“I can see why they call this place the Pig Stop Buffet. There’s more food here than in the grocery store,” Katie said as she looked around in awe.
“Go ahead and fill your plate; I’ll meet you back here in a few. I have to answer a phone call.” He pulled his cell out of his pocket.
Katie went to see her choices. First, she got two small squares of different kinds of lasagna, then filled her plate with crab salad, spicy chicken, and coleslaw.
As she went back to their table, she noticed something red on the table. She sat and smiled. Mitch had placed a green vase with a rose surrounded by baby’s breath in front of where she was sitting. “How sweet, thank you.”
“It’s not as sweet as you.” He pulled out a small box from his pocket and handed it over to her. She took it with a shaking hand.
“Aren’t you going to open it? Nothing’s going to jump out and bite you.”
“Nice to know.” She opened the box and sighed. Inside were chocolate covered almonds. “You must have talked to Mel. Green is my favorite color and this is my favorite chocolate.”
“Caught me.”
“What candy do you like? Favorite color? Favorite food?”
“Interrogation again?” He laughed. “I like chocolate with nuts, not particular on colors, and not picky on food. Now I have a question for you.”
Katie didn’t want to hear the question. She knew what it was. “Um, I’m going back for dessert.”
“Right behind you, sweet pea.”
Mitch made it back to the table before Katie did, and when she came back noticed she forgot to get a spoon. She put her plate on the table, turned back to the center where the utensils were, and got interrupted.
“Hi. Do you mind if I tell you you’re glowing? I noticed when you and your partner talked, you were in your own world. The surroundings didn’t matter. The glow you two share is bright,” the gentleman with a big smile and red hair said.
“Do you believe in miracles?” the blonde-haired woman with big brown eyes sitting by the man asked.
Katie’s eyes widened with a questioning look. “I guess. Why?
“Are you Christian? Most Christians nowadays don’t believe in miracles.”
“I believe in God.”
“Good for you. We believe in miracles from God. He is the universe and our inner self. You need to go with your deep feelings to accomplish things in life like Calliope,” he pointed to her, “and me. I’m Eugene. By pure luck we have famous names from a soap opera. We met on the internet and both knew we were meant to be. Now look at us. We’ve been married for three years and like to take part in support groups where we can talk about faith and miracles. I see Boise has one, so we’re starting one here in Shelburne.”
Katie stood speechless and wasn’t sure what to do. She nodded a few times so the couple knew she was listening to them.
Eugene continued, “We are made as one. Do you have kids?”
“No. I mean, I have one in heaven.” A tear formed in her eye.
“Children become part of your mold. You’re with them all the time, even when you’re separated from them.” He paused for a few seconds. “I’m sorry about your child.” He looked as though he wasn’t sure what else to say.
“Eugene, this lady wants to sit. You’ve kept her standing for several minutes.”
Katie gave a small smile.
“I see there’s a table right by yours. We could come and sit with you or go outside and talk.” Eugene looked at his wife and back to Katie.
Mitch came to the rescue. “Can you show me where the bathroom is?”
Katie looked at Eugene and Calliope. “I’ll be back,” she said, and guided Mitch away toward the bathrooms.
“What was your plan? Stay and talk to them all night?”
“No. I’m going to the ladies’ room. Wait for me.”
They got out and walked back to their table, Eugene and Calliope staring at them the whole way. “Exit time,” Mitch said. They got stuck behind a lady in a Betty Boop outfit talking with her friends and walking as slow as a snail.
“Hey, wait, wait for us!” Eugene yelled across the room. He and Calliope ran to catch them. “Give us your number so we can talk later.”
Mitch said, “I don’t have time. Got an emergency call and have to go.” He then whispered to Katie, “Run to the truck.”
They hopped in the truck and Mitch put his dashboard siren on and peeled out of the parking lot. He turned it off right when they got out. “Time to hit a drive-in and stay away from people.”
“No kidding. You can get in trouble for a false siren, right?”
“This is an emergency to stay sane. You would’ve been there all night if I didn’t come to the rescue.”
“What a bunch of morons.” Katie laughed. “I was being nice and felt bad for excusing myself. Oh no. I left my gifts.”
