Chapter 5
ONE OF THE THINGS I loved about growing up in a small town was how simple and predictable life was. My mom and I didn’t have two spare nickels to rub together, but it was okay because we knew when the bread would be marked down each week, we knew when the roadside produce stand would have the damaged vegetables set aside, and we knew when the bank manager, Mr. Foster, would be off work and Mama could be late with her loan payment.
The town of Mason is similar to the one I grew up in—simple and predictable. I’ve been in town three and a half days and each day holds a similar schedule. Each morning I rise before dawn to the scent of freshly brewed coffee and Vera serenading me with her off-key rendition of a Miranda Lambert song. Once I’ve sufficiently filled my veins with enough caffeine to face the day, I begrudgingly join Vera in her car and head into town to open the diner. Having worked as a cocktail waitress at the biggest bar in Lexington just a few weeks ago, I’m struggling to adjust to being an early riser. Heck, two weeks ago I was crawling into bed at the same time I rose this morning.
Miss Maye’s breakfast crowd is usually made up of the same locals with a few travelers sprinkled in for a little variety. Vera, Sam, and I have found our flow and seem to be working well together. My stomach has finally accepted I will not feed it with every hunger pang, which is not actual hunger, but desire stirred from the amazing smell of brewing coffee and bacon, so that helps my morning today.
According to Vera, this week has been unusually busy for lunch, and she’s been teasing it’s because I’m here and the townspeople are trying to figure me out, guess my story. I’ve told her over and over—there is no story. I think Vera believes me, it’s just the rest of the town that hasn’t accepted it.
When the lunch rush slows down, I throw myself in a chair at the counter. Mr. Yasso is sitting in the seat to my right, and according to Vera, he’ll remain in that seat until we close this afternoon. He shows up at the end of the breakfast rush and stays until he’s read every page of his paper, completed his crossword, and told me at least three stories about his late wife. I love listening to his stories about love and marriage. I may not have a man in my life, and the last one I spent time with wasn’t the one, or even the one for now, but it doesn’t stop me from believing in the true meaning of love and happily ever after.
Leaning on the counter with my head resting on my hand, I sip on my deliciously fizzy soda as I hear the bell signal a customer. Excusing myself from my partial nap and story-listening post with Mr. Yasso, I turn to greet the new customers. Two beautiful brunettes, not much older than I am, approach the counter. I step around and reach for menus and greet them.
“Hello, ladies. Two?” Instead of an immediate response, the woman with piercing blue eyes smacks the other before turning her attention to me.
“No, thanks. We’re just here to pick up some pie. Is Vera around? She’ll probably have them set aside.”
“Manners, much? Hi there, I’m Ari Johnson, and this rude person is my best friend and sister-in-law, Ellie Mathews.”
I laugh at the introduction and extend my hand, “Hello, I’m Mercy. Let me see about your pies.”
Just as I turn to find Vera, she approaches with two boxes in her hand. Pies, I assume. The women greet Vera with hugs, and I stand awkwardly next to them, not quite sure what to do. I take a step around Vera to leave them be when Vera grabs my arm, turning me toward the women.
“Girls, did you meet my Mercy? She’s just been a godsend around here.”
“We did. Well, after Ellie lost her manners and forgot to say a proper hello.”
“Oh stop. You act as if you’ve spent time as a debutant,” Ellie retorts.
I watch as the two women tease and poke at one another. It’s clear by their jabs they’ve been friends for a long time. I’m slightly envious of their relationship when I hear Vera speak my name. I turn to see three pairs of eyes on me.
“Uh, what was that?”
“I was just telling Ellie you met some of the hands today. Isn’t that right?”
“Oh, Mathews! Yes, I did. I mean, I guess I did. There were a group of men in here earlier.”
“Don’t be modest,” Vera teases while wrapping her arm around my shoulders. “Mercy here caught the attention of one Shane Abbott.”
“Oh, I adore Shane. He’s such a nice guy. And not too shabby on the eyes either. I mean, if I wasn’t married to the hottest man in the county, of course,” Ellies says as a blush tints her cheeks.
“Yeah, well . . . uh, so I’m going to take my break now.”
“Mercy, how long are you in town?” Ari asks, once again smacking Ellie’s hand.
“Just a few days,” I reply.
“Oh, well if you stick around longer, you should give us a call. Maybe we can get together or something.”
I smile and agree to think about it before excusing myself to the back. Once I’ve retreated to the restroom, I run cool water across my wrists. For some reason, the moment Vera mentioned Shane I felt flush. You’d think he was a celebrity the way I reacted. So ridiculous. When I finish in the restroom, I return to my spot next to Mr. Yasso and continue listening to him tell me story after story.
Before long, I hear the bells above the door ring again. This time, I let Vera greet the customer and give all of my attention to my drink and thoughts of bedtime and a good book. I’m pulled from my daydream by Vera’s voice.
“Mercy, honey. Would you please grab the last few slices of that lemon meringue pie to go?”
I sit up and face Vera to respond when I see she’s standing with Shane in deep conversation. Shane is smiling, and Vera is waving her hands around, obviously telling him a story. I don’t want to know what tall tale she’s telling the poor guy. Excusing myself from Mr. Yasso, I quickly package the last of the pie as requested along with a few forks and napkins and walk the bag to Vera.
“Here ya go. Did you want me to ring this up?”
“Thanks, honey. You remember Shane,” Vera says, gesturing to Shane as she takes the sack from my hand before transferring it to Shane.
“Hi, Shane. How are you today?”
