How to Save a Life (15 page)

Arriving in front of The Diner, I could tell that Sheridan was excited as her eyes lit up at the appearance of the building. It made me mentally chide myself for not bringing her here sooner.

Think retro 50s diner and you had The Diner. It was truly authentic retro complete with the old-fashioned aluminum siding. It sat a little off of the beaten path but was literally right around the corner from Ray’s Auto.

When first walking inside Sheridan stopped right in front of an aqua gas pump gumball machine. She turned around, a beaming smile on her face, “I love this place! I had no idea it even existed."

She began wandering aimlessly around taking in all of the tin signs that hung on the walls even tracing her fingertips along the outside semi-circle frame of the old vintage jukebox. It has been completely restored, but was in full working condition, belting out the 50s classics that I grew up listening to with my dad.

“Can we sit anywhere?" Sheridan asked eyeing the seating arrangements.

I nodded my head and I thought that she would sit at the bar on one of the red leather topped barstools but I was completely surprised when she took a seat in one of the red and black leather covered booth bench seats.

I slid myself in opposite her and she already had her laminated menu out perusing through the breakfast dining choices.

“So what’s good here?" she asked, not even taking her eyes off of the menu.

“Everything is phenomenal. I haven’t ever had anything here that I didn’t like. The ambiance is what sets the entire restaurant. Archie and Wanda have done an amazing job at keeping this place up and going."

She made a little giggle noise from the back of her throat and arched a brow at me.

“What?" I asked.

“Their names are Archie and Wanda? That sounds just like someone who would own a diner like this, totally cute."

“Yeah, you won’t think that it’s cute after having being married to him for over thirty years," Wanda came up to the booth and said.

A faint blush swept through Sheridan’s cheeks at the thought of being caught talking about Archie and Wanda, but they were seriously the nicest couple. Bickered relentlessly back and forth between each other, but it was done out of nothing but love for the other person.

Wanda wore her normal uniform of a button down white oxford shirt and a black skirt, she now claims that she was too old to wear the other waitress uniform. But, on the other hand, Sheridan would be a complete knockout in it. All she would need to do was wear her crimson lipstick, the one I love so much, and have her hair pulled up in a retro way and she would be a fucking bombshell.

I could feel the occupying free space in my jeans quickly fill up due to my imaginative thoughts of Sheridan, but God she would look edible.

I needed to quickly think of something else, food. Food was always a good distraction. I began looking at my own menu trying to decide what I wanted to eat.

After chatting with Wanda for just a few minutes, she took our orders as The Diner began filling up.

Wanda worked every single day and only had a handful of people to work with her. There was no question that she needed more help.

I was getting ready to make small talk when Charlie Hennings came up to the table. I had to quickly do a double take because he was wearing a Sheriff’s uniform. I hadn’t seen him since the altercation that occurred and Maggie’s kidnapping.

I knew Sheriff Mitchell would be resigning and moving out of state, but I had no idea that Charlie was the replacement. I wondered why Brock hadn’t told me.

“Hey guys," he said looking at each of us. Sheridan had a brief wondering look in her eye, until she nonchalantly nodded her head, she must have just remembered who he was.

“Hey, Charlie, you remember Sheridan," I waved my hand in her direction.

“Yeah, I was with Maggie when you had your accident." He didn’t look very happy about mentioning Maggie’s name. I’m guessing that things didn’t work out between the two of them, but it wasn’t like I could blame Maggie. Charlie directly lied to her about who he was and what his job pertained to.

“I remember, how are you?" Sheridan replied politely. “Although, I don’t recall you being the Sheriff."

“This actually didn’t happen until a few weeks ago, and it was official this morning. Well, I don’t want to interrupt you two, I was just getting breakfast to go."

We said our mutual goodbyes and Sheridan was still casually looking around, just taking in the scenery.

I wondered if she knew how beautiful she was. When and if the opportunity arose, I would tell her every chance that I could.

I had heard Archie ring the bell a few times now, indicating that an order was ready. But Wanda was still with customers. Sheridan noticed the same thing as well and the counter which held the ready to be served food was quickly filling up.

Sheridan looked one last time back at Wanda, “I’ll be right back." She said to me as she rose up from the booth and walked over right to the serving counter. She exchanged a few words with Archie, who pointed to a table and then handed her two plates.

