Chapter 4

We had six more days of beautiful weather. Felipe and I must have been the only people in Philadelphia cursing the Indian summer. The seventh morning, I woke up to the sound of rain pattering against the window and smiled. I practically bounced down the stairs, as much as a woman of fifty-three can bounce.

I found myself dressing carefully, picking out a nicer dress than usual and putting on my real silk stockings. I knew it was silly. It wasn't like Alice would care what I wore. I never could match her for elegant clothing anyway. I don't think she shopped at places like Woolworths or Montgomery Wards. But I wanted to look presentable, so I gussied myself up a bit.

The walk to the diner seemed longer than normal. I kept my pace as brisk as my healing injury allowed, not even slowing to gaze in the windows of the department stores I passed every morning. The rain pattered lightly against my rain bonnet and coat. The sky was dark and covered with low, grey clouds. Definitely a storm later, I thought with satisfaction.

I met Felipe at the corner near the diner. He'd been leaning against a lamppost, waiting for me, I supposed. His clothes were spattered with dark blotches where the rain had soaked through.

"It didn't feel right going in without you, Miss Mariah." He smiled brightly, teeth flashing white against his olive skin. "Do you think she'll come in today?"

"It's silly to think she would. But I hope so, Felipe. I hope so." I gazed at the place I'd worked for the last twenty some–odd years, trying to see through the wall to the dining area. "Only one way to find out."

Felipe went to the heavy metal door that led in to the back room. He held it open for me. I smiled at him, charmed by the courtly gesture.

"You're a good boy, Felipe. I just want you to know that. I never… I never thanked you for what you did that night." His dark eyes were serious. I held his gaze, though I desperately wanted to look away. "I would have been dead or maybe w– worse if you hadn't distracted him. Thank you."

"You're welcome," he said.

I patted him on the cheek and walked into the diner. We clocked in and separated to get ready.

Frank was at the grill already. I watched him prep it as I wrapped my apron around my waist and tied the strings. I slid my order pad in my apron and stuck a pencil behind my ear. I felt as if I were arming myself for battle.

Felipe had already started the coffee maker and was sweeping out the kitchen. I saw him hesitate before heading in to the dining area to sweep up and pull down the chairs. The opening chores seemed to go quickly and I found myself fidgeting, waiting for six o'clock to arrive. June rushed in at quarter till, running late as usual. Finally I heard Frank holler, "Doors are opening, folks."

I smoothed my skirt and my apron and headed into the dining room.

I don't know how she did it, but she was sitting on her stool at the counter when I walked into the dining room. Like any other day, she was staring at the front door. She looked up at me when I entered and I was relieved to see her eyes were back to their normal amber. I was afraid they'd still be that ruby color they'd turned that night, the one I'd see in my nightmares for years to come.

"Good morning, Alice," I said. I hung back a little, not sure what to say now that she was actually here. I carefully examined her face, trying to reconcile the quiet girl I thought I'd known with the monster of a week ago.

"Good morning, Mariah," she replied. As if it were any other day she simply turned back to door, waiting. I shook my head, but smiled. I let out a long breath, not realizing I'd been holding it. I guess things would just go back to normal.

It was lunch time when I next had time stop for a moment. I poured a cup of coffee and sat it next to Alice. She turned to smile at me and I smiled back tentatively. I was trying to think how to broach the subject of what happened last week when an odd expression crossed her face. She wrinkled her nose and took in a sharp breath. Her eyes widened and she spun around to face the door.

A tall man had just walked in. He looked around Alice's age, maybe a year or two older. He was very handsome. His skin was quite pale and his eyes were a dark brown or black – I couldn't tell from this distance. Dark purple circles under his eyes made it look like he hadn't slept in a week. They matched the ones under Alice's eyes.

His damp, curly blond hair was so long it fell over his ears and his collar, but the disheveled hairstyle seemed appealing on this man. He had on a suit that had seen a few years' wear. He seemed nervous, tensed as if he expected someone to chase him off with a broom. His gaze swept the diner then landed on Alice.

"He's here!" Alice whispered fiercely.

He? It took me a long moment to remember that one of the first things she'd said to me was that she was waiting for someone. She hopped gracefully down from her stool and walked right up to the man.

"You've kept me waiting a long time," she said.

The tall man ducked his head. He made a move as if to remove a hat, but he didn't have one on.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," he replied. He had a gentle southern drawl. I'd never been further south than Maryland, so I couldn't place it.

Alice held out her hand to the man. For a long moment he just stared at it. I held my breath, waiting to see what he'd do. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Felipe frozen in the act of clearing a table, a water glass in his hand. He stared at the couple as openly as I did.

Finally, moving slowly, as if he expected Alice to bite him if he moved too quickly, he took her hand. She smiled that dazzling smile at him and you could almost see him fall under her spell.

They stood like that for a long time, not speaking, not moving. I knew it was crazy, but I could have sworn I felt this amazing sense of happiness coming from them. It washed over me and I couldn't stop from grinning. I didn't move until June bumped into me from behind.

"What the heck is wrong with you, Mariah?" she demanded.

The young waitress looked up at me and saw where I was looking. She froze, staring as well. Her eyes were big as saucers. I was pretty certain mine were just as wide. I cleared my throat and started moving. I grabbed two menus off the stack and headed for Alice and the man.

"Can I get you two a table?" I asked, putting a slight emphasis on the word two. Alice didn't look away from him.

"No, thank you, Mariah. I think we'll be heading home." The man's expression changed to puzzlement, but he didn't argue.

"You're leaving." It wasn't a question but she nodded in answer anyway. I blinked back sudden tears. "But I never got to say anything, to thank you for –"

"It's alright," she said. Her smile dimmed slightly. "Just take care of yourself. Take care of Felipe for me, too, will you? He's going to be something special."

She slipped her arm through the man's. They turned together and walked out into the rain. Their gazes never left each others' faces. Felipe came up to stand behind me. He put a hand on my shoulder.

We waited there together for a long moment, until I could no longer see them through the plate glass of the diner's window.

"Do you think he's… like her?" Felipe asked quietly.

"Yes, I do, Felipe." I sniffed a little and dabbed at my eyes with the corner of my apron.

I was grateful for Felipe's hand on my shoulder. One person, at least, would remember her the same way I would. Which reminded me...

"Felipe, I wanted to talk to you. Since… that night… I haven't been able to do some of the chores around the house. In fact, it's been a while since I've been able to clean the gutters or fix a few other things. I could really use someone around the house to help out." His face was puzzled. "I wouldn't be able to pay you – I'm barely covering the mortgage right now as it is. But I would be able to give you room and board."

He frowned, dark eyebrows forming a 'v' over his eyes.

"I don't need charity, Miss Mariah." He was angry.

"I'm not offering charity. I'm asking for help." I waited silently as he thought for a long moment, his expression frozen in a scowl."Hell, I'm probably asking you for charity, asking you to move in with a crotchety old woman like me. I'll run you ragged with all the handyman stuff I need, plus your school work."

He smiled reluctantly, eyes still betraying his doubt. I waited, holding my breath. I really didn't know what he'd say. I couldn't believe how much I wanted him to say yes. To have someone to care about, after all these years. Someone that had gone through that crazy night with me, someone who knew that there was someone like Alice out there. Someone that Alice thought was important, just like I did.

"Alright," he said at last. "A pues bien. But I'll earn my keep."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."