Page 3 of Saving Hanna
Chapter Three
HANNA
I got to the diner with five minutes to spare, and Dotty was already looking over the menu to see what she would offer as today’s lunch special. It didn’t matter what she chose, everything on the menu was amazing. Being partial to her Beef Stroganoff, I pointed to the item and said confidently, “I think the Stroganoff would be a great hit today.”
Smiling up at me, she gave me a double wink and replied, “Stroganoff it is, sweetie.”
Nodding my head with a smile, I turned on my heels to place my things in my locker. Adjusting my dress, I grabbed a clean apron from the rack and tied it around my waist. Taking a quick look in the mirror I had attached to the door, I straightened out my ponytail before closing the locker. Dotty was already out front writing the daily special on the chalkboard. With the weather being nice, Dotty always placed the freestanding board on the sidewalk close to the entrance so that anyone walking by would see it.
Wiping down the last of the laminated menus, I checked the time, knowing it would be time to open the doors. As I unlocked the door, several of the regulars were waiting on the other side. I swung the door wide open, greeting each customer as they walked through the door. I would have my day cut out for me. I was having second thoughts about deciding to work today instead of taking my scheduled day off. When Carrie asked if I would cover her shift so she could take her youngest boy to the doctor, I jumped at the chance to pick up an extra shift. She was a single mom with three kids and the father of her kids never found the time for them. Her kids were amazing, and sometimes when she had to work her night job, I would volunteer to watch them. Seeing that she needed the money more than I did, I never charged her.
Waiting until the last customer entered the diner, I let go of the glass door and drew out my order pad and took breakfast orders. Most of the people that came for breakfast knew exactly what they wanted to order, and having known most of them for some time now,I knew exactly what they wanted too. Occasionally they would get a little adventurous and change their order.
Heading back to the kitchen I gave Drew all the orders I had collected before filling the small pots with coffee. Drew started as the main cook about the time I started waitressing. Dotty needed someone to cover the morning shift, and with Drew’s school schedule it worked out perfect, even though he didn’t know a thing about cooking. I guess he had a hidden talent. Everyone in the diner always complimented him on his cooking.
As I headed out the steel swinging door, I saw déjà vuhad snuck in. Sitting at the counter, in the same spot, was Mr. Handsome. I didn’t know his real name, so I gave him one that was most fitting for him. Knowing he liked drinking coffee, I stepped over to where he sat and grabbed a coffee mug from under the counter. As I filled it to the brim, I could feel his eyes on me. All I did was smile and say, “Morning, sir. I’ll be back to get your order.”
“‘Sir’ seems so formal. Please, call me Aiden,” he advised as he placed his hand on my wrist.
If his intention was to get my attention, he accomplished his task. The minute his hand contacted my skin, something shot through my arm and to my core. It was the strangest feeling, and something I had never experienced before. His touch almost caused me to overfill his cup, which would have been a disaster, especially if I ended up burning myself or worse yet, burning him. Just like yesterday, my cheeks felt like they were on fire and I knew they had to be as bright as the red in his silk tie. Leaving him to ponder his choice, I headed back to the kitchen to take a few moments to collect myself. Thankfully, the coast was clear, and I avoided another mishap like yesterday.
~*~*~*~
The morning was going along smoothly with no more surprises, other than a small child spilling their glass of orange juice three times. To save the little girl’s mom from paying for another glass, I thought it would be best to give her a to-go cup with a lid. Pressing my apron with my hand, I headed back over to the counter where Mr. Handsome, Aidan, was seated to take his order. Just like yesterday, he was finely dressed, only this time in a dark suit matched with a gray shirt and a red tie. Placing the two plates on the cart near the waitress station, I pulled my notepad from my apron and approached him with a smile.
Licking the tip of my pen in a somewhat flirty manner, I leaned against the counter and asked with a welcoming smile, “What will it be, sir?”
The minute he lifted his brow, I could tell that he wasn’t amused by my joking mannerism or calling him sir instead of by his name. I justdidn’t feel comfortable addressing him by his first name. As he placed the menu on the counter, I thought for sure he would correct me, but instead he said, “I’ll have the County Skillet with a side of dollar pancakes and two slices of bacon. I’ve been told it is the best.”
It seemed he had a joking sideas well. Taking the pot of coffee from under the counter, I filled his cup, which was now half full, and answered, “Coming right up.”
When I went back to the kitchen to place his order, Dotty was standing on the other side of the door. I had my notepad in my hand and she pulled it from my grasp. I did not understand why she would have done that, but with a smile on her face, she looked up at me and said, “I will take care of Mr. Drake myself.”
“So, the mystery man now has a last name,”I said to myself as I watched her focus on the notepad. It made little sense thatshe would know who Aiden was considering he had only appeared at the diner yesterday. Taking a stab in the dark, I asked. “Do you know him, Dotty?”
Her expression changed when she replied, “Yeah, you could say that.”
It seemed like she avoided my question asshe turned around and headed to the fridge. I wasn’t sure if Mr. Drake being in the diner was a good thing and based on Dotty’s face, she wasn’t sure either.
When Aiden had finished, it was no surprise I had received another twenty-dollar tip. Again, hemanaged to leave before I could thank him. At this rate, if he continued to come here every morning, I could purchase a farm in no time.
With my shift finally over, I headed to the back of the diner to grab my things. Just as I was heading out of the diner, Dolly stopped me. Taking my soiled apron from my hand and dropping it in the laundry basket, she asked, “Do you have a minute to chat?”
It was the first time Dotty had requested a chat. I wasn’t sure what she needed from me, but I was sure I wasn’t getting fired or anything. Following her into her office, I took a seat beside her desk and waited as she closed the door. There was something different about the way she looked. There was a concerned look on her face, like she had something weighing on her and she didn’t know how to say what she needed to say.
Placing my hand over hers, I asked softly, “What is it, Dotty? What do you need to tell me?”
Looking up at me, she replied, “I’m an old woman, and this diner has taken a toll on this body of mine. As much as I love this place, I’m afraid that I will have to sell it.”
“What do you mean, sell it? I thought you loved this diner?” I questioned.
“I dolove it, but unfortunately, this place isn’t doing so well and taking out another loan isn’t an option for me.” I could tell that the words weren’t easy for her to say as she paused for a moment before she continued. “The gentleman thatyou have been waiting on, Mr. Drake, has an interest in the diner and will pay me a healthy sum for it.”
“You can’t sell it, Dotty,” I said a little louder than I should have.
“I have to, Hanna, and unless you can buy it, I have no other choice,” Dotty admitted.
It saddenedmeto knowthatshe would let go everything she had worked so hard for. If I had the money, I would have given it to her to save the diner from being bought, but unfortunately, I didn’t. What saddened me even more was that once she sold this place, I would be out of a job. And just like everything else in Houston, the diner would probably be torn down to make room for a shopping mall or a business center.
Before I left, I felt the need to give her a big hug. Dotty was like family. She felt more like family than my brother, and after losing my mother, she was the closest thing to a mom I had. Opening the door, Byron was standing outside the door waiting to talk to Dotty. I was sure he was waiting to talk to her about taking a little time off. It was getting close to the weekend and Byron always tried to get it off. Even though Dotty always told him she wasn’t able to give him the time off he needed, he always continued to try. Giving him a quick wave, I headed out the back door.
