Page 93 of You Found Me

After she dropped off the food, she casually poured water for someone at a table near Ward’s.

It was too noisy. She could only hear bits and pieces.

“…honey, all I’m saying…,” Rachel said in between loud cheers as someone on the TV scored something.

Della missed the next bit to laughter from somewhere near the door.

Frustrated, she moved to the elderly couple sitting one table away from Ward. The man had a full, white beard and fluffy white hair. The woman’s white and silver hair was up in a librarian bun. They looked like Santa and Mrs. Clause. “Welcome to Sevens. What can I get you two?”

“Oh, I think we’ll just split a cheeseburger.” Mrs. Clause handed the menu to Della.

“And fries. A big pile of ’em.” Santa leaned back and crossed his arms. “It’s cold in here.”

“I think we have a jacket in the back I can lend you if you’d like.” Della wrote down the order, straining to hear the conversation behind her.

“No,” Ward said. A glass thunked on the table.

No…what? Dammit.

“But don’t you think…,” Rachel said.

Her voice was lost in a shout from guys near the TV.

“Just bring him some hot coffee,” Mrs. Clause said. “And I’d love one of those apple ice teas.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Della waited a beat, pretending to write something down while she tried again to eavesdrop.

“Unless you two are planning to stay? I mean, is this…,” Rachel said.

Cherry tapped her on the shoulder as she rushed past. “Order up, sweetie.”

Della startled and turned away from the drama. “On it."

After rushing several orders out to the mostly right tables, she found a determined-looking Rachel waiting for her by the cash register.

Della put the drinks for table six on a tray. “Do you need something?”

“I need to talk to you. Do you have a minute?”

“It’s pretty busy.” Della picked up the tray. “Maybe drop by tomorrow when it’s not packed.”

“This won’t take long.” Rachel put a manicured hand up to stop her from leaving.

Della glanced around. Nobody was shouting at her, and things were starting to calm down a little. Plus, she was really curious. “One second. Let me drop this off.”

When she got back, she noticed Rachel had placed herself strategically to the side of the register, where Ward’s line of sight would be blocked by the football watchers at the bar.

Rachel leaned in like she was sharing a secret. “I was hoping you could help me out with something. You must have noticed that house you’re staying in has basically been abandoned. Donovan hardly ever visits anymore. Ralph moved out a long time ago. The place is just sitting there, empty, because Donovan can’t let go of the past. It isn’t healthy for him or his dad, and I can’t imagine how it must make Elyse feel. Poor Mason is trapped there every Saturday keeping up with the lawn. I’m sure he’d rather be anywhere else. It’s never even been his house.”

“All I've noticed is a beautiful home that’s been loved and cared for.” Della refused to admit how empty the place had felt when they first arrived.

“Well, yes, it was…once.” Rachel let out a pretty little sigh that Piper would have instantly nailed for overacting. “I have a lot of my own personal history tied up in that house. I practically grew up there. When his mother was alive, all the neighborhood kids went there after school. And in high school, the whole team would gather there after games and on weekends. But after she died, well…I’m sure you can imagine how painful it is for Donovan to be in that house.”

Rachel was tripping over ground Lucy would be expected to know. “Is there a point to this? I have tables waiting.”

There was something aggressive about the way Rachel’s gaze locked on hers that instantly put Della off. It was like a shark fixating on prey. Or like those agents who hung out at county fairs, back when she was little. “I’d like your help convincing Donovan to sell.”

Della blinked. “You want him to sell his childhood home?”

---