The Way Back Read Free Page B

her life and dwell on her failures. She was moving on with her life. Fresh start, et cetera.
    The drive into what the residents of Hawk Island considered town was short. The car had finally heated up, but still Gabby shuddered against the chill. It was late, she hadn’t eaten since lunch and her stomach was grumbling so loudly she didn’t think she could wait until the B and B’s breakfast.
    Of course she should. She had more than enough stores of fat on her body to hold her through the night. But the rational side of her brain reminded her starving wasn’t a healthy method of weight loss. She needed to fuel her body at regular intervals to keep her metabolism up.
    There weren’t many options, though. The town consisted of four or five mom-and-pop shops—currently closed for the night—ranging from a small grocery, liquor and hardware stores to an antique toy place and an exclusive clothing boutique. Obviously those last two were targeted to the tourists who were starting to discover the charm of an island situated off the coast of Maine.
    No fast food. No twenty-four-hour grocery stores. Everything was locked up and dark.
    She spied one place that still had the lights on. Pulling up, Gabby peered through the window, which was painted with the name Adel’s. She could see booths lined up along the window and a counter with stools suggesting this was a diner. Food. According to the sign that dangled from the doorknob she had seven minutes to get some.
    Hopping out of her car and sprinting as fast as she could, Gabby reached for the door and heard the satisfying ring of a bell overhead.
    “Oy, you’ve got to be kidding.” The tall girl behind the counter stopped wiping the surface in front of her and scowled.
    “The sign says you’re still open.”
    “For only seven more minutes.”
    At first the Gabby didn’t understand the woman, then she realized what had sounded like meenoots, was actually the word minutes. “I’ll be quick.”
    “You’ll make a mess.”
    “No, I swear I’ll order only a salad.”
    The girl huffed and rolled her eyes. “Sit.”
    Gabby didn’t have to be told twice. She plopped her butt on a round stool and tried to appear super hungry so the server would understand that she wouldn’t have come in here unless she was really desperate.
    “Adel, there is someone here who wants food.”
    An older woman pushed her way through a swinging door, carrying a tub of what appeared to be clean coffee cups.
    “Oh, crap.”
    Gabby shifted. “I’m sure you all don’t mean it but I’m starting to feel a little unwelcome.”
    Adel plunked down the tub with a rattle. “No, sign says we’re open until nine, so I guess we’re going to have to feed you. Coffee?”
    “Please.” She saw the young girl pour what was no doubt multiple-hours-old coffee dregs into a cup, but Gabby didn’t mind. It was piping hot.
    She shivered as the heat transferred from the cream-colored ceramic to her hands. It had been spring in New York when she left this morning. She was sure of it. She took a tentative sip. It was as foul as she expected but it warmed her throat all the way down.
    “What do you want?”
    This was easy. She’d already committed herself to a salad so there would be no reason to look at the menu and tempt herself with any of the other offerings. Willpower, Gabby. Willpower.
    “House salad, oil and vinegar dressing is fine.” Then she caught herself. “On the side. I need the dressing on the side.”
    “Oy.” The girl rolled her eyes. “One of those. On the side this, on the side that. If you want it all on the side to put together yourself, go buy groceries and do it at home.”
    Said the girl with the long legs, tiny torso and high cheekbones. She was gorgeous—model thin with long, straight brown hair that looked as though it might actually touch her bottom.
    Gabby naturally hated her on sight.
    “Zhanna, give it a break.” Adel finished stacking the cups under the counter and stared