Kaitlyn looked over the seat and smiled at Olivia. Let the shoemaker’s children go barefoot; the hairstylist’s child would look like a princess—from the neck up, anyway, and principally from the back.
“Carlos is already here. We’re late.” Chris pulled up in front of the Dip ’n’ Dine, dark except for the light from the kitchen, and shut off the engine. Before Kaitlyn could observe that Carlos always got there first and that she didn’t call three minutes “late” when the diner wasn’t due to open for another hour anyway, Chris was out of the Jeep and unlocking the front door.
By the time she and Olivia followed him in, he had turned on the lights and was heading for the thermostat. Carlos, already at work in the kitchen, lifted a spatula in salute. “Just in time, chica. I’ve got some pancakes for you. Pull up a stool there at the counter and breakfast is served.”
Olivia’s coat and backpack hit the floor where she shrugged out of them on the way across the room, and Kaitlyn stooped to pick them up, wondering if Olivia even knew she didn’t have them with her anymore. It was as if her little body and her head didn’t communicate with each other much. Kaitlyn tucked the coat and pack away and went to take the plate of pancakes and bacon from the window and put it in front of Olivia, now perched on the counter stool.
“Want some milk?” She smiled at her daughter as she set the plate down. “How about some juice?”
“Juice.” Olivia, busy with the pancakes, didn’t look up.
“Juice, please.”
“Please.” Olivia still did not look up.
“Juice, please, mother darling.”
This time Olivia did glance up from under her bangs, but it was clear from her dark look that Kaitlyn was going to have to be happy with a simple please.
Kaitlyn laughed and headed for the kitchen. “I’ll get your juice.”
Chris, emerging from the storeroom with a carton of paper napkins, glanced at the clock as Juanita came in. She was running even later than usual this morning, and clearly he wasn’t too happy about it. If he had planned to mention it, however, Juanita beat him to it.
“Don’t anyone say one word to me, and I mean it.” She sent a warning look Chris’s way as she took off her coat. “I got here just as quick as I could, all things considered. Besides, you know I can get all my side work done in about fifteen minutes.”
Kaitlyn tried to ignore the little flash in her chest as Juanita disappeared into the storeroom. She knew she was the one who needed the extra time, and she knew Juanita was taking another opportunity to remind her of it.
“Morning, Carlos. Those biscuits smell heavenly.” Juanita, having gotten in the first dig of the morning, seemed in a better mood. “Don’t you look pretty this morning, Miss Olivia.”
Neither Carlos nor Olivia responded, but that didn’t seem to bother Juanita. She tied her apron on and set about doing her fifteen minutes’ worth of tasks, chatting as if everyone was hanging on her every word. It didn’t seem to matter to her that no one was paying any attention, and Kaitlyn wondered again how, under these circumstances, Juanita still managed to convey the distinct impression that her conversation included everyone but Chris’s wayward sister.
4
Good morning, beautiful.” The sun had just spilled down the side of the mountains that rose east of Last Chance when Steven let himself in the front door of his grandmother’s house. He hadn’t been sure that he’d find his grandmother up yet as she was more a night owl than an early bird, but there she was in her recliner with her Bible open on her lap and her fuzzy pink slippers propped up on the footrest. “How about a little breakfast?”
“Steven! What brings you out so early?” She smiled up at him as he crossed the room to kiss her cheek. Gran always made him feel that just his turning up made her day. Not too many people did that. In fact, now that he thought about it, Gran was the only person in his life who was always glad to see him.
“I have an errand to run for Uncle Joe Jr. in San Ramon. I thought I’d come in a little early so I can take you out to breakfast.”
“Why don’t I just fix you something here?” Elizabeth closed her Bible and set it on the little table next to her chair. “I’ve got some sausage in there, and I can make eggs.”
“Nope, you’re not cooking this morning. I’m taking you out, so finish up what you’re doing there, and then go get dressed. I’m not in a hurry.” He took a Yarn Lovers’ World magazine off the coffee table. “This any good? I’ll just read this. Take your time.”
