a major crisis in all this time.” After giving him a reassuring hug and a quick peck, I added, “There’s nothing we can do about this until Moose gets here. Why don’t we go ahead and eat?”
Greg looked down at the plates, and then said, “Forget it. Everything’s cold now.”
“I’m sure it will be fine,” I said as I grabbed a fork.
He wouldn’t hear of it, though. “Let me at least warm these up. I’ll be right back.”
I wasn’t about to argue, and after he took the plates back into the kitchen, I looked at the document one more time.
It appeared to be official enough, but I couldn’t testify about the validity of the claim.
One thing was certain.
EVICTION NOTICE and REPOSSESSION were printed in large enough letters to get anyone’s attention.
I just hoped my grandfather could clear it up, or The Charming Moose was going to be in some serious trouble, and soon.
I picked up the phone to call Rebecca, but I stopped mid-dial and put it back in the cradle. I’d almost forgotten that my best friend was out of town at a legal conference at the moment, and as much as I wanted her official opinion about this document, I wasn’t about to disturb her unless it turned out to be absolutely necessary.
It was twenty minutes until our normal closing time at seven, and there was still no sign of my grandfather. I hoped that Chester and his grandson hadn’t had any trouble on their way to the lake. If anything had happened to them while they’d been doing something for me, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to forgive myself.
Greg kept poking his head out of the pass-through to scan the dining room.
“Would you stop doing that?” I asked. “You’re making me nervous, and Jenny nearly dropped a bowl of mac and cheese a few minutes ago.”
“I did not,” our youngest server said with a laugh as she came by to pick up a bowl of Greg’s homemade chicken soup and a grilled cheese sandwich for Counter Seat 12. Jenny was a college student, and a godsend for us, happy to work a three-hour shift every afternoon and evening that wasn’t enough for most folks looking for a job. “And you’re as bad as he is, Victoria. Who exactly is it that we’re all waiting for?”
“Moose is coming back home tonight,” I said.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.” For some odd reason, Jenny seemed to gravitate toward my grandfather, and it was pretty clear that he didn’t mind the attention of the pretty young blonde.
“I just wish it were for a better reason,” Greg said as he ducked his head back into the kitchen.
Just as my husband disappeared, the front door slammed open and my grandfather rushed in. His gray hair was unkempt, and there was a six-day stubble of beard on his face, but his eyes were still clear, his back arrow-straight, and his demeanor commanding.
“Where’s the fire?” he bellowed.
That got the immediate attention of our final two diners. Hastily, I told them, “There’s no fire, folks. Everything is fine. It’s just an expression.”
That seemed to soothe their nerves, but Moose looked confused. “Chester told me that Rome was burning.”
I nodded. “It is, but would you mind lowering your voice? Or do you honestly want all of Jasper Fork knowing our business?”
That calmed my grandfather down in a hurry. Running the diner for all those years, Moose had heard more from the kitchen about the secret goings on and behind-the-scenes events in our small community than anyone else in town, and he knew full well how fast rumors could spread. “You’re right. Let’s continue this in back.”
Jenny protested, “But that’s not fair. I won’t be able to hear what’s going on if you both move back there.”
Moose patted her hand. “Don’t worry, child. I’m sure my granddaughter will bring you up to speed soon enough.”
Moose followed me into the kitchen, where we’d kept the notice since Mr. Lance
Greg looked down at the plates, and then said, “Forget it. Everything’s cold now.”
“I’m sure it will be fine,” I said as I grabbed a fork.
He wouldn’t hear of it, though. “Let me at least warm these up. I’ll be right back.”
I wasn’t about to argue, and after he took the plates back into the kitchen, I looked at the document one more time.
It appeared to be official enough, but I couldn’t testify about the validity of the claim.
One thing was certain.
EVICTION NOTICE and REPOSSESSION were printed in large enough letters to get anyone’s attention.
I just hoped my grandfather could clear it up, or The Charming Moose was going to be in some serious trouble, and soon.
I picked up the phone to call Rebecca, but I stopped mid-dial and put it back in the cradle. I’d almost forgotten that my best friend was out of town at a legal conference at the moment, and as much as I wanted her official opinion about this document, I wasn’t about to disturb her unless it turned out to be absolutely necessary.
It was twenty minutes until our normal closing time at seven, and there was still no sign of my grandfather. I hoped that Chester and his grandson hadn’t had any trouble on their way to the lake. If anything had happened to them while they’d been doing something for me, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to forgive myself.
Greg kept poking his head out of the pass-through to scan the dining room.
“Would you stop doing that?” I asked. “You’re making me nervous, and Jenny nearly dropped a bowl of mac and cheese a few minutes ago.”
“I did not,” our youngest server said with a laugh as she came by to pick up a bowl of Greg’s homemade chicken soup and a grilled cheese sandwich for Counter Seat 12. Jenny was a college student, and a godsend for us, happy to work a three-hour shift every afternoon and evening that wasn’t enough for most folks looking for a job. “And you’re as bad as he is, Victoria. Who exactly is it that we’re all waiting for?”
“Moose is coming back home tonight,” I said.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.” For some odd reason, Jenny seemed to gravitate toward my grandfather, and it was pretty clear that he didn’t mind the attention of the pretty young blonde.
“I just wish it were for a better reason,” Greg said as he ducked his head back into the kitchen.
Just as my husband disappeared, the front door slammed open and my grandfather rushed in. His gray hair was unkempt, and there was a six-day stubble of beard on his face, but his eyes were still clear, his back arrow-straight, and his demeanor commanding.
“Where’s the fire?” he bellowed.
That got the immediate attention of our final two diners. Hastily, I told them, “There’s no fire, folks. Everything is fine. It’s just an expression.”
That seemed to soothe their nerves, but Moose looked confused. “Chester told me that Rome was burning.”
I nodded. “It is, but would you mind lowering your voice? Or do you honestly want all of Jasper Fork knowing our business?”
That calmed my grandfather down in a hurry. Running the diner for all those years, Moose had heard more from the kitchen about the secret goings on and behind-the-scenes events in our small community than anyone else in town, and he knew full well how fast rumors could spread. “You’re right. Let’s continue this in back.”
Jenny protested, “But that’s not fair. I won’t be able to hear what’s going on if you both move back there.”
Moose patted her hand. “Don’t worry, child. I’m sure my granddaughter will bring you up to speed soon enough.”
Moose followed me into the kitchen, where we’d kept the notice since Mr. Lance
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