Lee

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Go back to Virginia Beach with him? Wasn’t that moving a bit too fast? Make that way too fast.

“Wait. I think you got the wrong impression. I meant just for a few days or so.”

Now I felt relieved but also like the biggest dork for jumping to such an extreme conclusion. “Riiiggghhht. I knew that. Yes. Just a few days. That would be totally cool.”

“You didn’t think I meant … no, you wouldn’t have … would you?”

“No,” I said, waving my hand through the air. But I had. I definitely had. And for that brief moment, I panicked but did wonder what it would be like to be with Rusty. Would we mesh? Would we work? No doubt there is something major between us, something tethering us together. I really don’t want to think about him leaving. And I want to explore us. “I’d love to go back with you. But I need to clear it with Jackson since I’ve committed to her in a way.”

“Sure, I understand. I’d really love to show you around where I live, introduce you to all the guys, give you a tour of … am I moving too fast? Just tell me if I am.”

“I don’t think you can take me to work, Rusty. I don’t have top security clearance.”

“Right. But you can meet my squadron. There are a few jerkoffs in there, but for the most part, they’re top notch guys.”

“You say jerkoffs with affection, as if you like that about them.”

“I do. It’s what makes them who they are. You’ve met those people who seem to be assholes, but really aren’t? That’s what I’m talking about.”

“I know what you mean. They’re the ones who go on and on and can always one up you but will have your back in a heartbeat.”

“Exactly. Hey, will you get in trouble if you spend the night with me?” he asks.

“I’m pretty sure I’m past the getting grounded age.”

“Yeah, but Lee, I want your parents to like and trust me. I don’t want them to think I’m taking advantage of their daughter.”

“Don’t worry about what my parents think. I’ll handle them.”

He pulled me on top of his lap. “And will you handle me too?”

“You bet I will.”

I was pretty sure he was going to be doing most of the handling, but I wouldn’t tell him that. When his lips landed on mine, I sighed because he had a way of making me forget everything but him. All I wanted was Rusty. But I didn’t want to think about our time together coming to a rapid end.

The next morning, Rusty drove with me to the cafe. He was going to help with work so we could get finished to talk with Mr. Ammons, who was coming to the cafe for the interview. It seemed the breakfast and lunch crowds were thicker than usual. We worked our tails off, sliding from breakfast straight into lunch.

Rusty was a big help in keeping tables cleared and dishes washed. Every time there was an order ready, he didn’t hesitate to deliver it.

“I’m going to miss his help when he leaves,” Jackson commented.

“Me too,” I agreed.

“You’re going to miss him for other things, Lee.” She snickered.

“Oh shut up. By the way, would you mind me being gone a few days?”

“Hell yes, I’ll mind, but I won’t ever stop you. What’s up?”

“Rusty wants me to go back to Virginia Beach with him for a few days.”

“Oh my freakin’ God. That’s awesome!”

“Yeah.”

“Wipe that dreamy look off your face before you screw up an order, girl.”

Laughing, I said, “I don’t have a dreamy look on my face.”

“Like hell you don’t.”

Rusty came through the swinging doors and we both clamped our mouths shut. “You two talking about me?”

“Nope. We were talking about me,” I said. Then one of Jackson’s assistants dropped a pan. I flinched, and then hit the ground. Rusty was by my side in an instant.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah.” I let out a shaky laugh. “Just a little residual PTSD. You know, loud noises.” Rusty helped me to my feet.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked again.

“Yes.”

He nudged my shoulder. “Well, you two must’ve been talking about me before that happened.”

“Why do you say that?”

“It was sure quiet when I walked in. Usually you two are babbling up a storm.”

Neither Jackson nor I said a word. He chuckled and walked out with a tray of food to be delivered.

“He’s a good guy, Lee.”

“Yeah, he is. I think.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“What if he’s some serial killer?”

“Oh for the love of God. Do you honestly think that?”

“I don’t know.”

Jackson scratched her head. “Google him. If he is, it’ll come up.”

“Yeah. True.”

“Google his name and the navy and see what you get.”

“Okay.”

“Lee, if you don’t do it I will.”

“I’ll do it but not this minute.”

The door swung open again and Rusty said, “If you give me a minute, I’ll google my own self and show you both what comes up. But I can show you all my credentials if you’d like. I am not opposed to that at all.”

I’d never been so embarrassed in all my life. I covered my face and bowed my head.

He set the tray he was carrying down and came to my side. “Lee, it’s fine. If there’s one thing I want, it’s for you to feel safe around me.”

“You’d think I would’ve thought of that before I’d spent the night with you.”

“There is that,” he said with a grin. Then he hugged me into his side.

“Hey you two, we don’t have time for chit-chat,” Jackson yelled, then winked.

“Right,” I said, getting back to my work. I went out to check on the customers and the day rushed by. After our last guest was served their food, I noticed a middle-aged man enter the cafe. I went to the hostess stand to greet him.

“Are you Mr. Ammons by any chance?”

“I am.”

I held out my hand saying, “I’m Lee Marston. Welcome to the new I’ll Be Waiting Cafe. Let me get you seated and let Jackson know you’re here.”

I got him settled and took his drink order, then went back to the kitchen.

“He’s here, Jackson.”

“Great. She finished up cleaning the griddle, and washed her hands, then took off her chef’s coat.

“Rusty, do you mind handling our last customer?”

“Not at all. The only thing is, I don’t know how to handle the register.”

“Just grab us when they’re ready,” I said.

We went to join Mr. Ammons.

He fired off questions about my great-grandfather and his connection to the cafe. Jackson and I filled him in on all the details, leaving nothing out. We watched as he scribbled down note after note and when I got to the part about how we shared similar war injuries, he dropped his pen and exclaimed, “This is incredible. How has this story not been picked up by anyone?”

Shrugging, I said, “I don’t know. But I’m drawn to this place and imagine my surprise when I found one of my best friends from high school was the owner.”

Then Jackson grabbed my hand. “Aren’t you going to tell him about Rusty?”

Mr. Ammons asked, “Who’s Rusty?”

“I’m Rusty,” he answered, placing a refill of tea in front of Mr. Ammons.

“And how do you fit into all this?” Mr. Ammons asked.

I went on to fill him in on that part of the story, leaving out the weird part of Rusty meeting my maybe Great-Granddad in the wood shop. That was just way too freaky to share with anyone.

“Wow. Was this love at first sight?”

Oh, God. I didn’t expect that from him.

Rusty only smiled and I did too. “I think we’ll reserve that answer for now,” I said.

“I think I have enough for a great story that the people in these parts will absolutely adore.”

“Mr. Ammons, do you think the newspaper would have any archived photos from back in 1944. I know my great-granddad was here every day so I’m pretty sure someone had to have come around and taken some. We’d love to have some copies to hang on the walls here.”

“Let me see what I can do for you.”

After he was gone, we were sure I’ll Be Waiting would get a huge surge in business.

“Lee, if you’re going back to Virginia Beach with Rusty, you’d better go tomorrow after the photo shoot. I have a feeling I’m going to need some extra hands around here after that article runs.”

Mr. Ammons was sending a photographer from the newspaper to take photos of the cafe during breakfast tomorrow. And Jackson was right. This could have the potential to explode her business.