Chapter Three

 

Brook had spent her summers with her grandparents who lived in a town not unlike Evansville. Granted they lived in a huge mansion with lots of land just outside of the town, but the town itself was similar if a little bigger. She spent every summer with them until she was eight, when her parents divorced. She had been happy there.

As she opened the door to the diner, the smell of fried food and fresh baked pie flooded her nose. Given that it was lunch time, all the tables were taken. The cling clang of the utensils from people eating and from the dishes being washed and put away added to the overall friendly chitter chatter of the happy customers. The décor was old fashion diner style tables and chairs, and the place was obviously well used by the locals. There was a row of booths along the wall to the right and tables in the middle. The counter was to her left and there sat Deacon. She shrugged as though shaking off any inhibitions or shame, lifted her chin to make herself believe that she fit in and made her way over to the counter. She sat down next to him, leaving an empty seat between them, where she placed her purse. She quickly glanced at the small menu, which was kept at each station.

The waitress walked over to take her order. “Hi, you ready hon?”

“I’ll have the Chicken Caesar salad.” Brook would normally eat something much healthier, but the menu was limiting to say the least.

“And to drink”

“Some sparkling water, please.”

Deacon sat there silently watching her order as he waited for his fries and steak. She had a certain elegance about her, he thought.

“Sure thing! Mrs…?” The waitress paused, waited for her to fill in the blank. Sam had a way with people. She was really good at getting people to do what she wanted.

“It’s Ms., actually. Or soon to be. I’m separated. Divorce takes a bit longer. Ms. Tilson. But you can call me…” She stopped in fear of sounding too formal. “I’m Brook.”

“Hi Brook, Samantha Meyers. It’s nice to meet you. Everybody calls me Sam.”

“It’s good to meet you, Sam.”

Sam went over to the cook’s counter. She ran the whole place with one other waitress, Sheryl.

Deacon was quietly paying attention. He was interested in this woman’s life, somehow.

Brook tried to remember the kind of things she’d heard adults talk about in small towns back when she was eight. “So, are you local?”

“Born and bred ma’am.” Deacon took a sip of his coffee while still waiting for his food.

“You like it here?”

“Never known anything else.”

“You never wanted to go somewhere better?”

“Nope. I have everything I need right here in this town and I can’t think of anything better than that, ma’am.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to say . . . I didn’t mean there was anything wrong with the town.” He was proud of the town and he had a place there. He belonged. The town was his life. That was something she had never felt, even back to her childhood.

“Just that other places are better?”

“No, well . . . yes, I guess so.”

“In what way?”

“Sorry.” Brook was puzzled, he had actually asked questions rather than spit out answers.

“In what way are these other places better?”

“I don’t know, more people, more to do I suppose.”

“Plenty to do here, ma’am if you’re willing to do it.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Brook thought about that for a moment but didn’t quite know what else to say. Every time she spoke with him, she ended up at a loss for words. He had a way at shutting her up. His responses were almost like a dead end. There was no arguing them, she thought.

Sam returned to the couple with their orders. “So, you’re getting a divorce.” Sam may be a waitress but she was more interested in people and their stories.

“Yes, I uh…”

Deacon sensed the awkward moment, jumped in. “Hey Sam, can I get some more coffee, please?” Sam reached back, grabbed the coffee decanter on the counter behind her and refilled his cup without batting an eyelash and kept her eyes on Brook the entire time, expecting her to finish her sentence.

Brook didn’t quite know how to explain her situation. This was the first time she had to aside from her mother, father and her besties.

“My husband and I are getting a divorce.” She blurted out.

“You don’t look a day over 20.” Sam replied. “And you’re already married?”

“I’m 25.”

“20, 25, whatever, you’re still so young. And beautiful.” She slaps Deacon on the shoulder with the back of her hand. “Deac, isn’t she beautiful?”

Deacon replied with a mouthful while giving Sam a disagreeable stare. “You’re pretty.”

Brook looked over at him. His bulging forearms perched on the counter holding up his fork. She blushed a little. She had gotten many compliments before but coming from Deacon, it somehow meant something. Maybe, it’s because she didn’t want him to hate her for almost running him over. Maybe, it’s because she was slightly attracted to him. She recomposed herself quickly and suddenly felt comfortable sharing more about her life. “We got married last year. Uh huh…yup. I was married for one whole year. I know, I’m 25 and already I failed at marriage.”

Sam looked at her. “Oh hey, you didn’t fail, honey. You just lived your life. That’s it. Who’s to say how your life is supposed to turn out? Nobody. There’s no right way or wrong way to live!”

Brook was at a loss for words again. In one shot, this waitress made her life seem less awful. But then she remembered her parents. “Well my parents would say how my life is supposed to turn out.”

Sam leaned in closer and smiled at Brook “Well you know the thing about parents is they want what’s best for you and they think they know everything. But they don’t.” Brook suddenly felt a huge weight had lifted off her shoulders. The way people talked here, just simplified things. Maybe because their brains are not cluttered with city stuff, she thought. Sam busied herself serving other customers while regularly glancing back at the two.

“So, where we you headed?” Deacon asked.

“I uh…” Brook tried to think of a smart answer but none came to mind. She replied shaking her head. “Nowhere, really.”

“Nowhere?” Deacon didn’t understand how someone with a fancy car would drive through Evansville without a purpose. “For someone who is going nowhere, you seemed pretty pissed that you can’t get there.”

Brook was at a loss for words again. He was right. What was I so pissed about? She thought to herself.

“I guess I really wasn’t going anywhere. I needed some air so I went for a drive. A very long drive.”

Deacon didn’t want to pry into what seemed to be more personal issues she was having. He switched back to business talk. “I’ll try to get your car going as soon as possible. But, it’s an old one. A nice one, but it’s 9 years old. Is the cost of a new engine worth it for you to keep the car?”

