Chapter 7

The first customer entered the diner less than a minute after Dixie told Wade to unlock the door. Wade was still putting the keys away when the door opened.

Having spent nearly all his time in the diner hidden away in the kitchen, Wade did not know more than a scant few of their customers, and even then, he didn’t know anyone’s name. He wasn’t going to be able to relate to people the way Dixie did, with a familiar ease. He would have to make up for it with that charm his mother claimed he had in abundance.

This first customer was an elderly woman in a black-and-white flowered dress, a white pillbox hat and, of all things, white, wrist-length cotton gloves.

“Good morning,” Wade called out from behind the counter. “Just sit anywhere and I’ll be right with you.”

She eyed him suspiciously and sat near the front. Table two.

Wade filled a water glass with ice and water and grabbed a menu. At her table, he presented them to her.

“Young man, who are you and where is Dixie?”

“Ma’am.” He gave h