-I apologize that this one has been so long coming. I had most of it written a week or two after the last chapter but got writer's block going into the date. I have had this finished for a few months, but life got in the way of editing this one. Thank you to all my readers and their patience. I hope to be wrapping this one up in another chapter or two.-
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Without any groceries in the house, Oscar made the wise choice to go to Mel's Diner the next morning. It was his favorite place to eat and a staple of everyone in town. Mel's was family-owned for two generations, and someday soon, it would probably be three. Melvin Clark Jr. had taken over from Melvin Sr. who ran the place when Oscar was a kid. Oscars ties to Mel's went back is rookie days as a patrolman. His first patrol included this area, so he usually started and stopped his shift here with a cup of coffee. In fact, that was how he met his late wife Wanda, she waited tables here and worked the morning shift.
As soon as Oscar walked through the door, Hanna, Mel's oldest daughter, who was hostess, shouted out back to her father.
"Dad," she hollered behind her with a massive grin beaming at Oscar. "We got an escaped jailbird here! Better call the cops!"
"Haha," Oscar barked at her as he hung his coat on the hooks in the entranceway. "I was let out on good behavior."
"Oh, we know," Hanna said. "Dad and I saw that weird press conference. The rumor was that you got a beating in there from an orderly."
"No beat down for me. Just good beating on an orderly that didn't understand the meaning of the word "No."
Hanna was Melvin's oldest daughter of his four. At forty, she definitely looked it and never tried to hide it. She was the spitting image of her mother with blond hair dark rim glasses. They both had pointy noses with dark brown eyes. In all honesty, Hanna was not a looker but had all her father's ambitions. She planned to take over for her dad when he retired. Oscar knew from prior talks with Melvin, he was ok with that but not the idea of retirement.
The diner was still empty on a Sunday because it was still way before the local churches let out. Oscar knew the routine well. If he got here before seven, he could always get his favorite booth in the back. Old cop habits died hard, and training always taught him to put his back against a wall with a clear sight of all the exits.
Oscar didn't wait for Hanna to seat him. He just walked down to the booth at the far end and sat down. A few minutes later, Hanna dropped a cup of coffee in front of him just the way he liked it.
"You in a rush to order, or can you wait a bit for Rene to come in?" she asked, watching as a few new patrons walked in.
"No rush at all, hun," Oscar replied. "I could use the paper if you got one. Don't hurry, though."
"I'll have dad bring it out, he has a present for you," she told him and then walked up to take care of the new customers. "Glad to have you back."
Mel's Diner was you're traditional all chrome fifties-style diner. They were famous for the best hash browns in the county, and as per usual, Oscar would likely place two orders. The hash browns were just as good the next morning if he heated them in the microwave. That was no easy feat.
Oscar sipped at his coffee and watch the few cars out on the road this early. The Diner was right at the edge of town, making it a commonplace for everyone in the whole area.
"Oscar," said a big heavyset man with Santa Claus style beard. "Good to have you back, man."
Melvin, the owner, took a seat opposite Oscar and slid him the newspaper. It wasn't just the newspaper though, underneath the paper he carried was something framed.
Oscar lifted the paper and laughed at the sight. Melvin had cutout last week's news headline about Oscar saving a nurse. It was framed for Oscar and everything. Melvin pointed at a hook on the wall behind Oscar.
"Figured you might want to hang that up over your booth," Melvin joked.
"Thanks, but I didn't do anything," Oscar said, holding his hands up.
"Yeah, yeah," Melvin said mockingly. "Just like back in ninety-five when you were off duty, and that guy came in with a knife to rob me. I swore that kid shit bricks when you pulled your gun."
"Right place, right time Mel," Oscar said modestly. "Doesn't always work that way."
"True, but I thought my old friend deserved a bit of recognition."
"Well then, I thank you," Oscar said, extending his hand to the big man.
They shook hands, and Mel replied, "Your welcome, and I am sorry I missed your welcome home party yesterday. Nat swung by to invite us, but I couldn't leave the diner."
"No biggie," Oscar said, placing the frame on the wall. "How long have we known each other? I know the drill, my friend. The only time I see you is here or if your wife invites me to dinner."
"I am a workaholic. You know that. You're going to have to tell me later about how they treat the patients up at Winterbrook. I have heard some horror stories."
"I will. For now, let's just say it isn't so bad except for the strictness. Us, old fogies are hard to break from bad habits."
Mel tapped Oscar on the shoulder, "They took your cigars away, didn't they?"
"You know it," Oscar remarked, smirking.
The bell on the main door rang as more people began coming in. It Looked like it was going to be a busy Sunday at Mel's.
"I think that is my cue," Mel said, getting up from the table. "Rene should be here any minute."
"Did someone say my name?" echoed from a tiny voice in the kitchen.
"Nevermind," remarked Mel as he shuffled off to the kitchen. He waved goodbye to Oscar and shook his head as he walked away.
