Joe's Diner Page 17

  There were even times when Chantelle didn’t do most of the talking.

  However, of all the things they talked about, they didn’t mention his imminent departure.

  With the end of the summer came the end of the tourist season. Mark’s research indicated the diner would experience a slump, but that didn’t happen. Not only were they busy, they were busier than usual with a busload of seniors having decided to take a week’s vacation in Aidleyville for reasons Chantelle couldn’t figure out. Other small cities were closer to the coast if people wanted to vacation near the ocean, and other cities had attractions tourists were more likely to find interesting. Even the shopping was geared more to the residents of their small town rather than the transient tourist population.

  Chantelle considered their choice of Joe’s Diner for mealtime a blessing in disguise because, not only was it good for business, but being so busy gave her less time to dwell on the inevitable fact that Mark was leaving soon.

  The day after the merry group departed, Chantelle received a message that Uncle Joe wanted her and Mark to take a few hours off and come to the house so they could talk.

  Chantelle knew the day was coming, but to be told it had actually arrived made her stomach churn and her heart pound. She had less than a week, and Uncle Joe and Jack would be back. This was the day Uncle Joe would tell her if she still had a job on Monday.

  Chantelle started to count the minutes until she would once again have to see Mark to the airport. Only this time, he would really be getting on the plane.

  As they pulled into Uncle Joe’s driveway, she was surprised to see Jack’s car parked on the street. When they entered the house, Jack and Uncle Joe were sitting on the couch; Susan and Aunt Ellen were in the kitchen chatting.

  Uncle Joe motioned them both to sit on the loveseat. “As you know, my doctor has given me a clean bill of health to return to the diner on Monday and the same with Jack. I don’t think I have to tell you that my little brush with death has made me think a little differently about things. One of them is that I’ve spent all my life working in the diner, away from Ellen. I haven’t been spending enough time with the person most special to me. I’m close to retirement; I’ve made a comfortable living. We have money waiting to be spent, so we’re going to retire and spend it. I asked Jack to buy me out.”

  Chantelle gasped and pressed her hands to her cheeks. Next to her, Mark flinched. She glanced quickly at Jack, then to Mark, then back to Jack again. Jack was a good and fair man, but he wasn’t related to her, and he owed her nothing except her salary for time already worked. No doubt, Jack had friends or family of his own he would prefer to have work for him, not a clumsy server with a higher breakage ratio than anyone else in the restaurant industry.

  Jack met her eyes. “It seems Joe beat me to the punch. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, too, right along the same lines, especially since my leg is never going to be the way it was. I was going to ask Joe to buy me out. I’m ready to retire and start traveling, too.”

  Chantelle’s head reeled. She sat, unable to speak.

  Beside her, Mark cleared his throat. “What does this mean?”

  Both men looked at each other, then back to Chantelle and Mark.

  “It means that Joe’s Diner is officially going to be put up for sale tomorrow. We just thought we should tell you privately before we tell the rest of the staff.”

  “For sale?” she sputtered.

  Jack nodded. “Don’t worry. Everyone’s jobs are still secure. We’ll go back to normal on Monday, and we’ll run things the way we have been for years until we find a buyer. We’re going to make it a condition of sale that no jobs are compromised, unless anyone wants to quit, of course. So don’t worry, your job is safe if you want it.”

  Jack addressed Mark. “I guess you’re free to go home now, Mark. Your mom told me they offered you your old job back with a raise attached. I don’t know how we can ever thank you for what you’ve done.”

  “It was nothing,” he mumbled. “Running half of the diner was a life experience I’ll never forget.” He turned to Chantelle, and their eyes locked. She couldn’t read what was in his big brown eyes. Sadness? Regret?

  Whatever it was, she was sure her eyes showed the same thing to him.

  Chantelle stood and turned away to keep from bursting into tears. “I guess we’d better get back to the diner, then.”

  Mark stood as well. “Yes. Thanks for letting us know before everyone else. Congratulations on your decision. I know it came with much prayer and careful consideration.”

  Jack and Uncle Joe stood in unison. “Yes, it was a difficult decision, but we both believe it’s the right one.”

  The return trip to the diner was made in complete silence, which Chantelle didn’t consider a bad thing. She didn’t think she could speak if her life depended on it.

  They walked into the diner to see very few people seated, being the middle of the afternoon on a weekday.

  Chantelle expected simply to run down to the lunchroom to retrieve her book, but Mark grabbed her hand and pulled her along behind him. Barely slowing his pace, he spoke as he passed Brittany. “Chantelle and I need to have a meeting before she goes home for the day. Please hold my phone calls.”

  The second the office door closed, before she had time to sit down, Mark turned around and stood in front of Chantelle, so close that they stood toe to toe. “What do you think?”

  “Think? I’m in utter shock. And besides that, I’m obviously going to be out a job soon. I’m a horrible server.”

