Page 43 of Searching for Sadie
As Lucas walked into the diner to meet his parents for lunch, he was secretly hoping that Sadie would be there. They'd waved a few times and said hello since she'd shown up on his doorstep that night after book club, but that's been it. He was dying for another conversation, kiss, whatever she was willing to give him, he'd take right now.
As he rounded the corner he saw his parents, an older woman with salt and pepper hair in a long braid and an older gentleman with beautiful silver hair. They were sitting on the same side of the booth. And he also saw... her.
"Hi, I'm Sadie. I'll be your waitress today," she said, handing them the menu. "Is anyone joining you?"
"Yes, one more," said his father.
"Sadie, are you settling into Mystic Falls?" his mother asked with a warm smile.
"Yes, ma'am," she said as she set another menu across from them.
"Well, I've heard a lot about you," said the woman beaming from ear to ear.
Sadie cocked her head. "Have you?"
That was enough, Lucas cleared his throat. "Mom, dad," he said in greeting.
She turned and their eyes met.
"Sadie," he said in a low voice. Her cheeks flush ever so slightly and it did something to him.
"Hi," she said as she attempted to bite back the smile that wanted to spread across her face.
"I see you've met my parent's, Marley and Michael Fipp"
"Yeah, we met at the market," Sadie said.
"Our Lucas has told us all about you," said Marley, taking her hand.
"Mom," Lucas interrupted.
"What? You have. How's the house, dear?"
"Oh, it's fine. I'm settling right in."
"Are you enjoying Mystic Falls?" Michael asked.
"I am. It's a wonderful little town. Now what can I get you to eat?"
After she took their drink order she hurried off to the kitchen. And Lucas turned on his parents. "Will you two behave?"
"Us?" his mother said with an innocent smile.
"Yes. I am a 32-year-old man, I should not have to beg my parents not to embarrass me."
"My darling boy," she said, reaching out to cup his chin. "You'll never be too old for me to embarrass."
"I suggest you just go with it, son. It makes life easier that way," his father said.
"What are you working on now? Are you still up at the orchard?" his dad asked.
"I finished the kitchen, but there is still some work to go for the event center. There was a hold up with the contractor. I’ll probably finish up there next week.”
"I hope they have the right permits for that. Sometimes I think Sam thinks he can do whatever he wants," Michael Fipp said with a raised eyebrow as he watched the goings on in the square.
"Everything looked good to me."
His father had been on the town council for as long as he could remember, he was as much as a stickler for rules, and his mother was a hound for gossip. That coupled with the fact that they ran the market in town, they tended to know all the comings and goings of everyone in Mystic Falls.
