"If you ring that fucking bell one more time like you're in a boxing match, I'll give you one!" Debbie yelled out to the short order cook. She was having a bad day; seemed everyone was a queen.
Debbie grabbed her orders, took them to the customers, then walked behind the counter. Just then she saw Jennifer come in. Debbie was happy to see her friend for a second, but she became worried when she saw the look on Jennifer's face. She looked like she did the first time she came to the Liberty Diner, worried and scared, and she knew the one thing that was causing it.
Debbie walked over to Betty. "Betty could you..."
"Take over your tables for awhile, no problem," Betty said.
"Thanks honey," Debbie said, patting Betty on the shoulder.
Debbie went to Kiki. "Honey would you mind..."
"Two cups of get happy tea, on the way." Kiki said.
"Thanks," Debbie said.
Debbie walked over to Jennifer and gave her a hug. "Welcome back." she said.
Jennifer hugged her back "Thank you Debbie. I came by to let you know I'd returned from California. I see you'rebusy, I"ll call you later."
"Hold up, we're okay. Come have a seat." Debbie walked her over to a booth, and sat down across from her. Kiki brought over the tea.
Jennifer let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. She looked down at the tea, "I'm that obvious huh?"
"The moment you walked into the diner honey. What's wrong with Sunshine?"
"I don't know what's going on with Justin. He's not himself. He won't talk to me; he says he and Connor are happy. But I sense something wrong in their relationship."
"Do you think Connor is cheating on Justin?"
"No, there are no signs of that, but Justin doesn't seem right and Connor is acting not has something do with an accident." Jennifer said.
"Accident! What kind of accident?"
"Debbie, calm down. I don't know. I went to their place early one day, they didn't hear me knock, so I let myself in. Justin and Connor were in the kitchen talking. Connor was asking Justin if he was going to tell me about the accident and Justin said he wasn't; that what happened was between them."
"What the fuck is going on in Hollywood?" Debbie asked
"I have no idea, but I need to know what's wrong with my son. I hate to go behind his back, but I'm thinking of hiring a private investigator."
"Let me do it," said a voice.
They looked up and saw Brian. He went and sat by Debbie.
"Brian you don't have to. After what happened with you and..."
"This doesn't have to do with Justin's and my past, Jennifer. I don't mind helping you. One of my old tricks is a private investigator. I"ll give him a call and find out what's going on." Brian said.
"Thank you Brian, it would put me more at ease," Jennifer said.
"You're welcome." Brian smiled. "I need to get going, I've got an important meeting." Brian stoodup.
"But you just got here. Let me get you some coffee and lemon bars to go, and I won't take no for an answer. Knowing you, and I do, all you've had are those protein shakes of yours." Debbie headed to the counter.
"I need to pick up Molly from her friend's" Jennifer gave Brian a hug. "Thank you." She walked out of the diner.
As Brian waited for Debbie to bring him his food, he thought about the conversation he had overheard between Debbie and Jennifer. He wondered what the hell was going on in Hollywood and what happened to Justin. Even though he was acting like he didn't care, he was worried about Justin.
