Clearing her throat, she says, “Okay, one oatmeal coming up.”
“You’re the best,” I tell her before opening my laptop. I get straight to work, intent on channeling all the feelings I have for one sassy diner owner into my writing.
Fingers crossed.
Chapter15
Moira
The next several days start to form a delightful pattern. Ethan arrives at the diner for breakfast every morning, my boys join him for lunch, and then the two of us walk out together at the end of my shift. I’ve really started looking forward to work.
Digger picks Wyatt up after lunch to take him back to the lodge to make money for the trip—that is, if his age bracket wins the most raffle sales. Although, the way he’s going, you’d think it was in the bag.
Meanwhile, the twins go home, where under Edna’s supervision, they keep digging up my front yard like they’re looking for buried treasure. They won’t tell me why they’re doing it and it’s making me crazy.
The boys and I are supposed to have Sunday dinner at the lodge today, but other than that, I’m planning to relax. And by that, I mean get caught up on laundry, tidy the house, dust, and vacuum. But when I’m done with all of that, I’m going to sit out on the back deck and read.
I’m just turning on the washing machine when my phone pings.
Digger:There’s a problem with the house so I can’t make the monthly grocery run to Anchorage today. Can you wait a few days for supplies?
As regular restaurant supply deliveries don’t happen in our corner of Alaska, Digger usually makes the run for both my diner and the lodge.
Sighing, I realize my entire day is about to take a sharp turn. I’m in for four hours of driving plus lifting, lugging, and loading several carts full of groceries, only to come back and unload at both the lodge and the diner.
Me:I’m almost out of everything at the diner, so I’ll make the trip.
Digger:Thanks. Drop the boys off here so you can take the truck. Grandpa’ll watch them.
Me:Okay, I’ll be there in about an hour.
Digger:Ethan is here and he’s wondering if he can go with you. He wants to do some research for his book.
Me:Yes, please. I could use help loading everything in the truck.
Not only have I come to love seeing Ethan, but it will also make the trip a lot less boring having someone to talk to. I spend the next forty-five minutes getting ready, and by the time I’m done, I look pretty darn great. I try to convince myself I’m doing it for me—after all, a gal likes to feel girly occasionally.
Outside, the boys are making all kinds of racket, and I rush to the window to let them know we’re leaving for the lodge in a few minutes. Then I run downstairs to change the laundry and load the dishwasher so I can have it run while I’m gone. As much as I bemoan the fact that my life is busy, I know the day will come when the boys leave and I’m left totally alone. The quiet will be deafening.
Thoughts like this make me wonder if I should listen to Digger and Grandpa Jack and start opening myself up to a man in my life. Yet, the only man that comes to mind is Ethan and we’re practically from different galaxies.
I climb into the driver’s seat with my blown-out hair, my face full of makeup, and wearing the new sundress I bought online. The kids pile in after me.
"I thought you were going to Costco,” Wyatt says, buckling himself in.
“I am.”
“Then how come you look like you’re going to a wedding?”
“I don’t look that dressed up, do I?” Panic sets in that Ethan is going to think I did this for him. I mean, I did, sort of, but I don’t want him to know that.
“You look totally fancy,” Ash says.
“I just … felt like getting a little done up today is all.”
“Why?” Colton asks.
“Sometimes a woman wants to make herself look nice. Can we drop it already?”