Page 48 of Crash and Burn

“No, it’s fine. Hey, I get to sit and chat with you occasionally, so it’ll work.” He reached in and gave me a kiss on the cheek making me blush hard.

“Come on.” I motioned with my head for him to follow me. He sat at the counter and there was just enough room for his coffee and tablet. He set his backpack between his feet on the shelf under the counter.

“Wave me down if you need anything, ok? I’ll just be running around like crazy.” I smiled at him.

“It’s 3:30 now. What time do you get off tonight?”

“I get off at eight o’clock. So, a while to go, still.”

“Can I take you home? I don’t mind sitting here until you get off. I have a lot of work to get done, anyway. Just keep me supplied with coffee.” He threw me a flirty, hopeful grin.

I said, “How can I say no to that face?” and whisked away to finish working the rest of my tables.

The night went by fast because the rush never stopped. The lunch rush turned quickly into the dinner rush, and it was almost quitting time.Almost. I got a few minutes here and there to chat with Hudson, but it was so brief. I was grateful he was there though. I loved the nights when he came in. His presence alone calmed me. It made me forget everything else that weighed on my mind. It made me forget Kevin’s evil ass and the threat of him still being out there. Even though I’d been in Lynn Falls for a little over a year, it finally, right then, started to feel like home. Hudson was a huge part of that feeling.

“Hey, Am, can I have some more coffee.” It’s Harvey this time.

“Of course, Harvey.” When I looked up, he and Hudson were laughing. I grabbed the coffee pot and brought it over. As I was pouring, I asked, “What are you two laughing about over here?” Honestly, it warmed my heart to see two of the people I cared about so much, laughing together. Since Hudson was around so much, he had grown close with some of the guys at Sharon’s.

“Oh, I was just welcoming Hudson here to the big boy’s table,” talking about the counter.

“The big boy’s table, huh?” I laughed.

“Yeah, ya know…all of us old timers. It’s nice to have the company of this young fella, up here. I don’t understand a thing about that square he’s drawin’ on, but he’s good at it.” We laughed some more.

“It’s an iPad, Harvey. I know, you’re used to paper and pencil but times are changing.” I said to him with a giggle.

“Yeah…he says he reads the news on it, too.” He shook his head. “I think I’ll stick to my paper, here. Somethin’ about black and white and them funnies. You can’t get the funnies on that iPad. It’s not the same.”

Hudson spoke up, “Ya know? You’re right. I miss reading the funnies in the paper. Are you finished with them? I’ll take it if you are.”

Hudson put his iPad away in his backpack as Harvey handed him the comics section. “Here you go. Feel that? Tangible newspaper. The funnies are the best in the paper.” They kept chuckling as I watched on, listening to the back and forth.

“What’s your favorite comic strip, Harvey?” Hudson asked as he scanned the paper.

“Oh…I likeCurtis,Beetle Bailey, andThe Family Circus. Oh…andDilbert. I like that one, too.” Harvey looked so excited to talk to someone about his paper.

“I don’t think I’ve ever readCurtis.” Hudson was looking for it.

Harvey pointed to it, saying, “Curtishas been around since the ’80s. Ray Billingsley is the creator. I love that one. He touches on good topics, and I appreciate it. Always funny.”

“I’m glad to see you boys enjoying the paper. Hudson, I’m getting ready to wipe down the last of my tables and I’ll be ready to go.” I smiled at him and Harvey.

Hudson nodded, but he was glued to the funnies. I giggled and looked at Harvey. He was glancing from me to Hudson and back again with the biggest smirk on his face. It made me laugh. Shaking my head, I moved along to finish cleaning my tables.

When I was done, I tossed the rag in the basket, washed my hands, and took my apron off, hanging it up on the hook in the back of the kitchen. Heading out to the counter, I saw Harvey patting Hudson on the back.

“You takin’ off, Harvey?” I asked.

“I am. This old man is tired.” He came in for a hug.

“Be careful, okay? I’m off tomorrow so I’ll see you on Saturday?”

“You know it. Saturday sounds like a perfect day to pop in.” He said it like he wasn’t thereallthe time.Pop in.

“Night, Harvey.” Hudson waved to him.

“Night, you two. Hudson, make sure she gets home safe.”

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