Elizabeth seemed more exasperated than pleased. “Steven, I am just a mess. I have a hair appointment in San Ramon this afternoon, and I’m not fit to be seen right now. Why don’t you just let me fix you some breakfast here? The coffee’s already made.”
Steven tossed the magazine on the table and stood up. “I want to take you out to breakfast this morning, okay?” He held out a hand to help her out of her recliner. “Your hair looks fine. You always look beautiful, don’t you know that?”
This time she didn’t return his engaging smile, and she waved away his hand as she struggled out of her recliner.
“All right. Give me about a half hour.” She stopped before heading down the hall. “Steven, I do appreciate your coming by to take me to breakfast, but I’d also appreciate a little warning next time.”
Steven leaned back against the sofa and watched her go. That was twice in twelve hours that he had turned on the charm and had it fall flat. Three times if you counted Kaitlyn’s kid. That sort of thing just didn’t happen. Was he losing his touch—getting old or something? The thought made him feel hollow, and he pushed it away. Passing by a small wall mirror as he went for coffee, he smiled, flashing his dimple. Nah. He still had it. Which was good, since, after thinking it over, he had decided to give Kaitlyn Reed another chance at breakfast this morning.
“Well, good morning!” Juanita greeted them at the door. “We don’t usually see you this early, Elizabeth. Are you headed up to San Ramon for a doctor’s appointment or something?”
“No, Steven’s the one going to San Ramon. He was just sweet enough to take me out to breakfast before he went.” If Elizabeth was still annoyed at being hustled out of her robe and slippers way too early for her own preference, you couldn’t tell it by her voice.
Steven didn’t say anything. He guided his grandmother to a booth as he looked around the diner. No sign of Kaitlyn. A wave of annoyance swept over him. Okay, he would have taken Gran out for breakfast, or for lunch, anyway. If not today, then another day. He and Gran got along great. But her presence with him today was supposed to prove to Kaitlyn that she had him all wrong. He was a nice guy, one who looked after his old granny. He knew Kaitlyn had to love Gran. Everybody did. And if she could see how much Gran loved him, well, then, how bad could he be?
While Gran and Juanita talked, Steven gazed out the window. There was no point in even opening the menu. Everyone in town had it memorized, and despite the well-known intention of Chris to get something else on the menu, so far Carlos had won out and nothing had changed. While he watched, Chris’s Jeep pulled up out front and he watched first one and then the other of Kaitlyn’s long legs appear beneath the open door of the driver’s side.
Over his head, he heard Juanita huff. “Well, look who’s finally back.”
Elizabeth followed their gaze and smiled. “Did she take Olivia to school?”
“Yes, Chris used to run her over and be back in no time. I have no idea what takes Kaitlyn so long.”
Kaitlyn pushed through the front door and stopped at the sight of the three of them looking at her. Steven smiled to assure her that no matter what the others said, she had a friend in him, but it was Elizabeth’s warm welcome that she responded to.
“Kaitlyn! I was hoping we’d see you in here this morning. How are you, sweet girl?”
It was clear from Juanita’s solid stance as she turned to face Kaitlyn that she was trying to dissuade her from coming over, but Kaitlyn came anyway, ignoring Juanita.
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br /> “Hi.” Kaitlyn took the hand that Elizabeth held out to her and ignored Steven. “I’m glad I didn’t miss you.”
“I’ve got this table, Kaitlyn. Get your coat off real quick and then you can go take care of table four.” Juanita pulled out her pad and raised an eyebrow at Kaitlyn, who nodded, smiled again at Elizabeth, and turned to go.
“Would you mind if Kaitlyn took care of us?” Elizabeth turned her smile on Juanita.
“Well, if that’s what you want, I guess it’s all right, but we have a way of doing things around here, you know.” Juanita waited for a response, but Elizabeth had already turned her attention to Kaitlyn. After a second, and with another little huff, Juanita went to take care of table four.
“You didn’t answer me.” Elizabeth still held Kaitlyn’s hand. “How are you doing?”
“Okay, I guess. You’re out early.”
“Well, we have Steven to thank for that. He turned up at the crack of dawn to take me to breakfast.”
