Page 27 of No Rings Attached
We walked side-by-side as we strolled down Main Street. I pointed out the dry cleaners, and when we reached Curl Up and Dye, we waved at Glamma, who was cutting Martha’s hair.
“I can’t believe she hasn’t retired yet,” Ellie observed.
I pulled her past the shop before Glamma could come out and guilt us into going inside. “She has. Sort of. She sold the business about five years ago, but put in a clause that she can work there when she wants.”
Ellie burst into a laugh. “I love her. I’m realizing more and more that your grandmother is incredibly smart.”
I grinned. “And devious. You can’t forget that.”
“That too,” she agreed.
We arrived at the diner and I let go of her hand to open the door so she could step in ahead of me. Her eyes darted around the room taking in the decor, the setup of the room, even the customers seated at the booths and tables.
“This is like the most perfect diner ever.”
“Agreed,” I said. The place was comfortable and felt lived in. Counter seating ran along the back middle wall with the kitchen behind it, and various tables scattered around the room. Knickknacks and odd signs were displayed randomly throughout.
A rough voice barked at us from the kitchen. “You know the rules, Kingsley. Find your own seat.”
Ellie’s startled gaze swept to the opening to the kitchen behind the counter and fell on the owner. Matt was our second local grump. I waved to him and ushered Ellie over to my favorite table by the front window.
“Is he always like that?” she whispered as I pulled out a seat for her and then took the chair beside it.
I grinned. “Yup. He figures you’re here for the food, not his sparkling personality.”
“I heard that,” Matt called out while serving coffee to the few patrons sitting at the counter.
Ellie looked at him, then me, and snapped her mouth shut.
“He’s all bark and no bite,” I assured her, loud enough for him to hear.
“No food, no table,” Matt volleyed back through the serving window.
“What …?” Ellie snapped her mouth shut when he shot her a look, but the merriment in her eyes told me she didn’t take offense.
After we had a chance to look at the menu, Nora stopped by to take our order. She was a single mom who’d just moved to Ruby River a few months ago. The way her eyes lingered on Ellie, I knew she was waiting for an introduction.
“I need more coffee, Nora!” Reggie Jones, one of our oldest residents, bellowed from across the room. He sat with two of his buddies, waving his empty mug like a flag of distress.
“Hold your horses, Reggie!” someone yelled from a booth near the window.
“Yeah, the woman’s got other customers!” another added.
“Shut up, Reggie! No one needs to hear your lips flapping. Wait for Nora to get to you like everyone else,” Anita Macquire snapped. It was all rumor, but townspeople speculated that they were once engaged and Reggie broke it off the day before the wedding.
Reggie shot her a glare that could’ve curdled milk. Then he slumped in his booth like a scolded child, their rivalry still alive and well.
Nora didn’t even turn around. “I’ll be there in a minute, Reggie.” She raised her voice without missing a beat.
“I’m a paying customer!” Reggie protested.
“Your friends typically pay for you!” Nora shot back.
A chorus of ‘oooh’ rippled through the diner. Reggie’s friends laughed along with everyone else.
Nora hurried off apologizing and promising to be back in a minute. I didn’t mind. I watched Ellie as she slipped a notebook from her bag and placed it on the table.
“What’s that?” I asked.
