Samantha had wanted to talk, like old times, and Gram had been all too willing to oblige, but Samantha knew, deep down, she wasn’t worth Gram’s trouble. Not after she’d left without looking back.
As she swung open the door, a nervous twitch in the pit of her stomach had her reconsidering the visit. What had Dr. Wade told her? Rebuilding bridges helps rebuild the soul. It was amazing how much stuff she actually remembered from her sessions with Dr. Wade when she’d never thought any of the information would be useful. And with Gram’s encouraging words in her ear, Samantha finally had the nerve to tackle her own emotions and fears.
Samantha had promised Candice this breakfast, and with everything she had, she was going to show Candice there was more to her now. The only problem was, Samantha hadn’t managed to control any of her emotions thus far—so what would make this visit any different?
A rush of smells greeted Samantha when she stepped through the doorway: bacon, pastries, and dark coffee all mixed with perfume and sweat. A swarm of people bustled about and filled booths and chairs. Dishes and silverware clanged, people laughed and chatted, and cooks called out orders from behind the counter. Waitresses whizzed past. Someone bumped into her from behind. It was a far different scene from the night before, and she wondered if her timing was bad.
Just as she turned to walk out, Candice caught her arm in a light grip. “Hey, Samantha.”
“Umm, I was just—”
“I know it looks crazy, but don’t worry. We’ve got it under control.” Candice’s familiar carefree smile made Samantha want to reach out and hug her.
Where had that thought come from? Samantha hadn’t hugged anyone voluntarily in well over a year. She normally loathed just the thought. But the peaceful look on Candice’s face, despite the madness of the diner, calmed Samantha’s nerves about the meeting. How odd.
“Yeah,” Samantha finally said. “I thought I caught you at a bad time.”
“Nonsense.” She pulled Samantha through the crowd of people and placed her at an empty booth in the far corner. “I’m pretty good at multi-tasking,” she said with a wink. “Plus, I have good staff, which means I’m due for a break.” Candice slid into the seat opposite Samantha and gave her another one of those heartwarming smiles.
“Your staff?”
“Yes,” Candice laughed. “This is my diner.”
Her diner? Candice couldn’t even cook s’mores when they were in Girl Scouts together. How in the world had she managed to open a diner?
“That’s wonderful.”
“Yeah, well—it keeps me busy, but I’ve still got time for old friends.”
Samantha sheepishly gazed around the busy room. Dishes clashed and people bustled about. She brought her focus back to Candice, astounded at the coolness—and eagerness—she saw there. And control. Despite the chaos, Candice looked completely in control. A twinge of jealously jumped into Samantha’s mind.
“Would you like some breakfast?” Candice asked.
“Uh…yeah. Sure.”
“Let me run and get you a menu.”
As Candice walked away, Samantha noticed the proud and authoritative way she walked through the crowd. Yes, she mused, still a bit aggravated at the thought, Candice was very much in control. Candice returned to the table, and Samantha took the menu she held out.
A moment later, a little boy burst out from behind the counter.
“Roar!” He held the toy dinosaur in the air and ran circles through the crowd. He caught Candice and Samantha staring at him and made a beeline for their booth.
“Guess what?” he called out enthusiastically as he came to halt in front of them. “I’ve almost finished that project I started yesterday. It’s really good, too.” An adorable dimple appeared when he grinned. The boy shot her a glance and ducked his head toward Candice.
“That’s wonderful, Jax!” Candice said. “I would like to introduce you to Samantha Moore, an old friend
As she swung open the door, a nervous twitch in the pit of her stomach had her reconsidering the visit. What had Dr. Wade told her? Rebuilding bridges helps rebuild the soul. It was amazing how much stuff she actually remembered from her sessions with Dr. Wade when she’d never thought any of the information would be useful. And with Gram’s encouraging words in her ear, Samantha finally had the nerve to tackle her own emotions and fears.
Samantha had promised Candice this breakfast, and with everything she had, she was going to show Candice there was more to her now. The only problem was, Samantha hadn’t managed to control any of her emotions thus far—so what would make this visit any different?
A rush of smells greeted Samantha when she stepped through the doorway: bacon, pastries, and dark coffee all mixed with perfume and sweat. A swarm of people bustled about and filled booths and chairs. Dishes and silverware clanged, people laughed and chatted, and cooks called out orders from behind the counter. Waitresses whizzed past. Someone bumped into her from behind. It was a far different scene from the night before, and she wondered if her timing was bad.
Just as she turned to walk out, Candice caught her arm in a light grip. “Hey, Samantha.”
“Umm, I was just—”
“I know it looks crazy, but don’t worry. We’ve got it under control.” Candice’s familiar carefree smile made Samantha want to reach out and hug her.
Where had that thought come from? Samantha hadn’t hugged anyone voluntarily in well over a year. She normally loathed just the thought. But the peaceful look on Candice’s face, despite the madness of the diner, calmed Samantha’s nerves about the meeting. How odd.
“Yeah,” Samantha finally said. “I thought I caught you at a bad time.”
“Nonsense.” She pulled Samantha through the crowd of people and placed her at an empty booth in the far corner. “I’m pretty good at multi-tasking,” she said with a wink. “Plus, I have good staff, which means I’m due for a break.” Candice slid into the seat opposite Samantha and gave her another one of those heartwarming smiles.
“Your staff?”
“Yes,” Candice laughed. “This is my diner.”
Her diner? Candice couldn’t even cook s’mores when they were in Girl Scouts together. How in the world had she managed to open a diner?
“That’s wonderful.”
“Yeah, well—it keeps me busy, but I’ve still got time for old friends.”
Samantha sheepishly gazed around the busy room. Dishes clashed and people bustled about. She brought her focus back to Candice, astounded at the coolness—and eagerness—she saw there. And control. Despite the chaos, Candice looked completely in control. A twinge of jealously jumped into Samantha’s mind.
“Would you like some breakfast?” Candice asked.
“Uh…yeah. Sure.”
“Let me run and get you a menu.”
As Candice walked away, Samantha noticed the proud and authoritative way she walked through the crowd. Yes, she mused, still a bit aggravated at the thought, Candice was very much in control. Candice returned to the table, and Samantha took the menu she held out.
A moment later, a little boy burst out from behind the counter.
“Roar!” He held the toy dinosaur in the air and ran circles through the crowd. He caught Candice and Samantha staring at him and made a beeline for their booth.
“Guess what?” he called out enthusiastically as he came to halt in front of them. “I’ve almost finished that project I started yesterday. It’s really good, too.” An adorable dimple appeared when he grinned. The boy shot her a glance and ducked his head toward Candice.
“That’s wonderful, Jax!” Candice said. “I would like to introduce you to Samantha Moore, an old friend
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