At the mention of his name, Kaitlyn finally turned her eyes on Steven. He grinned up at her. “You wouldn’t believe how hard it is for me to get a good-looking woman to have a meal with me. I have to catch ’em early, before they get their wits about them.”
Kaitlyn actually laughed, and Steven loved the way it made her face soften and look young. “Well, good for you. Let me put my coat away and I’ll be back to take your order.”
Steven was admiring her retreating form when Gran brought his attention back to the table. “What was that all about?”
“Hmm? Oh, I tried to get Kaitlyn and her kid to go out for pizza with me last night after we left your house, but she shot me down.”
“I see.” Gran raised an eyebrow, and Steven was afraid that she indeed did see. “In the first place, Kaitlyn’s little girl is named Olivia, and in the second place, the last thing Kaitlyn needs right now is someone like you in her life.”
Steven sat back and stared. If she had hauled off and socked him in the jaw, she couldn’t have surprised him more. To tell the truth, he’d had slugs to the jaw that hurt less. “What do you mean, someone like me?”
“I guess that sounded pretty awful, didn’t it?” She reached across the table to put her hand on his arm. He just looked at her. “I wouldn’t hurt you for the world, my darlin’, but even you’d have to admit you’re something of a playboy.”
“Playboy? Haven’t heard that one in a while.” Steven pulled his arm out of reach of his grandmother’s hand.
“Well, you know what I mean, whatever you call it now. I do wish you’d get that pout off your face. You look like you’re about twelve years old.”
Steven picked up his menu and read it like he had never seen it before. It gave him something to look at besides Gran’s piercing blue eyes, and even then he could almost feel her gaze drilling into his forehead. A conversation with Gran was never over until she said it was, and he had the uneasy feeling that there was more to come on this one.
“Okay, what can I get you?” Kaitlyn appeared with the coffeepot, and as she filled their cups, Steven tossed his menu aside and waited for her to look his way.
“I guess I’ll just have a scrambled egg and some of that good sausage.” Elizabeth hadn’t even opened her menu. “Oh, and I’ll need a little green chile with the egg.”
“I’m learning. If it doesn’t have syrup on it, bring on the green chile. And if it does have syrup, ask anyway.” The smile Kaitlyn gave Elizabeth was different from the ones Steven had seen before. It was open, easy, and not so guarded. Steven liked the way it made her face look and decided he’d try to get a smile like that for himself.
“I’ll have the huevos rancheros, eggs over easy.” Ditch the man-of-the-world leer, stow the country-boy grin, and just give her a sincere, from-the-heart smile. He caught her gaze and held it. “I’d appreciate a couple extra tortillas too, if you don’t mind.”
“Sure.” Her smile faded and she looked away. “I’ll get this right in.”
Steven watched her cross the room to post the order and shook his head. What was wrong with her? When he looked back across the table, Gran was looking at him with her mouth all pinched up. Oh, brother, here we go.
“Steven, that is exactly what I was talking about.” Gran kept her voice low enough not to be heard by anyone else, but Steven got every word. “You were staring at Kaitlyn like you were trying to hypnotize her. I half expected her to stick both arms out in front of her and her eyes to go blank.”
“I was just ordering some eggs.”
“Oh, pshaw. Steven, who do you think you’re talking to? There’s not a look that crosses your face that I haven’t seen a thousand times.” She sighed, but at least she didn’t look mad anymore. “Honey, I know you’ve liked the girls since the minute you noticed everybody God created wasn’t a little boy. And you’ve got every bit of your daddy’s charm, and then some. I guess you can’t help that, but you can help how you use it. All I’m saying is, just let Kaitlyn be. She’s got a whole lot she’s trying to figure out right now, and I just don’t think she needs the kind of complications you offer.”
Steven clenched his jaw and looked out the window. If he opened his mouth now, he was pretty sure he’d wind up regretting what came out. Instead, he rehearsed it all in his mind, using language Gran wouldn’t approve of either. Finally, he looked back at his grandmother, ready for round two.
