Unfortunately, it didn’t solve my immediate problems.
“I don’t think I can have it all, though. Not when the things I want are diametrically opposed to each other.”
“Well,” she handed me my drink and leaned toward me conspiratorially. “I have an idea you might like to hear.”
***
I needed to speak to Hugh. I dialed his number, and after a few rings he picked up.
“Ungh?”
“Did I wake you?”
“No, why?”
“You sounded like a caveman when you picked up.”
“Dunno, that’s just how I answer the phone.”
“Well, it’s delightful. Look, can we meet up? I feel bad about our fight earlier; I’m hoping we can talk it out.”
“Sure, I feel the same. Wanna go for food and drinks? Let’s meet at Smokey Joe’s?”
“I have literally no idea what that is, but the name makes me think weird things.”
Hugh chuckled quietly. “It’s a diner, near the hospital on Rydale Avenue. Maybe we can see if we can visit Cameron too?”
“Okay, sure. See you in one hour?”
I scurried to the bathroom to get a shower and freshen up as best I could, and while the water cascaded over my face I wondered where I might end up that night. Go prepared for anything.
As I wrapped a towel around myself, I heard a faint knock at the bathroom door.
“Sweetie? I’ve left something outside for you. It was going to be for your birthday, but I’ll get you something else.”
I opened the door and found a fancy shopping bag sitting outside. Inside was a beautiful pink tea dress with a peach print. The Peter Pan collar and smocking down the front made it adorable, but it was short and flippy enough to be quite flirty too. I slipped it over my head and found that it fit like a glove. With extra motivation to look nice, I quickly rummaged around the bathroom and started on my makeup.
In the mirror, I saw someone who actually looked like they’d slept in a bed last night, not a hospital waiting room chair. Ah, the wonderful power of cosmetics.
The cab honked its horn, I’d decided to leave the rental car behind with my plan of being prepared for anything including Hugh offering to drive me home — his or mine. I ran outside, stopping only to give Mom a huge hug and kiss of thanks. I couldn’t believe how much things had changed between us; I’d gained a best friend. I jumped in the cab and asked him to take me to Smokey Joe’s.
“You’re a bit well-dressed for that place, if you don’t mind me saying, ma’am.”
“It’s just a standard diner, isn’t it?”
“Standard isn’t the word I’d use. You’ve not been there before?”
“No. Why? What’s it like?”
“It’s like a dive bar, but without the alcohol. The customers usually bring their own.”
“Oh. Sounds fun.”
It sounded like Hugh. Always seeking whatever urban grime he could get his hands on, I imagined him in there making friends with people from all walks of life and getting the inside story.
I wondered whether they all knew his best friend was a cop.
We pulled up outside, and through the steamed-up window I saw Hugh already in there. I paid the driver and walked through the doors, only to be met by a stench of stale beer and fried food that was so strong I practically had to wade through it.
Even at this early hour the place was almost full, and a few of them were definitely not sober. You were drinking whiskey not so long ago, I reminded myself.
Hugh spotted me from a table on the other side of the diner, and he rose to greet me.
“You look... wow.” His eyes widened as I approached. “You look too good for this place. I thought it would be fun to see how I get some of my stories, but not today. Let’s go down the road.”
“I do not have a problem with that,” I said, smiling as he took my hand and led me out of the bizarre diner.
“There’s a Starbucks down the road. Let’s keep it simple, okay?” he asked, and I nodded enthusiastically.
“I’d do terrible things for a coffee with at least two thousand calories in it right now.”
Hugh looked down and waggled his eyebrows as we walked down the street. “What kind of things?”
“Hey, less of that, mister,” I said in a chastising tone. “I’m not doing anything to a man who insults my job like you did.”
His face turned serious, and he pulled open the coffee shop door to allow me inside. “Ah. Yeah, well, let’s get our coffee, and we’ll talk about that.”
I grabbed us a booth while Hugh bought the drinks. He brought them over on a tray, along with a couple of lemon poppyseed muffins; my all-time favorite.
We sat in silence while we enjoyed the muffins; it was obvious that we’d both been too long without a proper meal.