Page 9 of Sweet Surrender
“Holy shit, I’m gonna be a dad,” Blake said suddenly and went slightly pale.
“You’re gonna be a fucking awesome dad. I have zero doubts at all, my friend,” Dean said seriously, putting his arm around Blake’s shoulder.
“Ditto, man. Your kid is so lucky to have you two as parents, they’ll be the most loved, protected and cherished child in all of Citrus Pines,” Beau added.
The guys talked a bit longer before heading over to Justine and Christy. Beau and Dean both enveloped Justine in a giant but gentle bear hug. They all chatted about the exciting news, guessing weight and gender and soon baby talk slipped into Christy and Dean’s wedding talk. But the whole time Beau’s eyes kept flicking to the closed door of Taylor’s office.
*
“Get in the effing bag, you mothereffer!” Taylor grunted, shoving a final pair of jeans into her wash bag to take to the laundromat. It was her night off from the bar, she only got one a week and what excitement did she have planned? Laundry and paperwork.I’m so rock and roll.
She surveyed her bedroom: clothes strewn everywhere, pink pillows on the floor and shoes scattered about. She was a messy person but hell she was the only one living here, she didn’t need to keep it tidy for anyone. And even though it was messy, she still knew exactly where everything was.
She rummaged through the floordrobe to see what needed washing and spotted a pair of pink panties hiding under her bed and crammed them into the bag. When she didn’t think she could fit any more clothes in there and still carry it, she left her cabin and walked into town.
The laundromat was quiet, apparently people other than her had better plans for a Friday night than doing laundry. A row of washers lined one wall and dryers along the other with a bench separating them. There was a row of wooden seats by the window, although no one sat there unless they wanted an ass full of splinters. Next to the seats was a small table with ancient magazines on it. The one she read last time had a fascinating article about the wedding of Charles and Diana.
Taylor filled a machine with her clothes and checked the timer. She could pop across the street to Ruby’s Diner to grab a late dinner and do her paperwork there then come back for her clothes when they were finished.
In the diner, the addictive smell of coffee and sugar hung heavy in the air. Nostalgia smothered her as she remembered all the good times she had here. Times with her mom before she left, times with Dean when they were teenagers just hanging out, or the times she came here with Beau and they always split a slice of cookie dough cheesecake. She hadn’t had the dessert since the last time she came here with him, couldn’t bring herself to though she knew Ruby still sold it.
“Evening gorgeous,” Ruby said, standing by the register.
“Hey Ruby, how’s it going?” Taylor called, glancing around at all the red Formica and mirrored surfaces that blinded you when the sun caught them. Ruby had been running this place for fifty years. Taylor had been coming for nearly thirty and had gotten to know the old bat well.
Ruby had become something of a surrogate grandmother to Taylor. A really rude, zany grandmother. The woman was in her seventies but still sported bright purple hair which clashed horrifically with her scarlet red lipstick. Her dark eyeshadow peaked out around the rim of her electric-blue-framed glasses as she peered at Taylor, looking her over from head to toe, making sure she was okay.
“Much better now I’ve seen that pretty lil’ face of yours,” Ruby replied before a hacking cough rattled her petite frame.
Taylor frowned. “Did you go to that doctor’s appointment I set up for you?”
Ruby began to vigorously wipe down the Formica counter. “He won’t be able to help me, he’s nothin’ but a quack! I tell you I used to see that fool runnin’ around town with no clothes on, why would I trust him?”
Taylor pinched the bridge of her nose, holding back a frustrated sigh. “Rubes, he was seven years old when he did that, and he hasn’t done it since.”
Ruby waved a hand dismissively.
“Please go and see him, for me?” Taylor batted her lashes innocently.
Ruby stared at her over the rim of those bright glasses and sucked her false teeth sharply.
“I want to make sure you’re healthy. What would I do if I came in one day and you weren’t here? That you’d left me too?”
“Oh, hell enough! I’ll go goddammit, make me a new one for this week.”
“Third time’s the charm,” Taylor muttered under her breath.
“You sassin’ me, girlie?” Ruby snapped.
“No ma’am. I’ll let you know the time and day.” Taylor unleashed her Cheshire cat grin at the old woman. Ruby harrumphed but patted Taylor’s hand affectionately.
“Take a seat and I’ll bring you some dinner,” Ruby said. Taylor didn’t even need to order anymore, Ruby always knew what she wanted: pancakes with bacon, maple syrup and a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a strawberry shake. Taylor had the biggest sweet tooth, and Ruby’s sweet treats were the stuff of dreams. Taylor thanked her and headed towards her usual booth in the corner.
“Hey Bear,” she called as she walked past the gentle giant who worked as a mechanic at Dean’s garage.
“Evening,” he grunted, and she doubled back to chat although Bear was never one for words when grunts would do.
“How’s your mama doing?” she asked. Bear’s mom had been really sick for the last few years and Bear had moved home to take care of her. Taylor didn’t know if it was the kind of sick someone would get better from and didn’t feel like it was appropriate to ask.
