“I remember from when Piper went through,” he explained.
“Oh right. Yeah, I’ll be taking it in a few weeks. I’m waiting on the school to send my transcripts to the testing center so I can register. Studying like a maniac in the meantime. After that, who knows?” She shrugged. Beneath the feigned nonchalance, he could see the worry it would all be for naught.
“You’ll do great. Anybody who can juggle everything you have the last year can pass that test with flying colors.”
Her cheeks flushed a pleased pink at the compliment. “From your mouth to God’s ear. Or the testing board, anyway. What’ll it be this morning?”
Tucker didn’t need to check the menu. “Biscuits and gravy.”
“Anything else? Grits?”
“Pass. I’d be in a food coma in front of Judge Carpenter, and I need to be on my toes.”
“Biscuits and gravy it is. I’ll just get this in for you.”
“Thanks. Oh, and can you let Mama Pearl know I need to talk to her?”
“Sure thing.”
The bell over the front door rang and a female voice called out, “Corinne, girl, it’s up!”
Corinne’s head whipped toward the newcomer. “Already? But it’s at least two weeks early!”
“Rosemary said we should be at the head of the line to apply. They’ll be taking applications for a couple of weeks, but she said they’ll start looking at the applicants right away. You need to find time to sneak away this morning.” The slightly out of breath woman glanced his way and flashed a smile. “Hi.”
“Hey there. What do you need to apply for?” Tucker asked.
“A job at the hospital,” Corinne said.
“Yeah? That’s great,” he said.
“Would be if I could get there to apply for it. I don’t know if I can get away until tomorrow. Mom flaked on me, and I’ve got Kurt in the kitchen.” She bit her lip. “Maybe Mama Pearl can watch him for half an hour after the breakfast rush is over.”
“I’ll wait on you. Get some breakfast since I’m here,” said the other woman.
“There’s room at the counter. Grab a stool, and I’ll get your order in a minute. Tucker, are you good on your coffee?”
“Just fine.”
She spun away, clearly in go mode. She stopped by another table on the way to the kitchen.
“About time.”
Tucker recognized the voice as the opposing counsel he’d be facing later that morning. Jefferson Barksdale was a boatload of asshole. Had been since junior high. His disposition hadn’t improved any since he’d finished law school and joined his father’s firm. If anything, he’d become an even bigger douchebag.
“Maybe you don’t realize the rest of the world doesn’t operate on the Homecoming Queen’s time table, but some of us have places to be. This isn’t high school anymore and the world doesn’t revolve around you and your social schedule. I need my check.”
The Corinne he’d known in high school would’ve eviscerated him on the spot, customer be damned. Instead, the faint glow of accomplishment that’d lit her face faded and she seemed to shrink in on herself, as if diminished by the contact. “I apologize for the wait. Would you like a to-go cup for the rest of your coffee?”
“Just the check.”
“Right away, Mr. Barksdale.” Shoulders slumped, she headed straight for the register.
Mr. Barksdale. As if he hadn’t been one of the many guys fawning over her back in the day. As if he was better than she was.
Fists clenched, Tucker seethed. No one had a right to be an asshole to servers. He was still trying to decide whether to say anything when Corinne brought Jeff’s bill back to the table.
The smug bastard had the nerve to look down his nose and check her out as he took the check. A long, slow perusal of her body that made Tucker want to jam a knee into Jeff’s balls.