Page 13 of Tattered and Torn

“What’s next?” I ask.

“I’m supposed to introduce you to Jennie and Ruth. They’re both real good friends of Hannah and Maggie. I know Hannah would like you to meet them. You know, sisterhood and all that.”

It’s just two blocks back the way we came to the diner and the tavern. Conveniently, they’re located next to each other in the center of downtown, right next to Maggie’s grocery store. When we arrive at the diner, John opens the door for me, and I step inside. Immediately I’m in heaven. It smells incredible in here.

It’s three in the afternoon, so there’s not a huge crowd. It looks like we’re between the lunch and dinner rush.

“Hiya, Burke!” calls a pretty brunette from behind the counter. She smiles at John, and then her curious gaze drifts over to me. She’s in the middle of refilling a customer’s coffee cup. “Hold on. I’ll be right with you guys.”

The woman comes around from behind the counter. She’s wearing a pink-and-white striped apron over her blue jeans and a floral top. She smiles at me like we’re long-lost friends. “Gabrielle.”

I nod. “Yes.” I expect her to shake hands, but no.

She pulls me in for a hug. “I’m Jennie Lopez,” she says. “Any friend of Hannah’s is a friend of mine.” After she releases me, she asks John, “How’s everything out at the lodge?”

He nods. “Just fine. All guests were accounted for at lunch.”

Jennie laughs. “I should hope so.” She looks at me. “The joke around town is that if Hannah and Killian lose any of their guests in the mountains, they can send their own search and rescue team out to look for them.” She winks at me. “Sounds like a conflict of interest to me.”

Jennie returns to the other side of the counter. “How about some coffee and pie? It’s on the house. Or a donut? I’ve still got a few left over from this morning.”

I sit on a counter stool covered in sparkly red vinyl. “Do you make them yourself?”

She nods. “The donuts? The pies? Cakes? I sure do.” She nods to a three-tier glass display case. On the bottom shelf is a plate holding several iced donuts. The other two shelves hold slices of pie and cake on dessert plates. “Baking is my passion.”

“I’ll have some of that,” John says, pointing to a slice of what looks like coconut cream pie.

Jennie opens the display case, pulls out the plate, and hands it to John. Then she hands him a set of silverware rolled up in a white paper napkin. “How about you, Gabrielle?” she asks.

“Sure. I’ll take a slice, too.”

“Coconut cream, apple, or cherry? I’m fresh out of the peanut butter. That one’s always a big hit, but it’s gone by the end of lunch.”

“I’ll have the coconut, if you don’t mind.” She hands me my pie, and I take a bite. “Ohmygod.” I moan as I savor my first bite. “This is so good.”

I can hear John chuckling.

Jennie pours us each a cup of coffee. “Cream and sugar are on the counter.”

“Will you sell me some of your baked goods?” I ask. “Why reinvent the wheel, right? I’d love to buy some for the lodge.”

“Sure, I’d be happy to bake for you. Just give me a few days’ notice, and I’ll bake extra.” She pulls a business card out of her apron pocket. “Here’s my number. Just text me your orders. I can bake pies, cookies, cakes, whatever you want.”

“You need to try her carrot cake,” John says. “It’s wicked good.”

After we finish our pie and coffee and thank Jennie for her generous hospitality, we head next door to the tavern.

“Tell Ruthie I said hi,” Jennie says as we walk out the door.

This time of day, there aren’t many people in the bar.

“Hey, Teddy,” John says to the young man mopping the wood floor. “Is Ruth in?”

The kid turns toward the back of the bar and yells, “Ruth! Burke and some lady are here to see you.”

“Gee, thanks,” John says to the boy. “I could have done that.”

The boy shrugs as he continues mopping.

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