by Mayne, Debby
"I can't afford—"
"Don't you worry about that. She's one of the best doctors in the entire country, and you deserve the best after all you've been through. You don't have to worry about money either. I'll take care of it."
"I can't let you—"
"Don't be silly, Twila. I have more money than I know what to do with, and you need medical care. My doctor has won awards for the work she's done, and she'll be able to tell you whether or not they got all of the cancer. Besides, what better way to spend my money than on a good woman's health?"
Mama opened her mouth, but instead of words coming out, she began to sob. And sob and sob and sob. Sunny put her arm around Mama, and within seconds, she began to cry too.
"Oh, this is just silly," Miss Lucille said. "Stop that blubbering. You're gonna be just fine."
When Sunny looked up at her landlady, she saw tears rolling down her cheeks. "Are you crying, Miss Lucille?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?" The older woman pulled a tissue from her pocket and dabbed at her eyes. "I don't mind cryin', but I hate when it makes my nose run."
Mama laughed, and that got all three of them laughing. The bond that Mama had formed so quickly with Miss Lucille warmed Sunny's heart.
"Do you think we'll be able to get me in to see your doctor while I'm here?" Mama asked, a serious expression replacing her laughter. "It took forever to get in to see the doctor back home."
"Oh, I'm sure we can get you in," Miss Lucille said. "How about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?" Mama's eyebrows shot up. "Really?"
Miss Lucille placed her hand on Mama's and nodded. "Really. I just have to make a phone call." She pulled herself to her feet. "I need to go do that now before she gets too busy."
After she left the kitchen, Mama turned to Sunny. "Is she serious about this?"
Sunny nodded. "I told you she was amazing."
"Yeah, but I never dreamed just how amazing. I've never had anyone do anything so nice for me before." She sniffled and wiped her eyes with the wadded up tissue.
"That was how I felt when she invited me to live here. I'm still pinchin' myself over that one."
Mama nodded. "I have to admit that when you told me what you planned to do, I was doubtful and even suspected she might have had an ulterior motive. But now that I've met her, I see her genuine goodness." Her chin quivered. "So many people like to talk about their faith. She clearly lives it."
"I'll let Dante know that you'll be out of pocket for your doctor's appointment."
"You don't have to do that," Miss Lucille said from the door. "I got right through to Doctor Simone, and she said she can see you after hours tomorrow. Do you mind if I go with you?"
"After hours?" Mama's eyes narrowed as she looked back and forth between Miss Lucille and Sunny. "How'd you manage that?"
Miss Lucille chuckled. "She's very agreeable, and she likes to do extra favors for me."
"That is so sweet … of both of you." Mama gripped Sunny's hand. "So you don't need to call Dante after all." She got up from the table. "I reckon I better turn in now. We have a big day ahead of us."
"I know. Love you." Sunny gave Mama a kiss on the cheek, got up, and went to her room.
As she got her clothes ready for the next day, she thought about how everything had happened and how God had orchestrated every intricate detail of Mama's visit. The urge to call Bethann was overwhelming, so she sat on the edge of her bed and punched Bethann's number on her phone.
"We were just talking about how much fun we had tonight," Bethann said. "Your mama is so sweet. We see where you got your spunky personality."
"Thanks." Sunny took a deep breath and poured out what she'd learned. Bethann listened attentively until she was finished.
"Hold on a sec, okay? I want to tell Judd what you just told me."
Sunny held for about a minute until Bethann came back. "What did Judd say?"
"He told me something I wasn't aware of about my great-aunt. Did you know that she's one of the largest donors to the Oncology Department at the Presbyterian Hospital?"
"I had no idea," Sunny said.
"She must have started giving them money after her treatments. They'll bend over backward to make Aunt Lucille happy." Bethann sighed. "I've known her all my life, but I still learn new stuff about her everyday."
"Thanks for shedding some light on this. Mama and I wondered why the doctor was willing to see her after hours on such short notice."
