2 Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili-Slaw Dogs by Mary Jane Hathaway

Author:Mary Jane Hathaway
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Publisher: Gumbo Books
Published: 2013-05-24T04:00:00+00:00

“There are people, who the more you do for them, the less they will do for themselves.”-- Emma

Chapter Eleven

“I’m glad you had time to meet me for lunch,” Frank said. His tone was off-hand but he held Caroline’s gaze a few seconds longer than necessary. He must have come straight from work because he was dressed like he’d been in a meeting. The flashy party suit was gone, replaced with an obviously expensive tailored shirt and dark blue slacks. On anyone else it would have looked like an airline pilot uniform or corporate gear, but Frank gave it a certain edginess. Maybe it was his shaggy haircut or the heavy framed glasses that changed everything. She felt a blush begin at the base of her neck and spread upwards.

“Not a problem. I was happy to get out of the house for a while.” Out of the house and out of town. She hadn’t been to Spartainville since her friend Shelby had moved away to Millsaps. Caroline smoothed her light pink skirt and hoped the matching jacket didn’t make her look like Barbie. She loved pink, but maybe there was an age where a girl had to choose other colors. She wasn’t sure what that age was, exactly.

Frank leaned across the small red Formica-topped table. “You’re probably thinking I brought you to Peggy’s because of the décor.” He paused, motioning to the black and white photographs of Elvis and Tony Bennett and the checkerboard floors. “But they have the best food in town. If you’re lucky enough to find the place, of course.”

She smiled, remembering the long trip through the back streets of the town’s seedier neighborhoods. She was reserving judgment on the diner, especially since her Coke came served in a glass with Rhett Butler’s face on it.

The waitress returned and pulled her little notebook from a pocket, pen posed. “Y’all decided?” Her bright orange-red lipstick contrasted with the neon green gum that appeared every time she worked her jaw. A brown plastic name tag with white capital letters spelled out JENNISE.

“I’d like the catfish and collard greens, please.” Her mama didn’t like the smell of cooked fish so it wasn’t something Angie made for them at home. She should take advantage of her freedom, at least culinarily.

Jennise turned to Frank without making a note and chewed a few times. He took that as a sign to order and said, “Chicken fried steak and buttermilk biscuits.”

“Not the usual, huh? Guess you’re branchin’ out.” She shot a look at Caroline and walked away, tucking the still blank note pad into her apron pocket.

Caroline started to laugh, expecting Frank to roll his eyes at the mysterious ways of small-town waitresses, but he held up a finger. “Listen! Isn’t that Buddy Holly?”

She cocked her head. “I guess so. I’m not really familiar with that era.”

“Come on.” He slid out of his seat and held out a hand, grinning.

She laughed. “What, you can’t expect me to… You’re not…”

“Hurry up, before it’s over” he said. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her out of the booth and walked her backward to the jukebox.

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