from the 1950s.
She noticed an old time drugstore, a small grocery store and the coffee shop. She figured she'd spend a lot of time at the coffee shop since it was the only thing that was really familiar to her from the city. There were other little places along the square such as a barber shop with one of those real twirling red, white and blue lights outside. Amazingly, people waved at her when she got out of her car even though she didn't know anyone. Southern hospitality was seeping out of every pore of the cozy mountain town. She decided to head for the diner on the corner because she’d forgotten to eat breakfast before driving the two hours from the city.
When she walked inside, she was a little taken aback by the decor. It had Southern charm, but it was over-the-top tacky for sure. The name of the diner was “Stella’s”. She looked around trying to figure out who Stella might be, but to no avail.
“Hi, honey! Welcome to Stella’s. Just you today?” a sweet, very Southern, woman asked. She was wearing a full pink waitress uniform with a lacy white apron. The scene reminded her of an old TV show her mom used to watch called “Alice”.
“Yes, just me,” Erica said softly as she was reminded that, yes, she was alone. All alone. Left at the altar. Her mind started to wander as the waitress led her to a booth by the window.
“I’m Gracie. What can I get ya to drink?” she asked pulling a pencil out from behind her right ear.
“I’ll take a coffee please. Cream and sugar,” Erica said with a forced smile.
“Alrighty. I’ll be right back with your coffee.” Gracie handed her a menu and walked behind the long counter up front.
Erica stared out the window watching seemingly happy people pass by her. There was a mother with two small children, all holding hands and singing. There was a man walking his boxer dog and chatting with a friend. No one looked sad, and it reminded her even more that she was. Like a picture postcard directly from Norman Rockwell himself, Mill Creek Crossing was reminding her that life went on, but she was stuck.
“Here you go,” Gracie said as she set the coffee on the table. “What can I get you to eat honey?”
“I’ll have a turkey club sandwich with fries and a sweet tea,” Erica said. She wasn’t counting calories anymore because there was no wedding dress to fit into anyway.
“Got it. That’ll be up in just a few minutes,” Gracie said smiling as she took away the menu.
Erica went back to looking outside. Just then, her cell phone buzzed away in her pocket. When she took it out to look at it, she was shocked to see Max’s number flashing on the screen. She wanted to hit decline, but curiosity got the better of her.
“Hello?” she said in a flat tone devoid of any emotion.
“Erica, it’s Max,” he said trying to sound concerned. She knew that voice.
“What do you want?” Anger was already welling up inside of her as she heard him speak. What right did he have to call her?
“I’m worried about you. My Mom said…”
“Wait just a minute! You’re worried about me? Are you freaking serious?” she said louder than she should have in a quiet diner. People started to turn around as Gracie stared from behind the counter. Erica didn’t care. She was angry, and now was her chance to let Max know it.
“Of course, I’m worried. I heard you left town…”
“You have no right in the world to think about me, worry about me or even let my name cross your lips. You’re a lying, cheating piece of crap, Max!”
“I know you’re angry with me, but if I can just explain…”
“Explain what exactly? How you had a relationship with me for years, proposed, had me plan a big expensive wedding and then stood me up on my wedding day so you could screw your co-worker?” she said pointedly. “Is that what you wanted to explain? Because I already have quite a mental
She noticed an old time drugstore, a small grocery store and the coffee shop. She figured she'd spend a lot of time at the coffee shop since it was the only thing that was really familiar to her from the city. There were other little places along the square such as a barber shop with one of those real twirling red, white and blue lights outside. Amazingly, people waved at her when she got out of her car even though she didn't know anyone. Southern hospitality was seeping out of every pore of the cozy mountain town. She decided to head for the diner on the corner because she’d forgotten to eat breakfast before driving the two hours from the city.
When she walked inside, she was a little taken aback by the decor. It had Southern charm, but it was over-the-top tacky for sure. The name of the diner was “Stella’s”. She looked around trying to figure out who Stella might be, but to no avail.
“Hi, honey! Welcome to Stella’s. Just you today?” a sweet, very Southern, woman asked. She was wearing a full pink waitress uniform with a lacy white apron. The scene reminded her of an old TV show her mom used to watch called “Alice”.
“Yes, just me,” Erica said softly as she was reminded that, yes, she was alone. All alone. Left at the altar. Her mind started to wander as the waitress led her to a booth by the window.
“I’m Gracie. What can I get ya to drink?” she asked pulling a pencil out from behind her right ear.
“I’ll take a coffee please. Cream and sugar,” Erica said with a forced smile.
“Alrighty. I’ll be right back with your coffee.” Gracie handed her a menu and walked behind the long counter up front.
Erica stared out the window watching seemingly happy people pass by her. There was a mother with two small children, all holding hands and singing. There was a man walking his boxer dog and chatting with a friend. No one looked sad, and it reminded her even more that she was. Like a picture postcard directly from Norman Rockwell himself, Mill Creek Crossing was reminding her that life went on, but she was stuck.
“Here you go,” Gracie said as she set the coffee on the table. “What can I get you to eat honey?”
“I’ll have a turkey club sandwich with fries and a sweet tea,” Erica said. She wasn’t counting calories anymore because there was no wedding dress to fit into anyway.
“Got it. That’ll be up in just a few minutes,” Gracie said smiling as she took away the menu.
Erica went back to looking outside. Just then, her cell phone buzzed away in her pocket. When she took it out to look at it, she was shocked to see Max’s number flashing on the screen. She wanted to hit decline, but curiosity got the better of her.
“Hello?” she said in a flat tone devoid of any emotion.
“Erica, it’s Max,” he said trying to sound concerned. She knew that voice.
“What do you want?” Anger was already welling up inside of her as she heard him speak. What right did he have to call her?
“I’m worried about you. My Mom said…”
“Wait just a minute! You’re worried about me? Are you freaking serious?” she said louder than she should have in a quiet diner. People started to turn around as Gracie stared from behind the counter. Erica didn’t care. She was angry, and now was her chance to let Max know it.
“Of course, I’m worried. I heard you left town…”
“You have no right in the world to think about me, worry about me or even let my name cross your lips. You’re a lying, cheating piece of crap, Max!”
“I know you’re angry with me, but if I can just explain…”
“Explain what exactly? How you had a relationship with me for years, proposed, had me plan a big expensive wedding and then stood me up on my wedding day so you could screw your co-worker?” she said pointedly. “Is that what you wanted to explain? Because I already have quite a mental
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