"I have to run," Bethann said. "Let's talk again soon. I'd like to hear how your mama's appointment goes."
Sunny went to bed concerned about Mama but knowing she'd be in good hands with Miss Lucille's doctor. When she awoke the next morning, she could smell the blended aroma of bacon and coffee. The second she entered the kitchen, a sense of nostalgia washed over her as she saw Mama frying bacon at the stove and Miss Lucille sitting at the table keeping her company.
Mama gestured toward the table. "Hey, sweetie. Biscuits are almost ready to come out of the oven. I'll have the bacon ready in just a sec."
As soon as Sunny poured herself a cup of coffee, she joined Miss Lucille at the table. "My mama's biscuits are the best."
"No doubt," Miss Lucille said. "She certainly knows her way around a kitchen."
"Looks like my daughter arranged everything in the pantry," Mama said. "Everything is just like I have it at home."
A couple of minutes later, all three women were slathering butter and jam on biscuits. Miss Lucille made a bacon-biscuit sandwich. She took one bite and let out a sigh of satisfaction.
"Once Bubba's customers taste your cookin' they'll never want you to leave," Miss Lucille said.
"Speakin' of Bubba's …" Mama turned to Sunny. "What time do you need to be there?"
"Estelle generally gets there for the early breakfast crowd, but we need to leave soon."
Miss Lucille grinned. "I can't believe you just got here, and you're goin' to work already, but it's probably good for you. Just don't forget about your doctor appointment this evening."
"Oh, trust me, I won't forget," Mama said as she picked up her plate and carried it to the sink before glancing over her shoulder at Sunny. "I'll be ready to leave when you are."
"About five minutes," Sunny said. "I need to go brush my teeth and get my purse."
Exactly five minutes later, they were on their way to Bubba's. "I have to pinch myself." Mama smiled. "I can't believe I'm actually here in New York City."
"There's something I need to tell you," Sunny said.
A worried look came over Mama. "Is something wrong? Did I do something?"
"No, you didn't do anything wrong." Sunny took a deep breath and told Mama what she'd learned about Miss Lucille being the biggest donor to the Oncology Department at the hospital. "Apparently, she gives them quite a bit of money every year."
"Well, that explains a lot," Mama said. "I just hope no one thinks I'm trying to take advantage of 'em … especially Miss Lucille."
"She's the one who made the offer."
"True."
As the cab pulled up in front of Bubba's, Sunny gestured toward the entrance. "We're here."
"It's bigger than I thought." Mama got out and spun around, taking in everything around her. "Everything about this place is big."
Sunny laughed. "Just wait until you see the appetites of some of our customers." She made a face. "Talk about big!"
When they walked in, Estelle pulled Sunny off to the side. "I sure hope your mother can cook fast. We're about to have a mutiny. I'm afraid some of these customers have been spoiled by our speedy breakfasts."
Mama obviously overheard because she turned to Estelle and Sunny. "Show me the kitchen, and I'll get right to work."
Within minutes, Mama was helping fill the orders as quickly as they came. She made the dough for another batch of biscuits, lined up the ingredients for omelets, and asked for a copy of the menu to make sure she had everything she needed.
When the breakfast rush ended
, Estelle shook her head. "I am not believing what just happened. I don't even think Riley could have done what she did." She shoved her hand in her pocket and pulled out a wad of bills. "These are the best tips I've ever gotten during the breakfast shift."
Mama came out of the kitchen for the first time since they'd arrived. The look on her face was one of pure elation. "That was fun! When do we start setting up for lunch?"
Sunny grabbed a couple of menus—one for lunch and one for dinner—and handed them to Mama. "Soon. We'll have a few breakfast stragglers, but you can rest now and let the other kitchen staff handle it."
Dante walked in shortly after they sat down. He slid into the booth next to Sunny. "I've heard some amazing things, Twila. If you ever want a permanent job here in New York, I'm sure someone in my family can put you to work."
