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(The day that changed everything...)
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"Hey, Jolene! Get your head outta the clouds and get your butt in gear! Come and get this order!"
Jolene Conaway gripped her order pad tightly and headed toward the back counter. She cut her eyes at the heavyset man leaning through the partition to the kitchen. "Archie, them eggs ain't going nowhere," she said under her breath, "so what's the rush?"
A rapidly balding Archie Dunbar wiped his hands on his stained apron and leaned over the back counter. "I heard you Jolene! If you don't like it, you know what you can do? You can walk, 'cause I sure don't need no sassy waitresses in here!"
Jolene grit her teeth as she snatched up the plate filled with runny eggs, greasy buttered toast and much-too-crisp bacon. Needing this week's paycheck to pay for her Grandmother's heart medicine, she bit her lip to keep from forming an even sharper retort.
"Don't worry about him," Alice said as Archie ducked back into the kitchen. "He's just being a jackass as usual."
For nearly a year after her high school graduation, she'd toiled at Archie's Diner with Alice, the second waitress, serving food with enough lard to make a person's arteries scream in submission. She also had to endure sore feet, low wages, even lower tips and Archie's alternating orders and come-ons.
Though it was Friday morning, there was no TGIF anywhere in Jolene as she delivered the hot plate to the older sheriff in the booth next to the front door. The thought of another long shift on Saturday made her let out a deep sigh as she went back to retrieve the next order for his deputy. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized what her fate in life was actually turning out to be.
She sighed again. "Why in the hell am I here?"
~~~
"Why in the hell am I here?"
Eve Jessup sped along the highway as she again checked the GPS perched on the dashboard of her rental Lexus. She peered at the display. "Now I'm somewhere near Edgerrin, Tennessee?"
The new Janet Jackson album in the CD changer and the air conditioning on full-blast, she drove even faster, trying to make it to Nashville before sundown. "I hope this trip is worth it," she mused as she turned up the volume. She looked out the window and admired the late morning sun shining in.
"Of course, it's worth it," she smiled, remembering her mission, and went back to singing along with her favorite pop icon.
Then her stomach rumbled.
She sighed as she checked the GPS yet again. "I'm nearly lost and now I'm starving?" She gripped the steering wheel as she picked up speed again. "Fuck it. I'm stopping at the first food place I see."
She drove a few miles until she saw a sign that said "Restaurants, Next Exit." She took the exit and found herself heading down a deserted road for what seemed like forever. Finally, she saw a large, yet rickety structure to the side of the road. "Archie's Diner?" she murmured, looking at the rusted sign on top. "Great."
She parked in the gravel lot, cut off the radio and slowly got out. She drew in a breath as she looked at the forsaken building.
She guessed that the deep slate gray on the building's concrete walls had long ago been white. The roof was leaning dangerously to one side and the front steps had several large chunks of concrete missing. While the inside door was shut, the outer wooden screen door, fully off of its hinges, lay propped up right next to it.
"Oh, hell no," she said, shaking her head. "I'm not eating at this place."
However, just as she was about to get back in her car, she glanced right next to the diner. She was surprised to see a good-sized plot of land off to its side. She walked over, took a second look, and was surprised even more.
In the large space, were rows and rows of fresh fruits and vegetables planted in the rich soil.
Eve's mouth began to water as she saw rows of fresh spinach, peas, green beans, cucumbers and plump tomatoes, alongside ripe, luscious strawberries and blueberries. To the side, she saw rows of lettuce, along with sweet potatoes and collard greens. In the back were several stalks of what looked like fresh, sweet corn. She grew giddy at all the fresh produce.
Her hunger overtaking her, she went back to her car and got her briefcase and purse. "I guess I'll give this place a try," she said as she started up what was left of the steps.
~~~
Jolene heard the tinkle of the bell above the door and instinctively turned to see who walked in. She tilted her head at the striking black woman that strode inside and stopped at the front counter.
The curvy woman wore a chic navy pantsuit, with four-inch navy and white stiletto heels. Her white silk blouse was opened to the middle button, showing just a hint of a lacy black bra. Her makeup, in pretty gold and bronze tones, had been skillfully applied and her nails were mid-length and decorated in an artful French manicure.
She wore elegant, yet tasteful gold jewelry, had an expensive handbag slung over her shoulder and a matching briefcase in her hand. As she waited to be seated, she reached into her purse, pulled out her BlackBerry and began to tap on the keys.
But more impressive than the woman's wardrobe and accoutrements was her natural beauty.
Her dark mocha skin, smooth and luminous, gleamed in the intense heat. Her jet-black hair was cropped, leaving soft curls that kissed the nape of her neck. Her full, rounded breasts strained against her blouse and jacket. Her hips were curvy and her thighs were thick and luscious. The woman was elegant and graceful and had a businesslike quality that unearthed in Jolene a distinct sense of pride.
Jolene felt her palms begin to sweat as she studied the beautiful woman. Quickly, she shoved her order pad in her apron pocket, wiped her hands on her skirt and went to the front counter.
"Hi," Jolene said. "Welcome to Archie's. Can I get you a table?"
The woman smiled with pretty white teeth, sending a jolt through Jolene. "That'd be nice," the woman said. "Thanks."
"Follow me."
Jolene scanned the room for Archie. Lucky for her, he was in deep in conversation with the sheriff and the deputy. She led the woman all the way to a small table at the opposite corner of the diner, right by the women's restroom, just out of his sight.
"Is here okay?" Jolene asked, her heart beginning to pound at the woman's beauty.
"Here's just fine," the woman said as she put her jacket onto the back of the chair. She set her briefcase and purse in the other chair and slid smoothly into her seat.
Jolene stood there for a moment, lost in the woman's deep brown eyes. Then she snapped back to the present. "Well, let me get you a menu."
The woman plucked a menu from the holder on the table. "Here's one here."
"Oh yeah, right," Jolene said, her voice cracking with nerves. "Anyway, I'll be back to take your order shortly."
"No need. I know what I want. I saw the fresh vegetables outside, so I want a salad."
"A salad? Sure," Jolene said, taking out her pad and writing it down.
"Yeah," the woman said, checking her watch. "It's a bit late for breakfast, so I'll have an early lunch, so a salad's fine." Then the woman grinned. "After that, however, I want a bacon cheeseburger and fries."
"A salad, a bacon cheeseburger and an order of fries. Got it," Jolene smiled. "Coming right up."
~~~
Eve stared at the petite honey-brown young woman as she walked away, and was taken aback at her ravishing beauty.
The girl looked to be in her early twenties and was slender and lean. Though her uniform was tattered at the edges, it was neat, clean and had been carefully ironed.
