Page 108 of Could Have Been Us
Her hand rests on Jack’s forearm. “Good thing, Jack O’Donnell, because Vernon would be mighty upset if you found another place to eat.”
He leans in. “Never.”
She grins and looks over at Kinsley. “Hi there, honey. I’m Jennie, and . . .” She trails off, her eyes looking at the little girl and then back at us.
Surely piecing things together. My nose. Jack’s eyes. Our daughter who we couldn’t deny if we even wanted to.
I speak quickly. “This is Kinsley Elkins, and she’s staying with us for a few weeks while her dad has a work thing.”
Jennie blinks, her lips moving without any sound coming out. After another second, she looks to me. “I see, well, how nice. Do you like pancakes?” She directs the question to Kinsley.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. My husband makes the best pancakes in the county.”
“Could we get the booth over there?” I request. It’s not in the back, but I can seat Kinsley so she won’t see people gawk.
“Why it’s my best booth, and for you, Stella, I’d kick someone out.” Jennie smiles and then guides everyone there.
Kinsley takes the spot with her back to everyone, I slide in beside her, and Jack sits facing the door. Once Jennie leaves the menus, the three of us release a breath. “Well, that wasn’t terrible,” I say.
Jack looks at Kinsley. “How are you feeling?”
She shrugs. “Weird.”
“I bet.”
“Is there anyone else here you know?”
“Well, if you look at the counter, you’ll find Bill and Fred.”
“They’re actually here?” Kinsley asks with excitement.
Jack laughs. “I think they have this listed as their mailing address.”
Jennie returns with our drinks and lets us know what we’ll be eating. Pancakes for Kinsley, a ham and cheese omelet for me, and the works for Jack, whatever that means. I would argue, but it’s what I would’ve ordered anyway.
“Do you eat here that much?” Kinsley asks after Jennie leaves.
“Yeah, it’s the only place in town other than the Park Inn, but I didn’t really eat there unless I was working.”
Kinsley chews on the end of her straw. “So, you and your brothers just quit?”
“It’s not that simple, but that’s the general idea. We’re forcing our father to buy us out so we can start our own resort.”
“That’s kind of cool.”
Jack nods. “It’s a testament to their strength, and I’m glad they asked me to join the business with them.”
“Your brothers seem pretty cool.”
“They’re pains in the asses,” Jack adds with a grin.
“They are both of those things,” I agree.
We continue to talk about the people in the diner, mostly the story of Fred and Bill. Jack fills her in on how he comes here after a fire call, and the three of us settle into a comfortable conversation. She’s curious about us, how we live, our friends, and my family. Jack and I do our best to answer everything.
“You did not do that,” he scoffs after I tell her a story about going to Jack’s college graduation and leaving before he saw me.
