Page 80 of Lost Love Found

“We’re here for you,” Charlie whispers.

“Proud of you, baby girl.” Raf clears his throat as his words come out raspy.

I struggle to walk away, my feet feeling like they're stuck in mud. The sadness I expect to feel when I enter Betty's feels strangely absent.

There she is, sitting at her usual table, her smile lighting up the room like a beacon of hope. It was at this table where I first met Andy, and it's here that I feel a strange and powerful sense of peace.

“Well, if it isn’t my Lainey girl!” Betty stands, and she somehow looks like she hasn’t aged. Maybe that’s because, to my mind, she had always been “old.” She pulls me into a tight hug, and I know I learned the art of giving a good hug from this woman because I feel every ounce of love she has for me in this embrace.

She steps back and takes my face in her hands. “It’s great to see you, kid.”

“It’s great to see you too, Betty. Really great.” She pats my cheek and sits back down. I take the chance to look around the place and notice not much has changed. A few things have been repainted, but it’s the same wooden tables and chairs, the same industrial lights, the same laminated menus.

Betty and I spend an hour talking. She tells me all about how Matt, who used to be the cook when I worked here, opened a coffee shop in town and fell in love with the bookstore owner. “He always was more passionate about coffee than he was about cooking,” she says with a laugh. I can’t help but think someone should write a book about Mel and Matt’s love story.

We walk around the diner, and she holds my hand as we walk by the booth my dad and I used to sit at when we came here. When I try to apologize to her for not visiting sooner, she actually tells me to shut my mouth and we both laugh. No one does tough love quite like Betty.

When we circle back to the table, she says, “So are you going to invite your friends in and offer them something to eat? See if you still got what it takes to be a waitress here?” She points her chin over to the bar. “Your old apron is still back there.”

Betty may dish out tough love, but she’s also sentimental. I hug her again and step outside to call everyone in. As I round the corner, my heart skips a beat. There, perched on the front steps, is a figure in a familiar hoodie, their face illuminated by the sunlight. A wave of goosebumps cascades over me as I take in the strong arms that have held me tightly, the slightly shorter brown hair I’d run my hands through countless times. “Adam?”

He turns and stands quickly, his eyes roaming over my face and then body as if he’s checking me for injuries. They’re so blue, so intense. I run to him and throw my arms around his neck. “You’re here. Hi.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” he says into my hair as he takes a deep breath. He steps back and I take in his face. His hair is shorter. His beard is gone, and my fingers automatically go to his jaw and I feel it tense beneath my touch. “Hi.”

“Hi,” I whisper. I want so badly to kiss him. To tell him how much I’ve missed him. How much I want him. Need him. Love him. But I can’t find my voice and he speaks first.

“I wanted to be here for you today. As… as your friend. I wanted to come and…” He blows out a breath and I feel it on my cheek. “I’m here for you, Elaina. Always. I wanted you to know that.”

My heart sinks. He didn’t kiss me. He didn’t say he loves me. He came here as my friend. I push the melancholy aside and force a smile. “Thank you, Adam. It means everything that you came.” I hug him tightly again and feel two tears slide down my cheeks. That’s all I’ll allow for now.

I glance over Adam's shoulder and catch four pairs of eyes in the periphery - they're doing their best not to stare, but the fear and anticipation on their faces are plain as day. I try to take comfort in the fact that Adam is here for me, that my friends are here to offer love and support. It's the only thing that's certain right now.

I motion for the other four to come join us. “Where’s Mom?” I link my arm with Owen as we walk inside.

“She said she didn’t want to intrude, but that we all have to come by for tea after.” He kisses the top of my head. “I’m proud of you,” he whispers into my hair. My heart balloons in my chest and I squeeze his arm in gratitude. I will myself not to cry and somehow it works.

Betty is ready with my apron when we walk in. She motions towards the large booth in the corner. A table I have no particular memories at. Someplace new in this old diner. Someplace for fresh memories. I put my apron on and find my old notepad and sparkly pink pencil still in the pocket. It feels like I never left, but I also recognize that I’m an entirely different person standing here in this familiar apron.

“Hi! I’m Elaina and I’ll be serving you today. Can I get you all started with some drinks?” All sets of eyes are on me and they’re all smiling. I take their orders, which consist mainly of coffee, and walk towards the bar, loading up a tray. I can feel their curious eyes on me at first, but as I joke with Betty and the new cook, everyone relaxes a little. I’m OK. This is OK.

“Have you decided what you’d like to order, or do you need some time with the menu?” I ask as I set their drinks down.

“I think we’re all ready, baby girl.” Raf’s wide smile is contagious, and I smile back at him.

“OK, why don’t you start us off, then?” I take out my notepad and get ready.

I go around the table, taking their orders. Adam is last. “What can I get you?” I look at him, knowing he has hardly glanced at the menu. He’s been watching me the whole time.

“What do you recommend?” He lifts his coffee cup as he waits for my response.

“Everything is good here, but the pancakes are my favorite. And definitely splurge and go for the real maple syrup. It makes all the difference.” My heart is lodged somewhere in my throat, and I can feel it pounding unsteadily.

Adam smiles as I speak and it’s so casual, so easy, it takes me back to weeks ago when we were just two friends trying to get to know one another. “I’ll take the pancakes then.” His smile widens. How is his face this gorgeous? I wasn’t prepared for a beardless Adam today. Or any day. His voice deepens. “With the real maple syrup, please.” He hands me his menu and our fingers brush. I feel the too familiar spark between us, those fireworks in my chest threatening to go off. Keep it together, Elaina!

I close my eyes for a brief moment and take a breath. “Sounds great. I’ll be back with your meals soon.”

I walk away and put in their orders. There are only three tables in the whole diner, so I know it’ll be quick. I rush over to the bathroom and splash some water on my face, wondering if it’s possible to fall in love twice in the same place with different people. I stare at my reflection and smooth my hair. How are you so the same and so different?

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