Page 26 of Tangled Emotions
This was a setup.
“Here you ladies go.” Her voice was stern, and her eyes looked everywhere but at me.
“Did you bring everything I asked for?” Irene winked at Cora.
“I did.” Her tone spoke of how irritated she was, but Edie remained polite.
“Splendid. Take off your coat, Edie, have some breakfast before work.” Her mom’s smirk almost made me laugh.
“Would you like some coffee?” I offered, getting down another mug.
With a resigned sigh, she draped her coat over the back of a chair and nodded. “Yes, please.”
“Cream, sugar?”
“Black.”
“Like your men?” I chuckled.
She giggled and shook her head. “I love that movie too.”
“It’s a classic.” I served her coffee.
Irene handed everyone a container and inside mine was a waffle, decked with whipped cream and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.
“What madness is this?”
Edie shrugged. “It’s a sugar cookie waffle.”
Blinking, I looked up at her. “Are you messin’ with me?”
“Nope.” She smiled. “It’s something we make on special request.”
Taking my plastic silverware, I cut into it and stuffed a bite into my mouth, moaning as the flavors danced on my tongue.
“Damn, Edie.” I licked my lips. “This is fantastic.”
“Thank you.” She tucked into her breakfast.
“Language, Francis.” Miss Cora reminded me.
“Yes, ma’am. Sorry ‘bout that.” I gave her a nod and looked at Edie. “So, is it only a family affair at the diner? Or do you have other employees?”
Irene waited, and when Edith didn’t answer, she finally did. “Mostly family along with some others. We have a young man starting this evening, don’t we, Edie?”
Nodding, she wiped her lips. “Yes. Hopefully, he stays.”
“What do you mean?”
Cora giggled. “Oh, Evelyn is a firecracker.”
“Evie tends to be a bit of a prankster, and her siblings play along.” Irene nodded in agreement. “The best one Edie did was sending one of the new cooks into the walk in for dehydrated water for the dehydrated veggies.” Irene chuckled. “The poor guy was in there for almost ten minutes.”
My head fell back as I let out a full laugh. “You didn’t?”
“Oh. I did.” She laughed. “He was a butter knife.”
“You should laugh more, Edith.” I winked at her.