“So what are you saying? You don’t even want me to talk to her? Just act like she’s not there?”
Gran’s smile was sweet and unperturbed as she took a sip of her coffee. “Oh, for Pete’s sake, Steven, of course not. I’ve said my piece, and you know exactly what I meant, so let’s just enjoy our breakfast and talk about something else.” There was rarely a round two where Gran was concerned. “What does Uncle Joe Jr. have you going up to San Ramon for?”
Steven took a deep breath and slowly let it go. He didn’t want to admit it, even to himself, but Gran probably had a point. Kaitlyn was a good-looking woman, no doubt about that, but part of what intrigued him about her was the stories swirling around Last Chance since she came back. He had thought of her as something of a kindred spirit, not bound by the outdated values of this backwater town. But as he watched her make her way from table to table and the conversation stop as she refilled coffee or brought plates and the looks follow her as she moved away, he saw a spirit not kindred but broken.
When she brought their order and put it on the table in front of them, Steven didn’t go through his repertoire of smiles to decide which one to present. He just looked up and smiled at her and said, “Thanks. This looks great.”
Kaitlyn smiled back and said, “Well, enjoy.”
That was all, and it felt good.
Kaitlyn found her thoughts turning to Steven more often than she would have liked them to as the day wore on. He was a hard one to figure out. There were times—most of the time, in fact—when she thought she had him pegged. He was kind of a self-satisfied jerk. But every now and then, like this morning, she got the distinct impression there was a nice guy in there somewhere, even if he did try to keep that guy suppressed.
In the kitchen, Carlos hung up the phone. “That was Elizabeth. She’s still up at the beauty parlor and might be a little late. She said to bring Olivia over here after school, and she’ll stop by and get her on her way home.” He went back to his stove, muttering something about not being a blamed secretary.
Juanita, sitting at the counter with a cup of coffee, ran her fingers through her hair. “That is the number one thing I miss, now that I’ve started working. I do not have one minute to myself to do something as simple as go get my hair done. I need a haircut and a perm so bad I scare the dog, but when in the world am I going to find time for that?”
Kaitlyn, on the way to the kitchen with a bin of dirty dishes, glanced at Juanita as she passed. “I could cut your hair and give you a perm, if you want.” Where did that suggestion come from? Kaitlyn could have bit her tongue the minute the words we
re out of her mouth—not because she didn’t think Juanita could use a bit of an update in her hairstyle, but because she had just set herself up for another one of Juanita’s cutting remarks.
But Juanita just held her cup in both hands and cocked her head. “That’s right, you were a beauty operator back in Arizona, weren’t you?” She took another sip, and Kaitlyn could almost feel the scrutiny of her own short, asymmetrical style. “Well, it’s nice of you to offer, but I’m afraid those fancy new hairdos are just not for me. I just need a nice, normal cut and perm, nothing fancy, just wash and go.”
“I know what you’re talking about.” Kaitlyn paused at the counter where Juanita sat. “I did a ton of them in cosmetology school. Every two weeks some of us would go to a nursing home and do the ladies’ hair.”
“Well, I don’t think I’m quite ready for nursing home hair.” Juanita fluffed her own hair again. “Just, you know, something normal and nice.”
Actually, the style Juanita had been describing hadn’t been the norm for decades, but Kaitlyn decided to keep that information to herself. “Well, I’m going up to San Ramon on Saturday. Let me know if you want me to pick up a perm.”
She continued into the kitchen with her bin of dirty dishes. When she came out, Juanita was still fingering her hair. “They were always real happy with what you did? You didn’t ever get real cute and dye their hair green or something to surprise them, did you?”
“Of course not. I liked those ladies, and I liked seeing them happy with the way they looked. They were just different people after they got their hair done, you know?” Her smile faded at the worried look on Juanita’s face. “But if you’re concerned, don’t worry about it. It was just a thought. Maybe we can get Chris to give you some time off to go up to San Ramon, and I can cover for you here.”
“What kind of perm do you think I’d need?” Somehow, the offer not to do Juanita’s hair seemed to be the deciding factor.
At Home in Last Chance Page 4