"I heard my favorite customer is here!" chirped a tiny blonde girl as she tied her apron over her jeans and t-shirt. Then walked over to Oscar's booth, almost skipping with bubbliness.
Renee was the youngest daughter of Mel's, and let's just say, she was very much a surprise to the family when she was born. At four foot eight, she was a bubbly bundle of energy that never stopped. She looked nothing like any of her older sisters except her blonde hair. No pointy nose, not tall and lanky. Mel used to joke that she was the mailman's kid, but there was no way she wasn't his. Her eyes were the spitting image of Melvin Jr.'s baby blues. Natalie had babysat her most of her life, so Oscar was like her uncle. The girl wasn't more than twenty and going to college for psychology. She only worked for her dad on the weekends.
"Hey, Tiny," Oscar said to her.
"Hey, grumpy pants," she quipped back. "The usual?"
"You know it."
"DAD! OSCAR WANT HIS USUAL!" she screamed to the kitchen.
"Rene! No screaming!" jabbed Hanna from the front area, shaking her head in embarrassment.
The petite girl rolled her eyes and looked back at Oscar. She snickered at Hanna and pointed her finger.
"Some people, am I right?" she joked with Oscar.
"How's school?" Oscar asked, trying to change the subject. He did on want to get in the middle a sister squabble. Those never ended well.
"Meh," she said, leaning in closer to Oscar. "Why don't you tell me about the big house?" she whispered to him.
"I was not in the big house," Oscar stated dryly. "Just a mental health facility."
"Stage any prison breaks, or get electroshock, or or..."
"No, " Oscar said, interrupting her. "Nothing like that. It was pretty boring until I took out that orderly."
"Didja karate chop him like in the movies?" Rene teased make a swinging gesture with her arms.
"No, just tripped him with my cane," he told her. "It was pretty unremarkable. He was just a dumbass."
"Did it make ya miss being a cop?" she asked, being more serious.
"Nah."
Hanna walked up to them with a pissed look on her face. Her hands were crossed, and her eyes were daggers. The diner behind looked like it was filling up quickly even for a Sunday.
"Leave poor Oscar alone, shrimp," Hanna said. "I got you four more booths while you were over here bull shiting. So get to work."
"Sure thing dear wonderful great much much much older sister of mine," Rene replied with a salute. "Bet they don't tip nearly as good as you," she said to Oscar while fluttering eyes mocking innocence at him and then vanished.
"Seriously, Oscar," Hanna said, smiling. "I don't know why you encourage her."
"She reminds me of what it was like to be young again. Also, I wish I could bottle her energy and sell it," Oscar joked.
"Don't we all," Hanna said, going back to the front. "Dad says food will be a few more minutes."
Oscar nodded and went back to his paper. The coffee here was sludge, but Mel kept the fancy stuff outback for himself. It was also the stuff he gave Oscar too. Over thirty years of friendship had to mean something.
Mel and Oscar went way back. Mel was only just shy of retirement, making him a bit younger than Oscar. Mel's wife Joan and Wanda had been longtime friends going back to elementary school. Besides Oscar being here in on patrol, Wanda worked the register and helped hostess when the busy seasons came in. Renee had been born just after Wanda had passed, which was heartbreaking. Natalie and Tom were teenagers then so Natalie took a shine to the new baby. In her grieving, she helped Joan out with the baby in hopes it would brighten everyone's sadness. That was why Renee and Oscar were so close. Renee spent many a day at Oscar's house over the years while Joan helped her husband with the diner.
The newspaper didn't inform Oscar of anything even close to new. Even after months away, nothing had changed in the headlines. Politicians were still fighting like children, and the economy was on edge to hit the shitter. Oscar sipped his coffee, not reading as he flipped pages in search of the crossword puzzle.
"Ehem!" coughed a familiar voice. "You look lonely in this booth. Mind if we join you?"
Oscar lowered the paper to see Daphne and her son standing there. He fought back his urge to scoop her up right there and kiss her. This was a pleasant surprise. She wore a pair of dark blue denim jean cut-offs and a light gray tank top. Not as sexy as her dress from the previous day, but she still filled it out nicely.
"If I didn't know any better, my dear, I would say I have a stalker," Oscar kidded her.
"Of course you do," Daphne replied, winking at him.
All the while, Peter stood there, confused by their exchange. Oscar put down the paper and gestured to the seat in front of him. Daphne slid into the booth first, and Peter slid in after her.
"So Peter, this is Oscar. And Oscar, this is Peter." Daphne said, picking up a menu. "Oscar is the man who saved me last week."
Oscar shook Peters, and they exchanged pleasantries. Peter was a decent looking kid but seemed a bit awkward socially. Oscar could relate, his nephew had been much the same way. It took time, but Oscar did his best to get Tom out of his shell.
"Thank you," Peter told Oscar.
"For what?" Oscar asked a bit confused.
