“Look what the cat dragged in!” Leroy smiles wide at me over his shoulder as he flips a stack of pancakes onto a plate in one fluid motion. He could do that in his sleep, he’s been at Diamonds so long.
I stick my tongue out at him but follow it with a smile, realizing how much I’ve missed him, too. He’s easygoing, friendly, and has the biggest heart I’ve ever come across. I couldn’t imagine Lou married to anyone else, even though it hasn’t been easy for them.
No one would ever mistake Balsam or any of the surrounding towns as “multicultural,” so it goes without saying that mixed-race relationships are rare. Rumor has it that their romance caused quite the stir around these parts. It took a year for me to find the guts to ask Lou about it. She told me everything. They secretly started dating back when Lou was still in high school, when her father hired Leroy to help in the kitchen. That was forty-two years ago, and people were even less willing to accept it then. Plenty of the locals expressed their displeasure through nasty gossip. Some regulars stopped coming. Business at Diamonds, already a well-established diner, took a hit. But Lou’s father ignored the bigots and went about his business, loving his daughter and supporting her and the man she loved. Soon enough, the old generation of simple minds were replaced by more progressive ones—or at least people who didn’t care who married who as long as they got their Diamonds burger just how they liked it.
Once Lou’s dad was sure it was serious, he promoted Leroy to run the kitchen and taught him everything he knew. Though he also warned Lou more than once that life would be easier for her if she chose a different man.
Lou has never been one to take the easy way out.
A lot of people in this area never really warmed to Lou and Leroy. It didn’t help when their only son—she was too busy running the diner to think about having more than one child—grew up to be a less-than-stellar human being, robbing Diamonds with a mask and a gun because Leroy and Lou wouldn’t give him money. He’ll be in prison for a while longer for that one.
The day she hired me, I was convinced it was about wanting to help a pregnant eighteen-year-old. But the more I got to know her and about her, the more I started to see that it was about taking pity on someone who had been ostracized by the people around here, much like she had.
Leroy slides a plate under the hot lamp and slams his hand down on the server bell. “Mornin’, Officer Singer.”
“Mornin’, Chef Green.”
Leroy started calling Keith “Officer Singer” the day Keith got -accepted to the police academy, and in turn Keith tacked on “Chef,” even though Leroy is technically nothing more than a seasoned line cook. I’d never say that out loud, though. He makes the best banquet burger in the state.
Leroy grabs a new order from the printer. “Didn’t think we’d be seeing you again for a while, little lady.”
“Why wouldn’t you see me again? I still have bills to pay.”
He shrugs.
I wrap my apron around my waist and fasten it at my back. “How’s it been this morning?”
“Been a zoo all week. Great for business, but everyone’s bustin’ their asses.”
“Sounds like Lou needs me, then.”
Leroy starts chuckling in that deep-belly way of his.
“What? Why is that so funny?”
Whatever he’s thinking, he only answers with a headshake. “Does Lou know you’re comin’ in today?”
I tie my long blonde hair back into a ponytail. “I always work Wednesdays.”
“Thought so.”
“I tried to warn her, but she wants to learn the hard way.” Keith eyes the fresh batch of pancakes sizzling on the grill. He knows if he hovers long enough, Leroy will toss a plate his way.
“It’s going to be fine.” Taking a deep breath, I push through the door.
A dozen eyes are on me in an instant, and they quickly multiply, heads swiveling from booths and tables, mid-order to mid-bite, whispers of “that’s her” carrying over the clanging dishes and ringing bells to reach my ears.
And soon that familiar buzz of conversation has died down, and my face is burning bright as literally every single person in Diamonds has stopped what they’re doing to simply stare at me.
I don’t even notice the cameras pointing, snapping pictures of me standing there in my uniform, shell-shocked, until Keith hooks my arm and pulls me back with a quiet “Not a good idea.”
“You’ve got that right.” Lou appears out of nowhere, to both shield and herd me through the door. “Come on, now.”
I’m back in safety of the kitchen before I can breathe again.
It’s not like last time, I remind myself. It’s not like it was after Scott.
So then why am I feeling this same dread?
Leroy tosses another platter of pancakes onto the pickup counter, shooting me a sympathetic smile. “Told you. A zoo.”
“And you’re the white lion they all came to see,” Lou mutters, wiping a thin sheen of sweat from her brow with her forearm. “What were you thinkin’ coming in here?”
I yank at the straps of my apron. I can’t tell what I feel like doing right now—crying or puking. It’s a toss-up, really. “That I need to work? That I want my life back?” My voice cracks with frustration as tears begin rolling down my cheeks. It’s not even a fantastic life, but it’s mine and I worked hard to carve it out of the mess I made for myself years ago. If this is what I’m going to face every time I step out, I won’t be able to work. And if I can’t make money . . .
She sighs, reaching up to pat my shoulder. “It’ll get better, Cath. Eventually it’ll all go back to normal.”
“When? Because I don’t have time for ‘eventually’!” I sob.
Her brow twists with concern. She opens her mouth to answer, but her words are cut off by a loud clatter. We turn in time to see Leroy pick up the fallen plate of pancakes from the floor and toss it in the trash.
“I’m sorry!” That’s my fault. Lou wasn’t exaggerating all those years ago—Leroy honestly can’t handle seeing women cry. Misty makes him drop a pan once a month because she’s always breaking into tears about something when she’s hormonal.
“Hush.” Lou grabs a napkin and wipes at my cheeks. “We’ll figure it all out.”
“I’ll tell you when it’ll go back to normal.” Keith yanks a slice of crispy bacon from a warming tray, earning Leroy’s disapproving frown. Very few things annoy him. Poaching bacon during the busy breakfast shift is one of those things. “After you do that interview Brett Madden offered to set up.”
“That means being on camera in front of millions of people.” Just the idea makes me nauseous. I don’t think they comprehend this.
“I’m sorry to say this, but he’s right. They’re all lookin’ to be the first to talk to Catherine Wright. The faster they hear your version, the sooner they’ll move on to being a nuisance to someone else.”
“Can’t we just kick the reporters out?”