Page 14 of Sing Sweet Nightingale

My stomach growls in protest. I haven’t had lunch yet, and the scent of fried heaven reminds me of that.

“Sounds like maybe we need to grab some food before I introduce you to Dottie,” Ginger chuckles, leading me toward the heavenly scents.

Dottie’s reminds me of Flo’s from Disney’sCars,but in a great way. Everything is polished and shiny, with rounded corners in pastel pinks and mint greens. Pink neon lights line the angular sign and the entire border of the roof of the building. There’s a small interior space with glittery pink vinyl booths, but most guests and activity are outside, either around umbrella tables or in parked cars. It’s obvious the theme of Dottie’s is retro drive-up, where you sit in your car and eat instead of going inside. I bet this place is hoppin’ on a Saturday night.

I smile at the thought. I didn’t even know places like this still existed outside movie screens.

Ginger and I enter the small interior and are immediately greeted by a petite, smiling redhead girl on roller skates wearing a retro-style uniform dress with “Dottie’s” written on her left breast pocket in mint green and white. A small pocketed white apron tied around her waist.

“Hey there, Ginger. I wasn’t expecting you today, only your brother, who I’m surprised I haven’t seen yet.”

“He had an unexpected issue to attend to. He was really bummed to miss out on his lunch. You know how he likes to stick to his schedule.”

The server giggles and rolls her eyes good-naturedly, her high ponytail swishing behind her. The red strands curled at the end, bouncing lightly at the slight movement. “Oh, I know.”

That’s when she finally spots me, and her attention perks. Ginger said there would be a lot of interest in the new girl in town, and she wasn’t wrong.

“And who’s your friend? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you in town before.”

“Becca, this is Lottie. She’s renting our cabin for a few months.”

“Really?” She turns surprised eyes on Ginger that seem to sparkle with mischief.

Wait,are theyactually sparkling?Upon second inspection, it does look like twinkling glimmers in the bright green of her irises. That can’t be right; it must just be the light hitting her right because there also appears to be a glimmer surrounding her.

“Lottie?”

“What?” I shake off the odd sensation of seeing something that isn’t there and realize they are talking to me. “Sorry, what did you say?”

“I asked where you’re from originally.”

“Oh, um, Southern California,” I answer vaguely.

The closer to the truth I can stay, the easier it will be to remember the lies. Lots of people are from southern California, telling them that much won’t break my cover.

“Oh, how fun. This must be a big change for you.”

“You have no idea,” I chuckle at my own inside joke with myself, and the two women smile acquiescently.

“I’ve always wanted to see the city of angels. It sounds so exciting. All the celebrities and actors. I hear you can run into one just walking down the street. Is that true, Lottie?”

Becca beams with good-natured glee, unknowingly hitting a sensitive topic for me. I try to hide my wince and initial panic, shrugging it off.

“I wouldn’t know. I don’t live in the city.”

I don’t say anything else but take the opportunity to look around the space, hoping she will take the hint to change the subject. Thankfully, Ginger comes to my rescue.

“We were hoping to order some lunch and to speak with Dottie if she’s around.”

I internally thank Ginger for her well-timed diversion. She doesn’t know it, but she just saved me from a very public panic attack. I’m not the best liar; I’m a singer, not an actress.

Becca’s peppy attitude doesn’t seem at all deterred by Ginger’s redirect. Her smile is still stretched across her face, and that weird sparkle is in her eyes.

“Sure, go ahead and take a seat wherever you like, and I’ll go get her.”

Ginger thanks Becca, and she rolls away on her perfectly spotless white roller skates. We pick a pink booth against the window looking out to the street beyond, a handful of cars parked in the lot.

I slide in and put my purse and Polaroid on the seat beside me. The vinyl squeaks a little under my denim-clad legs as I settle in, feeling more and more like a normal girl the longer I’m away from LA.

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