“Rose, their mom owns the diner, so for them, this place is as good as home,” my dad tells her. “Besides, it’s not like this is the Polo Lounge or something.” His eyes shift around, taking in how very much this place isn’t like any he’s used to.
When the boys tumble down the hall from the bathroom, they make a beeline for the booth right behind me. My mother will now watch, and judge, every move they make.
“I started reading your book this morning,” my dad announces, drawing all attention away from the boys.
My gut tightens in anticipation. “And …?”
“I think you’ve got something there, Ethan.”
Relief washes over me, followed quickly by a flood of self-doubt. “You’re not just saying that because I’m your son, are you?”
“You know me better than that,” he says. “I didn’t coddle you when you were a kid, I’m certainly not going to start now. Besides, the fact that you’ve got talent isn’t exactly good news as far as your mother’s concerned.” They don’t have to say that they’ve seen too many people try to make it and fail in Hollywood for me to know that’s what they’re worried about.
Behind us, the boys are involved in what sounds like a life-or-death tic-tac-toe game, based on their raised voices. “You cheated.”
“Did not.”
“Did, too.”
“Didnot.”
“You went twice. That’s cheating.”
I glance up as Moira arrives at our table. She hurries to put our drinks down before performing the “swipe across the neck” gesture to tell her kids to cut it out, then rushes off.
I grin when I hear Wyatt say, “That’s enough, you boneheads. Mom’s getting mad.”
My mom, who has indeed been watching them, asks, “Why are they here instead of at home?”
“Moira’s husband passed away when she was pregnant with the twins. She’s had a pretty hard time handling everything on her own.”
My mom looks up at Moira as though examining a racehorse she’s thinking of buying. “A pretty little thing like her widowed at such a young age…” she says, shaking her head. “She must be exhausted all the time.”
“Pretty much.”
My mom’s face lights up. “Now I see why you were willing to drive all the way to Anchorage to help a ‘friend,’” she says, pursing her lips. It takes me a minute to understand her meaning. I had completely forgotten about my mom’s day of panic when I didn’t answer the phone.
Chapter25
Moira
Ethan’s parents are formidable. They’re not exactly scary, just highly unapproachable. I hurry to wrap up some fresh bread in a basket. Sliding it toward Abigail, I ask, “Would you mind taking this over to Ethan and his parents?”
She pulls the basket toward her. “His parents, huh?”
I nod while turning around to get the boys some milk. I should have Abigail take care of the kids’ drinks, but I need a minute to pull my thoughts together. There is no reason under the sun that I should be nervous around the Caplans. They’re just like any other customers. Okay, that’s a lie, but they’re still customers. I’m never nervous around customers.
Dropping the milk off with the boys, I tell them, “Today you're having BLTs on whole wheat toast with a side salad.”
“We haven’t had fries all week,” Colton moans.
“And we’re allowed to have them once a week,” Ash reminds me.
“Fine, a side salad and fries,” I tell them. Then I lean in and whisper, “Be good and don’t embarrass Ethan in front of his parents.”
This is the point where they should nod their heads like good little soldiers and carry on with their meal quietly. That’s not what happens. Wyatt practically shouts, “Embarrass Ethan? He loves us! How could we embarrass him?”
Colton says, “She means no farting and burping.”Dear God.