“I know I did, and I did so in good faith that I wanted to get married.”
“And now?” Teri asked.
“It’s too soon. I may be pregnant, and he wants me to be pregnant. This kind of thing, it ruins relationships, and I don’t want to be a regret.”
She pushed past Teri and started to place the new menus on each table. All the time she was aware of Teri following her.
“You can’t break up with him,” Teri said.
“I’m not going to break up with him. I love him.” She slapped her hand across her mouth, and stared at Teri.
Teri clapped her hands, chuckling, and then grabbing her head at the sudden pain. “Fuck. I don’t think I can cook today.”
“I can cook for you. If you’re really worried, you can sit and assist?”
“I shouldn’t have drunk all that tequila I did last night. It was a night of partying, and I loved every single second of it.”
Grace smiled. “I can help.”
“I’ll call Chloe and see if she can take your shift while you cook for me.”
She watched Teri leave the room.
Letting out a sigh, Grace sat down on the bench and put her head into her hands. In that moment she thought about Dwayne. He’d never made her feel anything like Drake did. She loved Drake, and she’d never loved Dwayne.
When her thoughts didn’t settle down, she got to her feet, and made her way into the kitchen where Teri was hanging up the phone. “Chloe’s on her way in.”
“Great,” Grace said, clapping her hands together. “Let’s get started.”
For the next hour, she followed Teri’s instructions, and started firing up the breakfast menu. Chloe entered half an hour into the preparations, and she got the congratulations to which she smiled.
What is your problem?
You love Drake.
You want to marry him.
She was scared. That was it. She was scared of making that final commitment. From in the kitchen, Grace heard the ring of the bell, and glanced over at Teri. “It’s all about to begin. Are you ready for this?”
“I’ve got no choice. How is that head?”
“I’ll be fine just as soon as the throbbing ends.” Teri sipped at some water, and the first order rang through.
Showtime.
****
Drake walked into the diner to see Teri and Chloe serving with no sign of Grace. Her torn up clothing was still on his bedroom floor, but there wasn’t a sign of his woman. Teri waved at him before making her way over.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Why are you not cooking?”
“Can we take this outside?” Teri said.
He nodded, and they made their way out of the diner into the open warm air.
“What’s going on?”
“Grace is cooking for me. I was too ill to even use the ovens today. I’d have ended up burning myself before I actually achieved anything.” Teri dropped her sunglasses over her eyes. “So, you’ve proposed to Grace.”