“I’m just fine, Miss Mercy. How are you?”
“Just peachy keen. And please, can we drop the “Miss”? It feels so . . . I don’t know what. It’s nice to see you.” I quickly turn, leaving Shane and Vera in my wake to get to cleaning the diner. The exhaustion from the last few days hits me hard, and I still have to make my daily stop at Earl’s and check on Gerty.
***
“I don’t know why you’re so upset, honey. You seem to be doing fine in Mason. Maybe it’s meant to be. You know we shouldn’t tempt fate.”
“Mama, I am not tempting anything least of all fate. My twenty-five-year-old car broke down. It was bound to happen. I don’t know why it couldn’t have happened three hours later when I was in Austin and settled at the hotel.”
I called my mom when I got home after receiving more bad news from Earl. It’s not likely I’ll have my car within the week, and it’ll absolutely be closer to the ten-day mark if not longer. When I walked in the house, Vera already knew what I was upset about, since Earl found it necessary to call her and give her the heads-up. I suppose I owe everyone an apology for my less than appreciative behavior. I’d love to blame my reaction on hormones or being tired, but I simply threw a tantrum.
“Well, Mercy, I still say you should embrace this adventure and see why you were put in that town. I’m sure there’s a reason. Stop being so childish and take time to look around and appreciate what it has to offer. And make sure you are being kind to Miss Vera and helping her out around that house. I still cannot believe she simply took you in and gave you a place to stay.”
“I am helping, and I love Vera. She’s great, and I think you and she would be fast friends. I wish everyone would call me Beth. It’s my preference, you know.”
“Yes, well it may be your preference, but it is not your name. I love your name, and I’ll call you what I named you, thank you very much.”
Mama and I talk for another twenty minutes before she ends our call to get ready for a date. My mom has worked hard the last few years and managed to put a nice life together for herself. She sold the home she could barely afford when I was growing up and ended up with a nice little nest egg for her future. She’s downsized and is much happier in her new place.
I’m lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, calculating how much money I have with me and what’s still in my bank account when two soft knocks tap on my door. Rising from the bed, I pad my way to the door and open it to find Vera standing in front of me with a margarita in each hand, one extended to me. Taking the frothy glass from her hand I smile before taking a hearty sip.
“That’s delicious. Mango?”
“You bet your sweet ass it is!” Vera exclaims, tapping her glass with mine before taking a sip. “Now, how about you smother that pity party you were having and hop in the shower; we have guests arriving soon.”
“Guests?”
“Yep, I’ve only got you about another week. We’re celebratin’ with margaritas and a few ribeyes. I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re done,” she says, turning to walk down the hall. “Oh, and Mercy?” she asks, peering at me over her shoulder. “Wear something sweet. You’re far too pretty to be running around in sweatpants.”
I chuckle to myself as I raise my glass in agreement. A shower and something sweet it is. My wardrobe isn’t exactly extensive, but I do have a few cute things I think would qualify as “sweet.” Sorting through the hangers I settle on my white eyelet dress and cowboy boots. Tossing the dress on my bed, I walk into the bathroom for a quick shower. I’ve managed to maintain much of my tan from the summer so I’m still able to get by without much makeup; a little swipe of mascara on my lashes and I’m done. Once my hair is mostly dry, I quickly pull it to the side for a braid, slip on my boots, and call it good.
I grab my glass and make my way down the hall toward the kitchen for a refill of my margarita when something white and furry scurries past me. I yelp a little as I enter the kitchen where I’m greeted by Sam and Vera in a very friendly position. Clearing my throat, they both jump back from one another, cheeks flush and lips rosy. Interesting.
“Pardon me, you two. I was just coming in for a refill and lost about five years off my life by a furry creature running past. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” I ask, reaching for the pitcher of already prepared margaritas.
“We were . . .” Vera stumbles when Sam grabs her by the shoulders and pulls her to his side, placing a quick kiss to her temple. I smile at them because they are the cutest couple ever.
“Vera, we don’t need to put up a front with Mercy; she’s a grown woman and understands a relationship when she sees one.” Sam winks at me while Vera looks up and scoffs at him.
“We’ll talk about your use of the “R” word later, Samuel,” Vera chastises, and we all laugh. “And, that creature as you called him is Sam’s dog Underpants.”
“Underpants?” I ask, choking on my drink.
“Yep, my granddaughter named him. That Underpants series of books? It’s her favorite, so that’s what she named him. I tried to get her to go with something else like Scruffy or Spot. She wasn’t having it. So, Underpants it is.”
I start laughing, and eventually we’re all in hysterics. There may have been a snort or two, and I most definitely shed a few tears in the process. The object of our hysterics trots through the kitchen, and I can’t help but admire him. Walking through life with a name like that, he’s a trooper.
I sit at the bar area, sipping on my drink, while Sam seasons the steaks and Vera prepares a salad, all the while both are regaling me with stories of the town, the people of Mason, and what it was like growing up here. Their stories make the town seem larger and more exciting than I believe is possible. Sam talks of his first wife and life in the military before returning to the town he longed for after leaving. I’m about to ask Vera about her own marriage since this seems to be an okay topic of discussion when the doorbell rings.
“Oh yay, our fourth is here! Mercy, be a dear and get that, won’t you?”
“Sure,” I reply before standing and walking to the door. I hear Vera and Sam whispering in the kitchen and wonder if she’s lecturing him on his reference to a relationship when I turn the doorknob and pull it open. I’m not sure who I was expecting to be standing on the other side, but a handsome cowboy with a dimple wasn’t on my list.