Mama's face turned bright red. "I just might do that, unless Sunny doesn't want me here."
"Of course I want you here." Sunny leaned forward.
"The timing is good." Mama looked directly at Dante. "After losing my job back home, I wasn't sure what I was gonna do." She grinned. "God is definitely in control."
A few customers came in, so Sunny got up to help Estelle get them settled, leaving Mama and Dante chatting about work. Estelle leaned into Sunny. "How do you really feel about your mother being right here?"
Sunny shrugged. "I'm fine with it. I've lived with her off and on throughout my adulthood, so it won't be all that different …" She tipped her head toward the front window. "Except the scenery behind her."
"Yeah, that's definitely different." Estelle's eyes widened as she stared at something behind Sunny. "Something just happened between Dante and your mother."
Chapter 14
Sunny spun around in time to see her mother hugging Dante, who appeared unsure of what to do. He just stood there smiling, his arms awkwardly dangling down by his sides.
"I'd better go rescue him. I should have warned him that Mama is a hugger."
"Yeah, you better. He looks scared half outta his mind."
Sunny didn't waste another second. She headed straight over to where Mama still had a grip on Dante.
"Hey, Mama, what's goin' on over here?"
"Sweetie, Dante wants me to be the head cook over at his new restaurant." She let go of him, backed away a few inches and grinned at him before turning back to Sunny. "With what he's offerin' me, I'm gonna be sittin' pretty in high cotton."
"High what?" Dante asked.
"She means she'll be making enough money to feel rich," Sunny explained. "It's a southern expression."
"Oh, I suppose I should know that." He rubbed his chin.
"You sure should." Mama gave him a teasing glance. "But don't you worry. I'll teach you what you need to know to be a proper Bubba."
Dante laughed. "That's exactly what I need."
The restaurant started to fill with customers, so Mama excused herself. "I like bein' busy. Makes the time go by faster."
After she left the two of them alone, Dante grinned at her. "So what do you think?"
"What do I think?" Seriously?
"Yeah. You'll have your mother right here in town with you. I know you'd worry about her if she went back to South Carolina, being without a job and having to deal with her cancer alone."
"You're kidding, right?"
"No." His expression went from gleeful to serious in a flash. "What is wrong with what I did?"
"Did I say something was wrong with it?"
"You don't have to say it. I can tell by the way you're acting. It's like I intentionally did something to hurt you, and I would never do that."
Sunny decided it was time to bring up what he'd said before. "I thought you weren't sure about the other location." And he said he would talk to her about it before making a decision, something she didn't want to remind him of since it was his business, not hers.
"I wasn't sure for several reasons, one of them being the fact that good help is hard to find," he agreed. "But after meeting your mother and talking to her about the job … and seeing how happy you were to have her here in town, Judd and I went over and spoke to the listing agent."
"But I thought you said it might be dangerous, after being a place with drug deals and all. I don't want Mama—"
"That'll be taken care of. They've agreed to cover the cost of security for ninety days after we open."
"But still." Sunny looked down as she tried to hide her disappointment, not in the fact that he'd offered Mama a job but because he hadn't discussed it with her. If he hadn't told her he'd do that, she wouldn't be as upset, but he went back on his word. Again. Adding that to what Anthony had said about his ladies' man reputation, Sunny's reservations had come back even stronger.
"Please explain. Tell me what's going on … what I did wrong."
"Never mind. What do I know about business?"
"So can you at least be specific about why you're so angry?" He gave her a puzzled look. "Are you upset about my offering your mother a job?"
She glared at him. "That's not all."
"Okay, now I'm worried. I thought I was doing the right thing … the very thing that would show you how much I care about you. Looks like it backfired, but I have no idea why."
Sunny shook her head. All she wanted was for him to do everything he told her he'd do. It was hard to put into words how she felt, but the feelings were there.
Dante placed his hand on her cheek. She slowly looked into his eyes. "Please talk to me. Communication is important in any relationship."