  He reached up and cupped her cheeks the same way he had done a couple of weeks ago. Chantelle’s head swam.

  “They didn’t say anything about you serving. They said things would remain the same as they are right now. And right now, you’re opening up, hosting, supervising, and doing the cash. Could you do that on an ongoing basis?”

  “Of course I could. I didn’t think I’d like working in a restaurant, and sometimes it’s hard being on my feet all day, but I really like this job.”

  “And what about me?” he murmured. His thumbs started brushing her cheeks, along her temples, stalling any reasonable thinking process.

  “Well. . .I like you, too,” she choked out, unable to tell him how she really felt. Whether or not she had a job on Monday, Mark was leaving. In fact, even if she did have a job on Monday, she didn’t know how she would still be able to work at the diner without him there. She could picture herself breaking into tears in the middle of seating new patrons—something the new owners would not appreciate.

  “I feel the same way,” he said as his lips descended on hers.

  Fool that she was, she kissed him back in equal measure.

  Brittany’s voice blared through the intercom. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we have a problem. A whole busload of teens from the high school just came in for their scheduled tour of the restaurant for career day. My calendar says they’re not supposed to be here until tomorrow. Mark, can you show them around?”

  Chantelle could feel the regret as Mark pulled away. He cleared his throat. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

  Chantelle ran her fingers through her hair in a futile attempt to straighten it. “I better help Brittany. I guess I’ll see you later.”

  Mark opened the door. “Count on it,” he said over his shoulder and walked away.

  ❧

  Chantelle had barely punched in the code for the alarm when she heard the door open again. “Kevin? Is that you? You’re early.”

  Mark appeared behind her. “Nope. It’s me.”

  Her heart pounded in her chest. “What are you doing here so early?”

  “We have to talk, and we have to talk right away.” He led her to the closest table, where they sat down. “I didn’t sleep all night. I spent the whole night praying and thinking. You know they’re putting the restaurant up for sale today.”

  “As if I could forget.”

  “What do you think about us forming a partnership an
d running the restaurant on a permanent basis? I think we could do it. You like it, I like it, and we’ve been doing really well. Profits are up, and we’ve even hired a couple of extra part-timers. I would like us to own the diner.”

  Chantelle’s heart dropped to somewhere below the bottoms of her shoes. It was almost painful to admit what she had to say. “You know I’m not in a position to do that. I can barely make my rent, never mind come up with a deposit.”

  He reached across the table and covered her hands with his. “I didn’t mean it that way. Remember when we first started this and I said I wasn’t asking you to marry me? I’ve changed my mind. Not only am I asking you to be my permanent partner in this business, I’m asking if you’ll be my partner for life. I love you, Chantelle. Will you marry me?”

  Chantelle’s heart stopped, then started up in double time. “Marry you? And run the diner, too? Are you serious? You mean you think we can work together all day and then be together. . .at night?”

  He grinned. “I think that’s the way it works.”

  Chantelle looked around her at the so-far empty restaurant she’d come to know and love, then at the man she’d come to love even more.

  She grinned back. “It might work.”

  “Might?”

  “Okay, it will work. Of course, I’ll marry you. Are you really going to buy the diner? You have enough money for that?”

  He nodded. “Not only was that a decent last check from S&B, remember I’ve done nothing but work for the past three years with no time off. We’ll just say I’ve got some substantial savings, plus I’ve got a few good investments I can cash in. Yes, I can buy the diner.”

  A tinkle sounded, signifying the main door opening. Mark stood as Kevin and Brittany’s voices drifted through the main area of the restaurant, getting louder as they drew closer, then softer as they headed downstairs.

  Chantelle couldn’t hold back her grin. She stuck out one hand toward him over top of the table. “We’d better shake on it. Partners?”

  Mark grinned right back and reached toward her. He grabbed her hand, but didn’t return the handshake. Instead, he pulled her to her feet. Once she was standing, he wrapped both hands around her waist and pulled her close. She could feel him smiling as he kissed her.

  When they separated, he was still smiling. “Great. We’re partners. I’m going to phone Sean and tell him I can’t accept that job. Then, I’m going to let Uncle Jack and Joe know I’ve got a deposit for them. But first, about that next promotional. . .”

  He took a step back, tilted his head slightly, and crossed his arms over his chest. “Instead of a turkey contest, what would you think if our next contest featured a wedding theme?”

  About the Author

  GAIL SATTLER lives in Vancouver, BC (where you don’t have to shovel rain) with her husband, three sons, two dogs, five lizards, and countless fish, many of whom have names. She writes inspirational romance because she loves happily-ever-afters and believes God has a place in that happy ending. Visit Gail’s Web site at www.gailsattler.com.

  Dedication

  Dedicated to Ryan and Mike. Ordering a hamburger and fries will never feel the same. Honorable mention goes to Kathy. Thank you.

  A note from the author:

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  Gail Sattler

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