Page 54 of Tessa's Trust

Man, it was odd, but I’d really missed the old guy.

The apron already held a notebook and pencil, so I hurried to the far booth and started taking orders. He’d been correct that most people didn’t want to cook between Christmas and New Year’s, and work was steady.

One of the new servers took the other half of the diner, and I noted she did a pretty good job. I gave her tips a few times, but she’d obviously waitressed before, and she would be a good replacement. We still needed at least one, maybe even two more servers, but we could handle it.

Bud remained out of sight in the very back of the diner, covering my back and drinking way too much coffee. I forced eggs on him early and then a club sandwich later on.

I worked steadily through the early crowd and then into the regular breakfast crowd. Soon, the brunch crowd started to slow down.

Tips were pretty good, so most folks must have had a good holiday. I started wondering what I’d do with my cash this time. I was completely empty after buying Silver Sadie’s, but I had plans. Someday, I’d expand and move, maybe into Timber City. But that was a long way off.

I carried several plates of pancakes to the far back booth and then walked to the one nearest the door, flipping over a page in the notebook. “Hi, can I help...?” I paused and looked at the woman waiting for me. Somehow, I kept my expression stoic. “What can I get you?”

Marilyn Brando sat in the booth, looking as regal as any queen. Today, emeralds dripped from her ears and matched a gorgeous emerald and diamond choker secured around her thin neck. She wore a blue cashmere sweater with what appeared to be linen pants. Who wore linen pants in the middle of winter? I shook my head. I could understand if she were at home entertaining, but she was out and about, and there was a freaking blizzard going on.

“I wanted to talk to you,” she said. Her frosted blond hair was piled on the top of her head, and her sharp, brown eyes were heavily mascaraed.

I looked around. Things had slowed down, and I hadn’t taken a break all morning. I nodded to the other server, whose name was Loretta but went by Tito. I hadn’t figured out why yet, and I hadn’t had a chance to ask her. “Tito, can you cover?”

“You bet,” she said. She was around forty with bright red hair that matched her lipstick. She moved efficiently and had done a good job all morning.

“Thanks.” I slid across from Marilyn and put down the notepad. “I know we only saw each other for a few moments the other day,” I said softly, “but I wanted to tell you I’m sorry for your loss. I didn’t know your husband, but I imagine it’s very difficult being without him.”

Her gaze narrowed, and she tapped sharpened, red nails on the table. “He was an ass,” she said. “I didn’t kill him, but I ain’t sorry he’s dead.”

The ain’t surprised me. It didn’t go with the cashmere and emeralds. “Why are you here?” I asked.

“I thought we could reach an agreement. I don’t want to own that old building. How about you buy it from me? I understand the going rate was a hundred and fifty thousand.”

“Sure,” I said. “Find the cash I gave Sadie, and it’s all yours.” I shook my head. “Do you really think I have more than that?” I looked down at my ketchup-stained sweater, thanks to a bottle that had overflowed. “Honestly.”

She studied me. “Maybe we can make another arrangement. Like, perhaps you can make payments.”

I cocked my head. “Lady, I’m not giving you anything. We don’t even know if your deed is genuine.”

“Oh, it is.” Her eyes gleamed.

“How long have you been married to Rudy?” I asked, searching her eyes. I wasn’t as good at reading facial expressions as my mom, but I wasn’t bad either.

“We’ve been married for a year and a half,” Marilyn said. “He kind of swept me off my feet.”

Interesting. Apparently, the ride hadn’t lasted long. “Well, that’s sweet,” I said. “He has three ex-wives who said he stole their money.” I glanced at her jewelry. “You obviously have some.”

“I do, and I also have an ironclad prenup.” Her smile showed perfectly straight teeth. “Like I said, he swept me off my feet, but I still kept my brain.”

Good for her. “When did he acquire the quitclaim deed from Sadie?” I asked.

Marilyn shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess it was about six months ago. He approached her, told her all about his life, and they kind of bonded.”

“It’s interesting that nobody else bonded with him.”

“That’s not true. Nobody wanted to get to know him,” Marilyn insisted. “The other three great-nephews didn’t want anything to do with the poor guy. Well, except for the one. The famous one.”

“What famous one?” I asked, smiling when Tito placed a glass of water in front of me. “Thanks.”

“Sure thing.” She moved on.

I took a big drink. I hadn’t had enough water this morning, but we’d been busy. As I sat, I realized how sore my body was from playing with Nick all night. I couldn’t help but smile.

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