“Chocolate,” Mark said. “And I’ll have my usual. But hold the salad this time.”
“Coming right up.” The newly slimmed Blanche marched over to the kitchen window and placed their order.
“Your usual comes with a salad?”
“Blanche’s misguided attempts to look out for my health.”
The Last Stop’s owner returned with two glasses of water. “I heard about your big party. Mrs. Hardwick said it went well. They stopped by on their way home.”
“It did,” Amy acknowledged, allowing herself to feel relief for the first time. It was over. No more pretending. She could put the lies and hidden truths behind her—at least some of them. “I think the puppies stole the show.”
Blanche shook her head. “I told Mark the other night, I think you’re crazy to live out there by yourse
lf with a bunch of attack dogs.”
Amy picked up her water glass, raising it to her lips. She’d received countless pats on the back for a job well-done. But no one had called her crazy.
“But I’m glad to see a young woman starting her own business,” Blanche continued. “You should join the Heart’s Landing Chamber of Commerce.”
Amy slowly set her glass back on the counter before she accidentally dumped it in her lap. Her business. Of all the people to recognize that she hadn’t founded a charity to worship her husband’s memory. She looked at Mark out of the corner of her eye. She suspected he’d brought her here for more than the food.
“It took me a while to join,” Blanche said. “After I lost my Henry. We’d always run the diner together, but he belonged to the local business associations. They were all a bunch of old boys’ clubs back then. Not so much now. They’d welcome you with open arms.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“You do that.” A bell rang in the window separating the kitchen from the rest of the diner. Blanche turned. “I’ll get your food.”
Amy ate half her burger and most of the fries before asking for a to-go bag. Without the bun, the burger would be a nice treat for Jango.
Blanche cleared their plates and returned, her eyes sparkling. “Now, how about some chocolate cake?”
Amy glanced at the glass display case. One frosted triple layer cake sat on the shelf, and there were only two slices left. Not that it mattered. She couldn’t eat another bite.
“A slice for Amy,” Mark said. “I’m good.”
Before she could object, Mark stood. “Excuse me for a moment, ladies.”
When he was out of earshot, Amy leaned forward. “Blanche, I can’t eat another bite.”
The older woman ignored her, opening the display case and placing the larger of the two slices on a plate.
“That boy.” The older woman shook her head as she set the dessert and two forks in front of Amy. “He’s been refusing cake since he was little. Always telling me to give it to one of my paying customers. He’d do his schoolwork, never speaking unless spoken to, never asking for anything and refusing half of what I tried to feed him as if there was always someone more deserving.”
Amy stared at the rich chocolate frosting. It was so easy to picture Mark as a child, sitting here waiting for his mother to finish her shift. Yes, he’d spent a lot of nights at Darren’s house. But not every night. Before he was old enough to stay home alone, it made sense he’d be here. And he wouldn’t want to draw attention or cause a fuss, not Mark.
She was still staring at the layered cake when Mark returned to his stool. “You haven’t touched it.”
“I need your help,” she said, wishing she could wrap her arms around him and hold him tight until he understood that he was every bit as worthy of recognition, of happiness and of having a place in this world as anyone else.
Amy held out a fork. “Please. I can’t eat this by myself. And I don’t think Blanche will let us leave until we finish.”
“You sure?” he said. “You only ate half your burger.”
“I’m sure.” She dug in, forcing one bite on her full stomach, knowing he wouldn’t touch it until she did. The top layer of icing slipped off her fork, falling down to her chest. The creamy blend of sugar and chocolate slid down, resting on the swell of her breast just above her neckline.
She reached for a napkin, but Mark’s hand trapped hers. She turned to him and caught him staring at her chest.
“Let me,” he said.