Page 12 of Tacos & Toboggans
“That’s what friends are for,” she promised as she patted my back and pointed me toward the diner.
That was when I realized I didn't have my car. It was still parked on the street by my—correction—the old house. When I finished at the diner, I’d ask Ivy for a ride since it was too far to walk. The day was warm again, and I longed for cooler weather. Considering my situation, I should be glad it’s a warm year. Bells Pass to Saginaw isn’t long, but it can be treacherous in snow. Since I can’t afford to replace my car, the interstate poses a hazard to my livelihood and possibly my life. That was another reason I appreciated Indigo today. WhileI had thought I’d be too emotional to drive, I was mostly just numb, so having a chauffeur meant I could stare out the window without worrying about having to focus on the road.
The diner was busy when I arrived, so I swung in the door and glanced around, but I didn’t see Ivy. Brittany, one of our cooks, was standing by the window. “Have you seen Ivy?”
She pointed through the swinging door that led to Ivy’s office and the back door. “She’s in the office,” she called before she set two plates up on the window for the servers to grab.
I waved and then headed through the swinging door, making a mental note to stop back in and make sure they didn’t need help before I left. Due to my circumstances today, I was off, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t step in and help when needed.
“Hey, Ivy,” I said, walking into her office.
She glanced up from her paperwork and smiled broadly, as always. It was a rare day when Ivy Lund didn’t have a smile. “Hi. Your hair is gorgeous.”
Fluffing it like a model, I grinned. “Thanks. Addie is a miracle worker with hair, that’s for sure. She said you wanted to see me, and I noticed the diner was busy. Do you need me to help out?”
“No, today is your day off,” she said, standing and walking to the door. “But I did want to show you something.”
“Sure, I’ve got time. Could you then run me back to the house to get my car? Indigo drove me to Saginaw and then ferried me around town, so the car is still there.”
“Not a problem,” she assured me, motioning me down the hallway to the back door.
Ivy lived directly behind the diner in an old farmhouse she and Shep had slowly renovated over the years since she took over the Nightingale Diner. The house was included with the diner when Lucille Bevvywetter gifted it to Ivy. In Bells Pass, the diner is passed from one woman to another rather than sold. Usually, it’s someone the current owner has taken under their wing. In Ivy’s case, that’s everyone who works here, but with any luck, Ivy will work here for decades. Maybe little Lucy Lund will be the next nightingale of Bells Pass. She sure hasthe personality for it. Ivy’s daughter is so sweet and loving. Some even say she has a way of making people feel better. I say she’s an empath by nature. She does make people feel better, but it’s her calming presence that has the most impact. I could use some Lucy Lund in my life today. Too bad she was in school. I might stay a few more hours until she gets home just to see her smiling face.
Ivy pushed through the back door, and I noticed a camping trailer behind the diner.
“Did you and Shep buy a camper? Seems like an odd time of year to do it.”
Her laughter echoed through the air. “No, camping is not Shep's thing. Too many allergens for his asthma. This is your home away from home. At least for a few weeks,” she explained, holding the door open and motioning me in.
In shock, I climbed the stairs and took in the small camper. “How did you get this?”
“One of my best customers at the bakery owns a rental business. He buys goodies for his workers every week, so I asked him if he had any campers to spare.”
“Ivy, no, I can’t take income away from him. Though I could afford to pay him, depending on his weekly rates.”
“It’s already been taken care of. This isn’t their busy season, and he was going to put it in storage, so he gladly accepted free treats for a few weeks of use. Of course, it needs to be in storage by November or once the temps start to drop at night, but that buys us a bit more time to find you a permanent place to stay.”
“You’re serious? I can stay here?”
“At least until the beginning of November. After that, we’ll need to reevaluate things. Hopefully, we have a solution by then. In the meantime, this tiny but mighty space has a full-size bed at the back, a small bathroom and kitchen, and a sitting area. You’ll have to shower at my place, but that’s not a problem for us. I would grab meals at the diner for the time being since you don’t pay for food, and cooking here won’t be easy. The water and electricity are already connected to the diner, and he’ll empty the tanks when he picks it up.”
“This is too much,” I whispered, my hand shaking as I touched the small kitchen table. “Does this man have children?”
“Yes, his little boy is Bryce’s age. Why?”
“I’d like to send a book for him. I know you said it’s been squared, but I’d like to show my appreciation.”
“Now that I can arrange,” she agreed with a smile. “Come on, let’s get your car and the things you’ll need to make this your home.”
I followed her out of the camper and closed the door behind me, the idea setting in that I had found safety, at least for a little while. More than that, my friends had my back until I could get on my feet again.
“You truly are a miracle worker, Ivy Lund. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Just doing what a friend does, Jaelyn. What good are connections if I can’t use them to help a friend?”
I followed her to her car and couldn’t do anything but agree with a grateful heart.
Chapter Six
