Page 56 of Tessa's Trust

“I wasn’t aiming at anybody.” Louise rolled her eyes. “I just wanted to scare you away from Bobbo.”

The woman was responsible for her actions. I’d learned young that if you held a weapon, you were duty bound to know how to use it responsibly. “You could’ve hurt somebody.”

Louise slammed her hand down on the table. The woman obviously had some serious anger issues. “Listen.”

I shoved away from the booth. “I’m not interested in Bobbo.”

“Yeah, but you set him up with somebody else, didn’t you?”

I winced. “Who told you that?”

“Bobbo did,” she said, her voice rising. “I talked to him this morning.”

Just wonderful. That’s what I got for doing a good deed. Bobbo should have kept his mouth shut.

“What is going on?” Mert Smiley shoved open the swinging door and walked out to the counter, looking from one to the other of us. “Seriously, no screaming. Is Anna around?”

“No.” I shook my head.

Mert had never quite forgiven Anna for a food fight that, honestly, was not my sister’s fault. “She’s not here, and everybody who’s screaming is leaving,” I said crisply.

“I’m not leaving.” Louise stomped her foot.

“Yes, you are,” Mert bellowed.

I jumped. I wasn’t accustomed to him yelling at anybody but me. “Mert, you okay?”

His face turned a ruddy red. “Yes, and I’m tired of this. Tired of the shouting.” He clutched his chest.

“Mert,” I cried, running toward the counter.

“Ah, crap.” He bent over and then fell to the floor.

I looked back at Tito, who was staring, stunned. Bud was already rushing my way, his gaze taking in the entire diner.

“Call 9-1-1!” I yelled.

Chapter 21

The snow had turned to sleet outside and slashed against the hospital windows as I sat next to Mert Smiley’s bed, fighting the urge to hold his hand. He sat up, looking every minute of his seventy-plus years. His face had regained its color, but he just didn’t look right hooked up to machines. “I’m fine, Tessa. I cannot believe you closed the diner,” he grumbled.

I rolled my eyes. “You had a heart attack, Mert. Of course, I closed the diner.” To be truthful, I’d ridden in the ambulance with him after telling Tito to close the diner, but either way, the place was closed.

I hadn’t been that scared in a long time. Even though most everyone called him by his last name, right now, here in the hospital, I needed to be closer to him. To make sure he was all right. So, I used his first name, which was rare, even for me.

Mert shook his head. His thick gray hair stuck up in every direction. “Do you know how much money we’ll lose? Everybody wants to eat out between Christmas and New Year’s. The tips alone this week should reach the stratosphere.”

Was he complaining to hide his pain and embarrassment of being human, or was he truly upset? It was difficult to tell sometimes with him, and I wanted to both soothe and smack him. “Mert, this is serious. You need your heart in good working order.”

“I’m fine.” He waved a beefy hand. “According to the doctor, it was a minor one.”

“I know, but you need to take it easy.” I had worked with Mert since I was a teenager, and even though he was grouchy, I absolutely adored him.

I’d been in a complete panic in the ambulance, and I had to admit, I’d said more than one prayer. Then I’d listened to his doctor tell him that he had to slow down and take better care of himself, and I wanted to kick myself for not making him eat better. I should’ve been watching him closer.

Mert sighed. “I know.” He looked at me, his brown gaze soft. “I’m sorry I get so grumpy.”

“I like you grumpy,” I said honestly. “It’s one of my favorite parts of your personality. It’s like the weather. You always know what it’s going to be.”

---