap out of me. She went to pick a wildflower and the bee surprised her.”

“Sounds like she surprised the bee.”

Mom chuckled again, and I realized I totally missed our laugh sessions. There was a long pause, and even though we were both silent, it felt as if we were speaking to each other.

“Mom, I’ve got to try this being on my own thing for awhile longer.”

“I know, Edie. But come home if it doesn’t work out.”

“I will. Kiss everyone for me.”

I skirted back past the bar as quickly as possible. Something about Megan’s two unsavory buddies had me feeling uneasy. Suddenly, I was acutely aware of how alone I was, and Charlie’s warning about Megan splashed through my mind. I quickly unlocked the door, scooted inside, and turned to shut the door but a boot stopped my process. I froze in alarm until I recognized the green eyes staring back at me through the opening.

“Shit, Jude, you scared me.” He stepped inside. I locked the door behind him and pressed my face against the window to peer down the sidewalk to the bar. There was no one out front.

“Who are you looking for?” Jude asked.

“Megan, the girl I work with. She hates me, and now she really hates me, so the last thing I need is for her to see me talking to you.”

He sat on the stool at the counter. “How did I get involved in this?”

“Really? Oh my gosh, guys are so clueless. Megan is so nuts about you, she’s ready to pick out a china pattern.”

“You mean that chick who waits on me in here? I’ve hardly ever said hello to her.”

“Well, you leave her generous tips, and she seems to have decided that that means a serious commitment.”

“I always leave big tips.” He pulled out his phone, sent a text, and then leaned his elbows back on the counter. “Anyhow, I didn’t come here to talk about her.”