CHAPTER 16: Danielle

I wiped the counter clean and stacked the dirty breakfast dishes in the pass-through for dad to load into the dishwasher. It was just after ten and the lunch crowd had filtered down to two old men in a corner booth nursing their tenth cups of coffee.

I folded the damp rag between my hands as I went to look out the front door. I could see my trailer across the road, the first one on the left as you entered the trailer park. I kept waiting for Davy to come out the door and come across the road for something to eat.

When I’d woken up at 5 a.m. and tiptoed into the living room, he hadn’t moved a muscle. He had still been on the couch with one arm over his eyes, snoring softly.

I’d watched him for a moment, as if I weren’t firmly convinced he was actually there.

I’d cleared my throat quietly, but he hadn’t moved.

Maybe it was all a dream, I’d thought.

Maybe Davy wasn’t really on my couch.

Maybe the Wolf brothers were a dream, too.

Maybe I was going to wake up at any moment and realize that none of it was real.

I’d wake up and go back to my shitty little life in this shitty little town with all these shitty little people…

At that thought, I had wiped my eyes and left him asleep on the couch.

I’d listened for him as I got dressed and ready to leave.

He didn’t make a sound.

When I left just before 6 a.m., he was still sleeping like a baby.

* * *

“How’s the gumbo today?” I heard a familiar voice ask.

I looked up to see the Wolf brothers coming through the door with broad grins on their handsome faces. I was refilling sugar dispensers when they came in. I set the bag of sugar on the counter and dusted off my hands. They slid onto stools at the counter and leaned across for a kiss.

“The gumbo is hot as fire going in and coming out,” I said, standing on my tiptoes to give them kisses on both cheeks. I could feel my dad’s eyes watching me from behind. I glanced over my shoulder and gave him a look that told him to mind his own business.

“What are you boys up to?” I asked with a devilish gleam in my eyes.

“Well, we are on our way home,” Tony said happily. “I closed the deal with Bob, so—”

My dad’s deep voice chimed in. “You really paying that sumbitch a million dollars for his invention?”

I rolled my eyes. Tony winked at me and then leaned around to look past me at Dad. “It looks like we are, sir,” he said. “Is Bob a friend of yours?”

“Probably not for long,” Dad said. “He’s moving to some island somewhere after you cut him a check.”

“Well, good for him,” Tony said.

“What are you doing today?” Terry asked. He blinked slowly at me. He licked his lips. I felt myself melting again.

“I am working all day,” I said with a regretful sigh. “I won’t get off until eight.”

“What are you doing after eight?” Tony asked. “We thought we might have a little going away party. Preferably not in a lake full of alligators.”

I took a deep breath and let my eyes bounce between them for a moment. I was so tempted to jump over the counter and run away with them. So tempted to toss Dad the keys and never look back.

Then I glanced out the door and remembered that Davy was home.

“Danny? What’s wrong?” Terry asked, noticing the tears welling in my eyes. “Are you upset with us?”

I shook my head.

Tony let the smile fade from his lips. He asked, “Did we do something wrong?”

I blew out a long breath and shook my head. I said, “No. You guys have done everything right. Our time together…was amazing…but now…Christ, I don’t know what to do.” I reached across the counter and they each took a hand. I gazed into Terry’s eyes. “Davy’s home.”

“No way,” he said.

“Who’s Davy?” Tony asked.

“Her first love,” Terry said, squeezing my hand. “The only man she’s ever loved.”

“How did you know that?” I asked.

“Our time at the lake,” he said. “Your eyes lit up when you talked about him. Even after all this time, you love him, Danny. And I think that’s fucking awesome.”

“It is?”

Tony squeezed my hand. “Yes, it is.” He looked around the diner. “Where is he?”

I nodded toward the door. “Asleep on my couch.”

“So, I just have one question,” Terry said, bringing my hand to his lips.

“What’s that?”

“If he’s asleep on your couch, what the fuck are you doing here?”