DEAN
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Kerry Winsor:Dean’s at the diner, everyone! Line up if you have questions!
Comments:
Jackie Anne:I’m too shy to say hello ... one day I will.
Jade Clark:He’s gonna hate you all.
Kerry Winsor:He offered!
Jade Clark:Don’t tell people to line up!
“Okay,but what if we all got together and threw a massive party to say we all support Grace? Then she’ll know we only wanna help, and we can break the embargo!”
I wanted one meal to myself. Just one. And since Center Point Diner was the one place I could get decent food, I’d braved the chance that Tammy would corner me for questionsand came in.
She wasn’t my biggest problem. Kerry was.
“For God’s sake. It’s killing you, isn’t it?” Tammy was back with my food. “Don’t you know not to ruin a man’s breakfast?”
“I just need to talk to him.”
“Get to your own table, or so help me, I will ban you from the diner.” Kerry whined, but slowly got up. “There. Now you owe me one.”
I blew out a breath. “Thank you.”
“Didn’t have breakfast with Grace this morning?” Tammy asked.
“Why would I have breakfast with Grace?”
She paled, a common reaction whenever they hinted at me living with her—a detail none of them should’ve known. “Well, I just figured it would be ... economical, if you were staying with the woman you’re here for.”
“Wow. What a conclusion. How long did Kerry last?”
“Two days.”
“That’s longer than I thought.”
“She tried. Now are you gonna tell me or not?”
I sighed. “Grace makes eggs on toast every morning. I’m happy she has breakfast and it’s nice of her to share, but if I ate it one more time, I might have started crying.”
“Eggs on toast is pretty tame for a pregnant lady.”
“She douses it in hot sauce and sour cream, which ... makes no sense, but I know better than to say anything.”
“You’re smarter than you look.” She gave me a half smile. “And it seems like you’re treating her right. She hasn’t kicked you out yet.”
“Grace wouldn’t do that, but I’m still gonna make sure I don’t do anything to upset her.”
“And I thought it was bad when you kept staring at her.” Her smile was downright vicious as she walked off, and I had to resist the urge to groan.
I should have eaten the eggs on toast. Or hell, just the toast. Grace’s company would have been preferred.
Still, the food was good, and I was able to get a reprieve from the same thing every morning. Once I was done, I’d get a little bit of work done before taking Grace to her appointment.