Page 107 of Shattered Dreams

“Ugh.” I threw my hands up in frustration. “Whatever. So what you’re telling me is that she could’ve been here, then left and came back?”

“Pfft. Like I wanted to go smelling like the diner. Geez, Edith, cut me some slack.” The youngest of our family strolls in, tying her apron. “What’d you do to the lady at table five?”

“What do you mean, what did I do?”

“She’s miffed, and said you were rude.”

My nostrils flared out, and I wanted to choke my sister. “Nothing. She said her burger was underdone.”

Evie looked at me in confusion. “What burger?”

“The one on her plate mostly eaten.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she held up a finger. “I got this.”

I watched through the serving window as Evelyn walked over to the table and cocked her hip. I couldn’t hear what she said, but I heard the lady apologize.

“How come she can be snappy with the customers and I can’t?” I turned and asked our mom.

“Because you’re older and more composed. There’s a reason Evie was the last one.” Ma put the dough back in the bowl, covered it with a towel and took it to rise in the very back.

“Your mother’s not wrong, Edie.” Dad came out of the walk-in. “If Evie was the first one, she’d be an only child.”

Shaking my head, I stepped through the swinging door and went to get a carafe of coffee to make one last round before I left.

“Yo. Toots. Some service?” A deep voice calls out to me, sounding like my older brother Gene.

I flipped my ponytail, cocked my hip, and retorted. “Service yourself. You should be used to that by now.”

The strange man at the counter pulled his sunglasses down, revealing ice-blue eyes that pierced right through me. His eyebrow raised over his left eye, and he rubbed his well-groomed beard. “Not sure who you’ve been talking to, doll, but I can assure you I am not used to that.”

“Oh, my gravy!” My hand flew up to my mouth. “I am so sorry. I thought you were my brother.”

He splayed his hands out in front of him. “Do I look like your brother?”

“No, sir.”

“Edie? You lose your mind?” Evie snapped at me and strolled over to the counter. “Sorry about that. What can I get you?”

“Her name is Edie?” He motioned to me with his head.

“Yup.” She popped the p. “It’s short for Edith.”

“How well do you know her?”

I stood there gob smacked as my sister is ran her mouth.

“Pretty well.” She looked back at me, then turned her attention back to him. “What do ya wanna know?”

“How about her number?”

“No can do, boss.” She thumbed behind her. “See that big man working the grill?” She smiled. “Big E!”

“Yo, whachu need?” He leaned close to the order window.

Evie thumbed the guy sitting at the counter. “This customer wants Edie’s number.”

“No can do, Kemosabe.”

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