glances were tossed her way by the lingering breakfast crowd, but the conversations never missed a beat. She walked confidently to the counter, sat on one of the old barstools and waited. A bell dinged and “order up” was yelled from the kitchen. A young woman grabbed the two plates and hurried off to a table to deliver breakfast.
“Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit! Look what the cat drug in!”
Jacqueline turned, finding Rose Garland staring at her—an older, plumper version of the kid that used to tag along with her and Kay. She smiled slightly and raised an eyebrow, not exactly certain how her presence would be accepted.
“I’m surprised you recognize me.”
“Darlin’, there ain’t another person in this world got baby blues like you.” She laughed and walked closer. “Should I back away in case lightning bolts come crashing through the roof?”
“Might not be a bad idea.”
“Never thought we’d see you again, Jackie. How the hell are you?”
“I’m . . . I’m good.”
“Sorry about your father, but we didn’t think you’d actually come for the funeral. Kay and I were just talking about you last night. We wondered if anyone would even contact you.”
“Oh yeah? How is Kay?”
“Kay? Oh, Kay’s doing fine. She owns the Hallmark shop out in the new strip center.” Rose filled a cup with coffee and set it in front of Jacqueline. “So, you came back. Where’d they find you?”
“Monterey.”
“Where’s that? California?”
Jacqueline nodded. “South of San Francisco.”
“Well, it must suit you. You look great.”
“Thank you. You haven’t changed much, Rose.”
“Oh please. Who are you kidding? Having four kids before you’re thirty does this to your body,” she said, pointing at herself. “That, and eating Mama’s cooking.”
“You look fine. You were always such a skinny little kid.”
“Oh I was, but I ate that person several years ago,” she said with a laugh.
“Let me get Mama. She’ll want to say hello.”
Before Jacqueline could protest, Mrs. Garland hurried out of the kitchen, a delighted smile on her face.
“Jackie Keys, as I live and breathe! Give me a hug.”
Jacqueline stood obediently and was enveloped by the larger woman.
“My goodness, you’ve grown up.” Mrs. Garland held her at arms length, studying her. “A beautiful young lady you’ve become, Jackie. Your father would have been so proud.”
Jacqueline’s smile faltered. “I doubt that. I haven’t changed that much, Mrs. Garland.”
“Oh, pooh. That was all your mother’s doing. As if we would have thought less of you or your family. It’s not like we’re living in the fifties, Jacqueline.”
At that, Jacqueline laughed. Yes, Pine Springs was definitely caught somewhere between 1950 and 1970, she was certain. But she was pleased at her reception here in Garland’s Café. She should have known better than to think that these kind people who had loved her as one of their own would have turned her away.
“How long will you stay?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t actually gone to see my mother yet. I’m sure that will be entertaining.”
“I’d love to tag along and watch,” Mrs. Garland said with a twinkle in her eye. “Or be a fly on the wall. Forgive my bluntness, but I never understood that woman, sending her only child away like she did. Why, I’ve hardly spoken to her in the last fifteen years.”
“Mama, it’s not like you frequent the country club, you know,” Rose reminded her. “Or that she would ever set foot in here.”
“Well, still. It wasn’t the Christian thing to do, but she never missed a Sunday service. Let’s hope she was silently begging for forgiveness.”
Jacqueline smiled, knowing the thought would have never crossed her mother’s mind. Madeline Keys had done nothing wrong, as far as she was concerned.
“Enough of that. I’m so glad you’re back. You’ve got to look up Kay.
She’ll be thrilled to learn you’re
“Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit! Look what the cat drug in!”
Jacqueline turned, finding Rose Garland staring at her—an older, plumper version of the kid that used to tag along with her and Kay. She smiled slightly and raised an eyebrow, not exactly certain how her presence would be accepted.
“I’m surprised you recognize me.”
“Darlin’, there ain’t another person in this world got baby blues like you.” She laughed and walked closer. “Should I back away in case lightning bolts come crashing through the roof?”
“Might not be a bad idea.”
“Never thought we’d see you again, Jackie. How the hell are you?”
“I’m . . . I’m good.”
“Sorry about your father, but we didn’t think you’d actually come for the funeral. Kay and I were just talking about you last night. We wondered if anyone would even contact you.”
“Oh yeah? How is Kay?”
“Kay? Oh, Kay’s doing fine. She owns the Hallmark shop out in the new strip center.” Rose filled a cup with coffee and set it in front of Jacqueline. “So, you came back. Where’d they find you?”
“Monterey.”
“Where’s that? California?”
Jacqueline nodded. “South of San Francisco.”
“Well, it must suit you. You look great.”
“Thank you. You haven’t changed much, Rose.”
“Oh please. Who are you kidding? Having four kids before you’re thirty does this to your body,” she said, pointing at herself. “That, and eating Mama’s cooking.”
“You look fine. You were always such a skinny little kid.”
“Oh I was, but I ate that person several years ago,” she said with a laugh.
“Let me get Mama. She’ll want to say hello.”
Before Jacqueline could protest, Mrs. Garland hurried out of the kitchen, a delighted smile on her face.
“Jackie Keys, as I live and breathe! Give me a hug.”
Jacqueline stood obediently and was enveloped by the larger woman.
“My goodness, you’ve grown up.” Mrs. Garland held her at arms length, studying her. “A beautiful young lady you’ve become, Jackie. Your father would have been so proud.”
Jacqueline’s smile faltered. “I doubt that. I haven’t changed that much, Mrs. Garland.”
“Oh, pooh. That was all your mother’s doing. As if we would have thought less of you or your family. It’s not like we’re living in the fifties, Jacqueline.”
At that, Jacqueline laughed. Yes, Pine Springs was definitely caught somewhere between 1950 and 1970, she was certain. But she was pleased at her reception here in Garland’s Café. She should have known better than to think that these kind people who had loved her as one of their own would have turned her away.
“How long will you stay?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t actually gone to see my mother yet. I’m sure that will be entertaining.”
“I’d love to tag along and watch,” Mrs. Garland said with a twinkle in her eye. “Or be a fly on the wall. Forgive my bluntness, but I never understood that woman, sending her only child away like she did. Why, I’ve hardly spoken to her in the last fifteen years.”
“Mama, it’s not like you frequent the country club, you know,” Rose reminded her. “Or that she would ever set foot in here.”
“Well, still. It wasn’t the Christian thing to do, but she never missed a Sunday service. Let’s hope she was silently begging for forgiveness.”
Jacqueline smiled, knowing the thought would have never crossed her mother’s mind. Madeline Keys had done nothing wrong, as far as she was concerned.
“Enough of that. I’m so glad you’re back. You’ve got to look up Kay.
She’ll be thrilled to learn you’re
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