Page 20 of Effortless

“Mom…”

“Honey, please. Just until I know more. I’ll take the drinks to your table.”

“Okay,” she responds with a little tremble to her voice.

Seeing her reaction fuels my anger. They treated her so kindly while they thought they had her under their thumb. As soon as they realized they didn’t have control over her, or rather, my mom realized it, Brooklyn was on the receiving end of their ugly.

I notice our cook is watching us closely, looking around as if he will need to intervene on our behalf. I give him a half smile and assure him everything is okay.

“Love you,” I say to Brooklyn before taking the tray of drinks out to the customers.

After delivering the drinks, I take a few orders and rush them back to the kitchen and dart back out to the dining room.

My parents are still standing just inside the door and rather than giving them the type of attention they’re wanting, I offer them a table.

“That’d be great,” my dad replies.

My mom’s eyes widen but she dutifully follows my dad to a table.

And as if my day couldn’t get worse, just then the Lake boys come walking in.

All three, along with Cody, smile at me but it’s Cash who seems to sense my unease.

“Have a seat, boys, and I’ll be right with you.”

“Is Brooklyn here?” Cody asks.

I notice my parents watching our interaction and don’t answer Cody.

Cash looks between my parents and me and considering they’re dressed the way they’re dressed, I think he figures out who they are. I look a lot like my mother and most people who come to the diner for lunch aren’t dressed in a three-piece suit (my dad) and a Versace dress and stilettos. Though, I’m pretty sure Cash wouldn’t know that she’s wearing nearly ten thousand dollars’ worth between her clothes, shoes, and handbag.

Cash leans over and whispers something to Cody and he looks around the diner in confusion.

Grabbing a couple menus, I bring them to my parents’ table along with an iced tea for my dad and a water with two lemons for my mom, knowing what they’ll want to drink without asking.

“I’ll be right back to take your orders,” I tell them, not giving them a moment to say anything else and I rush over to Cash’s table.

“How’s it going?” I ask.

“You alright?” Cash asks in return.

“Fine,” I reply, giving him a faint smile and subtle head shake. “What can I get ya?”

They place their orders for drinks and since they know what they want to eat, I take that order as well.

Before heading back to the kitchen to put their orders in, I cash out four tables and check on the others.

When I step into the kitchen, our cook, Franky, raises his eyebrows in my direction before looking at Brooklyn who’s sitting on a stool with her arms around her stomach.

I spin on my heel and dart back to Cash’s table, crouching low next to Cody’s side. “Can I steal ya away for a minute?”

He looks to his dad and back to me. “Huh?”

“I need your help with something.”

“What is it? I only know how to make grilled cheese and I usually burn it so I don’t think I’ll be much help.”

A laugh bubbles out of my throat and I hear Boone, Cody’s dad, whisper, “Go, son.”

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