"Yes, that's what I thought too." She swallowed hard. His gaze was starting to penetrate and melt her resolve to stand firm. "You said …" She cleared her throat, glanced down to get her bearings, and then looked back at him. "You told me that you'd discuss your decision with me before you did anything." She lifted her arms in frustration and then let them drop back to her sides. She couldn't bring herself to talk about Anthony's visit—at least not yet. "I know I shouldn't expect you to tell me every single thing you plan to do but you did say—"
He pursed his lips and shook his head. "I didn't think—" His voice cracked, so he stopped talking.
"It looks like we're on different wavelengths," she said.
He nodded. "Yes, I agree. It looks that way."
"If you want me to start looking for another job, I will, but until I find one—"
A look of panic shot across his face. "No!"
"No?" She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes as she studied his face that had suddenly been drained of color.
"You can't leave. I … we need you. This restaurant needs you. You're the best thing that has ever happened to m—Bubba's Diner."
She allowed herself to smile. "Well, in that case, I'll stick around. You sure do know how to sweet talk a waitress."
"Waitress? You're the manager, remember?"
Sunny gave him a serious look. "I know who I am, Dante. I'm getting paid to manage this place, but you and I both know that I'm the head waitress."
"That's not how I see it, just like I don't see your mother being just the cook at the other location. Oh, by the way, she'll be the manager there, but since she's such a great cook, that's what she'll be doing instead of waiting tables." He folded his arms, rocked back on his heels, and gave her a half smile as though he expected her to be pleased with his little announcement.
But she wasn't. "Well, I'm glad Mama's happy."
"I thought you'd be happy too, Sunny. I thought you'd be over-the-moon about having her closer. She already told me that Ms. Chambray wants her to stay at her house."
Sunny admitted to herself that under any other circumstances, she would have been happy. But the little things that Dante did—and didn't do—got under her skin and caused her to feel—and act—different.
Finally, she decided to cut him a little slack. "Okay, yes, I am happy that Mama will be closer to me. You're right. I would have worried myself sick over her, knowin' that she had to go through this cancer thing all alone."
>
"She said she had a brother in one of the nearby towns." He paused and glanced up in thought. "I think it's called Summerville."
Sunny nodded. "Yes, her younger brother has a tire shop in Summerville, but he's busy with his family. He has five young'uns, three of them teenagers, so he barely has time for them and his crazy-successful business."
She noticed a flicker of something in his eyes. He chewed on his bottom lip for a few seconds and nodded. "I can certainly understand. That's how my family's business was, so in order to see Pop, we all had to go to work for him."
"At least you like what you do."
He shook his head. "I didn't always. In fact, when I was a teenager, I told Pop that as soon as I graduated from college with my degree in business I'd find a job doing anything that didn't involve food."
"But you like it now, right?"
Dante did a half-nod-half-bob. "It's fine. I did work in retail management for a couple of years, but it wasn't really any better." He let out a little laugh. "It's that grass-is-greener thing, you know."
"Oh, I sure do know. I didn't have the luxury of college, but I decided to switch careers for a while too." Sunny scooted to the side to let Estelle get by.
"Doing what?"
"Clerical work. I got the position through an agency. They told me if I did a good job, the company had an excellent upward mobility program and tuition reimbursement. My plan was to work hard, do a good job, take advantage of the college tuition program, and get noticed by the higher ups."
"Why didn't you stick around?"
"I hated sitting all day. When you're used to moving around in a busy restaurant, sitting is awful."
"And you don't mind not getting the benefits? A college degree is expensive."
"Yeah, I know, but I'm happy doing what I do. Why change it?"
Estelle walked up to them, this time stopping a couple of feet away and gave Sunny an apologetic smile. "I hate to interrupt an important conversation, but Twila needs you."
"You'd better go see what she needs," Dante said. "Why don't I take the two of you home after work?"
"Not tonight. Mama has an appointment with Miss Lucille's oncologist. She's taking a cab here, and we're all going straight there."
