Joseph shook his head, but he was grinning as he did so. That he’d eased up calmed me.
“What have you been doing since I last saw you?” Ellen asked, her curiosity genuine as she began to eat some of her breakfast. “By the way, feel free to order and eat with us. It will be nice to catch up. Especially without Lauren hovering. She’s not going to be easily won over, you know?”
Her statement, rather than a question, had my lips quirking in a half-smile.
“She wouldn’t be worth it if she wasn’t a fighter.”
Joseph was satisfied by my response, because his grin was smug as I raised my hand for the server.
The same bubblegum-popping girl arrived and asked, “Yeah?”
Ellen sighed. “For God’s sake, Karen, if your grandmother knew you were popping gum, she’d have your hide.”
Karen glowered at her. “Do I look like I want to be here?” she said with a pout that had Cooper’s brows lifting.
Ellen sighed. “No. But it’s tough, isn’t it? Your mom’s ill and if you don’t work her shift, she’ll lose it. You’re lucky Gracie’s so willing to let you take her place.”
Karen’s shoulders slumped but she reached for the pad in her apron and quite daintily, covered her mouth with the paper and retrieved the gum. “Sir? How can I help?”
Astonished at the about face, I murmured, “Eggs, over easy, with turkey bacon and pumpernickel toast, please.”
“You want orange juice with that? Or a stack of pancakes?”
Amused, I shook my head. “No to the pancakes, but yes to the OJ. Thanks.”
She retreated to the counters, her shoulders a little straighter than when she’d slouch
ed over.
“She’s my goddaughter.” Ellen’s remark had me glancing at her. “I don’t usually go around reprimanding waitresses in diners, Cooper.”
I smirked. “Glad to hear it.”
She grinned back, but then the smile died a little. “Her mom’s sick and can’t always make the shift. They’re a one-income family; it’s too much pressure on the girl, but what can I do? She’s already got an after-school job, and doing a shift for her mom is pushing her too thin.” She sighed sadly. “It’s terrible for her schoolwork.”
Joseph reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “She’ll graduate. You know she will.”
“She should be valedictorian,” Ellen retorted. “Not just barely passing. We don’t know if she’ll have the grades for college. She should be a shoe-in, but…” Ellen shrugged. “Anyway. Less of that. You don’t need to know about my worries.”
“You’re wrong. I intend for you to be my mother-in-law,” I told her, enjoying her surprise.
“You always were a charmer, Cooper Daniels.”
I snorted, but there was a twinkle in my eye. “Only for the Adams’ women.”
“Get your own,” Joseph grumbled, after forking up some of his breakfast. “This one’s taken.”
I laughed when Ellen elbowed him in the side.
“Anyway, you were saying, Cooper. What have you been up to?”
“This and that,” I teased, then a little more seriously added, “I’m in advertising. That’s why I’m here now. When I saw where Justin Gandy lived…” I shook my head. “How could I not come back?”
“That’s a huge coincidence,” Ellen replied, her eyes wide in surprise. “Lauren works for Justin!”
“I know!” I replied wryly. “Imagine how stunned I was when she opened the damn door? I thought I’d have to seek you out and find out where she was now. Never imagined she’d still be here.”
Ellen clapped her hands together. “This is so romantic.”