Page 40 of Love Over Easy

Shyanne

The next morning when David drops me off at the café, his loving kiss brings tears to my eyes. He wanted me to close the café today and stay home. It wouldn’t matter. My dad is resourceful. Honestly, I can’t believe he hasn’t already located me.

I’ve only just unlocked the door and stowed my bag when I hear the door open and then shuffling feet. I look up and find Kimberly, Brandy, Suzie, and Melissa. My friends. Before they even say anything, I start my apologies. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.”

“Why couldn’t you?” Melissa asks, disappointment showing clearly on her face.

The inside of the café isn’t that large. There’s only enough room for a few people to work in the galley style kitchen. “Let’s go outside.”

They follow me out the door and to the first picnic table we come to. It’s still early, so we’re the only ones out.

As I look at the four faces surrounding me, I’m seeing the only true friends I’ve ever had. I start talking and tell them everything. I don’t go into as much detail as I did with David last night, but I lay it all out there.

Once I’ve finished, their silence is killing me. Have I lost their friendship? I’m completely stunned when Kimberly says, “What can we do to help?”

Somehow, we come together in a five-way hug and there’s crying, encouraging words, and curse words involving my father and what they’d like to do to him. This is when I know my friends have become my sisters. Whatever I have to do, I can’t leave David or the life I have here.

Arm in arm, we walk back to the café and Suzie says, “Will you teach me how to do that kicking flip thing? I saw you do it in a fight on the internet. You’re badass.”

Hearing mild-mannered Suzie ask something like that has all of us laughing.

Melissa is the only one on the schedule to help today, but Brandy and Suzie stay. I honestly think they are trying to protect me.

Prep takes no time with all of us working together. We have a line of customers waiting outside the order window before Melissa flips the CLOSED sign to OPEN and raises the window with her order pad in hand.

Hannah Murphy stops by and gives me a hug and then parks herself at the drink station and order pickup window. I glance outside at the line and see Blake Murphy sitting at one of the picnic tables, surveying the crowd. I get choked up thinking of the show of support these people are giving me after only knowing me such a short amount of time.

An hour before we close, David sticks his head in the door. “Hey, gorgeous, do you have a minute?”

I look up from the grill and grin. My heart does a three-sixty just from hearing his voice. “Sure, give me just a minute.”

Brandy takes over the grill and I wipe my hands on a mop rag as I join David outside. The look of concern on his face tells me everything I need to know.

“He’s here?”

David pulls me into his arms and kisses the top of my head. I didn’t realize how much I needed his touch. “Rod called; he just left the mainland and your dad is on the ferry. They’ll be here in about forty minutes. It’s in my authority to deny him access to the island.”

I wrap my arms tighter around this incredible man, burying my head beneath his chin. “That won’t solve anything. We’re almost through for the day. I’m not going to let my dad ruin a perfectly good business day.”

“I had a feeling that’s what you were going to say,” David says.

I tilt my head and reach up to palm his cheek. “Go back to work. I’ll be fine.”

He takes my hand and kisses the palm just above the pulse point. “That’s not going to happen. My place is here with you.”

My throat clogs up. I swallow, forcing down the unfamiliar emotions. David kisses me deeply and leaves me dazed. He walks around to the front of the café and sits with Blake. My ever-watchful knights. I get back to work with a grin on my face. What is my father going to think with all these people in protector mode?

“Is it your dad?” Brandy asks.

“Yeah, Rod called. He’s on the ferry and will be here in less than an hour.”

Melissa and Suzie look up from what they’re doing and our eyes meet. They nod with understanding. “I just want to say,” I pause because my voice cracks. I swallow and clear my throat. “Thanks. I just wanted to say thanks. I’ve never…” My eyes sting and I quickly turn back to the grill. I feel their arms wrap around me from behind.

“We know,” Melissa says. “We love you too.”

The café closes, our cleanup and prep is done, and my father still hasn’t shown up. Brandy’s phone chimes and her eyes meet mine as she listens to the person on the other end of the call. She smiles and hangs up.

“That was Kimberly. She and Bode met your dad at the ferry and took him to the Inn. She says to take your time coming to visit.”

---