“Easy to replace.” He heard his cell ring. “Oh man. I’m on call tonight but was hoping for a dull one.” He answered, “Mitch here. Okay. I’m close. I’ll go take care of it.” He turned the truck around.
“Where are we going?”
“Manager is complaining of a couple standing on the curb outside the Pig Stop trying to give people miracles.”
They laughed on the drive back. Mitch parked at the curb a few feet from where Eugene and Calliope stood. Mitch got out and said, “The manager said his customers were a little upset when they entered the buffet. Please go somewhere else to preach your sermon, like the park, and everyone will be happy.”
Calliope put a hand over her heart. “The people love receiving miracles.”
“I don’t see anybody else out here but you, your friend, and me.” Mitch gestured to the empty sidewalk.
“The manager came out. That counts as one,” Eugene said. “And what gives you authority to tell me to leave?”
Mitch pulled out his badge. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood tonight or I could give you a citation. Now move along.”
“Oh, I see. Can we have your phone number?” they asked in unison.
Mitch went to his truck without an answer.
“Eugene, get his plate number. We’ll find his phone number and address. They need to hear the freedom you receive through miracles,” Calliope said, and handed Eugene some paper and a pen.
***
A couple of days passed with no excitement besides Mitch talking to Katie on the phone. His dad took his mom out on a date, leaving Mitch and Wendy home alone. Wendy was in the kitchen and Mitch was sitting in the front room reading the newspaper when someone knocked on the front door.
“Wendy, get the door, please.”
“Are you lazy or what? You’re closer, sitting on your lazy butt, and I’m working on dinner.” She huffed by him and gave him a death look.
“Dear younger sister of mine. Pretty please?”
“You’re a pain.” She opened the door.
“Is there a Mitchell here?” Eugene glanced over Wendy’s shoulder to see if he could spot the lady Mitch was with at the Pig Stop.
“Yes.” She could tell the guests were a bit odd and wanted to put her brother on the spot. “Come in.” She led them into the front room. “Oh, Mitch dear, you have guests.” She smiled.
Eugene and Calliope were shocked. To them, Mitch and Katie were married, and now they saw there was another woman in his life. They questioned the relationship.
“Hi. I hope you have a few minutes to hear us out. We can see you need to learn how we deal with life and miracles,” Eugene said
Mitch sat in a stuffed chair in the corner of the room. He couldn’t believe this was happening. “What type of miracles?”
“We see you have two women in your life, and making a permanent decision is hard. We believe in miracles by the universe and how you feel at first, before your mind takes control,” Calliope said.
Mitch caught on and said, “I have three important women in my life.”
Wendy stood near the wall in the hall behind the couch Eugene and Calliope sat on. She covered her mouth to hold back the laughter. She did circles around the side of her head, indicating they were crazy.
“Oh dear, your mind is having a hard time making a decision.” Eugene looked at Calliope and gave her a sad look.
“Does the gal you were with a couple days ago at the Pig Stop know?” Calliope puckered her lips.
“Oh, yes, she knows the other two important women in my life and has accepted it well.” Mitch looked at Wendy and fought hard to hold back a smile. How long was this going to last?
“Once you make the final decision, how will the other two handle it?”
“The two ladies living in this house would be happy and grateful if I can have the third gal fall in love with me so I can sweep her off her feet.” Mitch was relieved he could show a true smile. “Come here, Wendy, and have a seat.”
She sat on Mitch’s lap and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. “Yes, my dear brother?” Wendy and Mitch busted out in laughter.
“My mother is the other lady I care for. I would have carried it on further but I couldn’t hold back my smile.” He pushed his sister off. Wendy playfully slapped him and went back to the kitchen.
“My goodness, you had us fooled, thinking you were a man with many relationships. Great sense of humor, and I bet your real girl is lucky,” Eugene said.
“I’m the lucky one.”
Wendy yelled from the kitchen, “Mitch, you are more open with these strangers than you are with friends and family.”
“Scary. I’m trying to get my place in Kate’s life, but it will take time.”
“We will pray for things to happen so you will grow closer. Our time has come to leave. Hope to see you soon,” Calliope said as she and Eugene headed out the door.