Page 95 of Nate

They’d been on the road an hour before they found a diner and Nate pulled into the lot. After parking, they entered the restaurant and found an empty booth. Markie picked up a menu.

“Everything looks good. I’m suddenly starving,” she said as she glanced over the plastic covered menu.

“Good morning, would you both like some coffee?” a woman asked them, with a smile.

“Markie?”

“Yes, please.”

Nate nodded. “For both of us, please.”

“Be right back, sugar.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Nate looked at the menu. “I’ll get the Western Omelet.”

“That sounds good. I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back,” Markie said.

“I’ll order for you.”

“Thank you. Oh, and a glass of milk too.”

Nate grinned. “Alright.”

Markie smiled, then made her way to the ladies’ room. As she did, she looked out the window and stopped. She thought a car in the parking lot looked like Jarrett’s, and she quickly glanced around the diner, but didn’t see him.

“Seriously, Markie. More than one person drives a car like that,” she muttered, as she entered the bathroom.

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Nate watched Markie stop when she looked out the window, then glanced around the diner. He saw her shaking her head, then she disappeared into the ladies’ room. What was that been about?

“Ready, honey?”

“Yes, ma’am. Two Western Omelets and a glass of milk. Thank you.”

“I’ll have that to you in no time, honey.” She winked at him, then returned to the kitchen.

When he saw Markie returning, he slid from the booth, held her hand as she slid onto the bench, then sat back down.

“I just placed our order.”

“Did you remember my milk?” she asked him with a smile.

“Yes, ma’am.” Nate frowned. “What did you see or think you saw?”

“I thought I saw Jarrett’s car but then realized he’s not the only person who drives a car like that.”

“What does he drive?”

Markie mentioned a very expensive luxury sedan.

Nate shook his head. “Of course, he does. I suppose your mother bought it for him.”

“Well, he sure doesn’t have the money to buy it.”

Nate sat back in the booth. “So, your mother knew him because he played golf and worked with your father?”

“Yes. My dad seemed to like him, but I think Jarrett just wanted to make him think he was a good person. When my father passed away, Jarrett was at the house almost immediately and I thought that was so nice of him, but if I had known then what I know now, he would have never gotten in the door. A month went by before he started pursuing my mother. She didn’t marry him right away; it was almost a year before she did. I still think it was because she was lonely.” Markie sighed. “I hate how taken in she was by him, but she was still reeling over losing my father and that asshat knew all the right things to say. They’ve been together two years now. He’s slick, I’ll give him that.”

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