“What do you mean?”

“The new engine plus the work is going to cost you a few thousand. Some people just get rid of the car and get themselves another one. But it’s your choice.”

“I guess I’ll have to think about it.”

“I’ll order the engine anyways and we can cancel the order if you change your mind.”

“Thank you.”

Both had nearly finished their meals. After sitting there for an hour although not really saying much to each other. The diner had cleared out by then. Deacon got up to go to the washroom. “Check please, Sam” as he walked off.

Sam smirked and laughed. “Ha! You’re funny.”

“I think he means he’s done eating and wants to pay.” Brook added.

“Oh, yeah, I know what he thinks he means, honey.”

Brook, realized their relationship was a unique and a close one. “Oh.”

Sam walked over to Brook to give her some coffee. Deacon returns to his seat. Sam quickly jumps in. “Brook, while you’re in town, why don’t you let here Deacon take you out for a ride?” Sam was obviously setting them up. Deacon and Brook both sat up and awkwardly looking at each other. Sam continued, knowing very well they were both uncomfortable. “Now, Deacon, you told me she’s stuck here for a few days. What’s a girl to do? You like riding, take her to the mountains. You haven’t been up there in a while and I know you need a break from all that work in that shop. Go out and get some fresh air this weekend!” Sam glanced back and forth at the two of them and kept talking. “You like horses, Brook?” Knowing, to ask a question to which the answer is most likely going to be yes.

“Yes, I do. But um...” Brook answered, a little pleased that Sam had set her up. Being stuck in this town wasn’t going to be so bad after all.

“Deacon, you don’t have anything until that engine comes in. I know you are free.” Sam put him in a position he could not refuse.

Deacon shook his head. “I have three cars up on the rack.”

Sam knew they could wait. She sees everyone coming into his garage from her window. “Tanner’s car can wait. And the other two, I know are small jobs. Franky can handle it. Go on! You need a break. When was the last time you went up there?”

Deacon took a moment. “Okay.”

“Okay! That’s it! You’re taking a beautiful young lady riding, which is not something he does every day. Well actually, never.” Sam halfway through her sentence, tilted her head over to Brook in a whisper. Then back at Deacon “And all you can say is okay?!” She laughed while she walked over to get some pie. She returned and gave a plate to Deacon and put a piece in front of Brook. “Here hon, have some pie.” She slowly turned around and walked away. “Best raspberry pie in town!”

Deacon took a fork to his pie in a happier mood. “She’s right…about the pie.”

Brook looked straight ahead. “She’s like a magician.” Referring to the way she ran circles around the both of them just now.

Both smiled knowing very well they had been set up.

 

***

 

Joey walked in and went for the stool between the Deacon and Brook. She quickly removed her purse. “Thanks, Brook.” He sat down, while Sam poured him some coffee.

“You want something to eat, Joe?” Sam asked.

“Me? No, I brought a sandwich today. Thanks.” Joey replied. He sensed the silence between the two. “Hey, what happened here?” He looked over at Sam, then over at Deacon, then at Brook. “Why is everyone so quiet? Are these two still fighting, Sam?”

“No, Joe. Everything is right as rain.” Sam reassured Joey.

Joey looked over at Deacon. “I’m giving her a ride to Spring Valley. That’s where she’ll be staying. You know, while your fixin’ her car.”

Deacon got up to leave. He never paid for his meals. Sam never took his money. He fixes her car, and she lets him eat for free. He’s helped her many times with her teenage sons when things went bad. Over the year, they’ve become family. “You’re a good man, Joe.”

“Awe, it ain’t nothin’. Hey I’ll see you back at the shop Deac.”

“Okay, bud. See ya.”

Deacon walked towards the door. Brook didn’t know what to say. He didn’t say goodbye to her. It was enough that they had a date. She turned to watch him leave. His arms pushed the door open with two fingers as though the door weighed one pound. His stride was strong and fearless. He walked like nothing could touch him. It’s sexy, thought Brook.

Joey started talking about this and that again. He finally finished his coffee. Brook suggested he take her to the motel now. She left the diner with Joey feeling much better than she was earlier.

 

***

 

Sheryl walked over to Sam with a rag to wipe down the counter. “You think she’s better for Deacon than me?” A little peeved at Sam for setting them up.

Sam looked at Sheryl. “Oh you, it’s not about who’s better.” Sam knew that Sheryl had a thing for Deacon. “She’s just a better match, that’s all. She’s just what he needs right now. The poor thing.” Deacon had lost his wife two years ago and hadn’t been with a woman since. “Besides, he likes her!”

“What makes you think that?”

“Ever seen Deacon spend more than twenty minutes eating lunch? He’s sat there for well over an hour. He wasn’t saying much but he had two cups of coffee AND a piece of pie.”

That was enough to convince Sheryl that Deacon really did like Brook. She started to panic. “So, what she got that I don’t have?” Sheryl looked out the window at Brook driving off with Joey.

Sam knew she was jealous but there was nothing she could do about it. “For one thing, she’s 25.”

“So!”

“You’re 40.”

“So! Some men like older women. Besides, Deacon’s 33.”

“You’re married.”

“I would leave Chester in a minute if Deacon asked me out.”

Sam was busy cleaning up. She looked up at Sheryl and laughed. “I know you would!” They both laughed. “She’s not staying.” Sam, referring to the fact that Brook was only there temporarily trying to divert Sheryl’s attention off Brook. “You know Chester would hate you if you went after Deacon.” In high school, Deacon had dated Chester’s sister and broke her heart when he left her for Annabelle, whom he fell deeply for and married a few years later.

“I know!” Sheryl replied. “But I can dream, can’t I.”

They both laughed and continued tidying up the diner.