I really couldn’t believe that Sheridan was helping Wanda out. If it were Erin, she would’ve been here bitching because we had to wait on our food. This just proved that they were two entirely different people. And what I felt for Erin wasn’t even half as strong as I felt for Sheridan and I wasn’t even full blown in love with her yet.

Love was a funny thing, here I never thought I would love another living thing, but Sheridan finagled her way into my life and into my heart.

She looked over to me and smiled brightly before placing the dishes down in front of their respective owners.

After serving a few more plates, she stood in front of our table, sitting down her plate and then making a grand gesture by placing mine in front of me, “Your order, kind sir," she said in a silly manor and immediately giggled afterwards.

“Why thank you, madam," I had to keep up the charade. “I really can’t believe you just helped out, you are a really good person Sheridan."

She faintly smiled and sheepishly shrugged her shoulders before grabbing her fork and digging into her stuffed French toast.

She had no idea what it was like to be complimented, and wasn’t that a shame because she deserved so many compliments.

Bringing the first bite to her mouth, I saw the tines of her fork disappear and I swear her eyes rolled back in her head as she moaned. “Oh my God," she said while she still had a mouth full of food, but she quickly covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m so sorry, but it is
so
damn good."

Each and every single bite she savored over and it was making it extremely hot in The Diner. I had to continuously pull my shirt off of my chest, to get a little air in order to breathe. These little sounds she was making each and every time her fork entered her mouth was ultimately going to be the death of me.

Wanda came up to the end of our booth and stuck her hip out and perched her hand that was holding her notepad upon it. She directed a pointed stare at Sheridan and shoved her pencil towards her face. Just when I thought Wanda was going to give her a serious tongue lashing, she surprised the hell out of me, “Now what I can’t understand is why someone would help serve dishes without any type of incentive. You don’t find that type of kindness much nowadays anymore."

I spoke up before Sheridan could reply, “Well, Sheridan is a truly extraordinary person."

Sheridan looked down at her plate as a pink hue tinged her cheeks.

I had to mentally pat myself on the back for being able to compliment her again. I was almost taken aback at the reaction she had to them. It just went to show that you should never judge a book by its cover, as I had done with Sheridan in the beginning.

She looked so extremely put together on the outside and you would almost assume she would come across as uppity, and even though she could be a major smartass, she was such a genuine person. I couldn’t believe that Pate dragged her and her confidence down with his actions and words. I wanted to see that rosiness in her cheeks all the time, I needed to step up my game.

“You were busy, I didn’t want things to get backed up for you guys." She spoke softly and shrugged a slumped shoulder while moving her fork across her half eaten French toast.

Wanda looked at me and winked while I cracked a half smile.

“Well, how would you like to actually do that for pay?"

Sheridan straightened her posture and instantly perked up, “You mean like work here?"

Wanda looked at me once again but this time with a stunned expression and then pointed her pencil back at Sheridan, “Is this cat for real?" She turned back to Sheridan, “Honey this job isn’t that glamorous. It’s hard work, you get shitty people and bust your ass for even shittier pay."

“Well, when you put it that way, sure!" I could tell Sheridan was ecstatic by the twinkle in her eyes.

“Be here tomorrow morning at nine am sharp, don’t be late," she gave her a hard stare before turning around to walk away from us.

I leaned forward with my elbows resting on the table and said in a hushed tone, “Don’t let the old bitty fool ya, she loves working here and all of her customers."

“Yeah, you just keep on telling yourself that!" Wanda yelled over her shoulder in her raspy voice.

I laughed and then brought my attention back to Sheridan who looked as if she were about to burst at the seams with excitement.

“Go ahead, get it out."

She let out a little high pitched shrill as she stomped her feet on the floor and shook her hands out in front of her. It made me happy to see her so excited about something.

“So, now that you officially have a job in Brown County do you think you will make it a permanent residence?"

She stopped her little happy dance and locked eyes on mine. Her eyes seemed to flare as she tried to regain her normal breathing. “Well, let’s see here, I have a car that will
hopefully
be in functioning order soon," I liked how she had to sneak in a little dig at me, but she was right, I needed to get it in top shape for her to drive, “I now have a job in this quaint little retro joint, I have new people to call friends to surround my life with, I would have to say that I could definitely see Brown County becoming home. Now all I need to do is find someplace to live and get a few other important things and everything would be perfect."

I didn’t know what other important things she was referring to, but I didn’t like her thinking that she had to move out and find a residence of her own.

“You know Sheridan, my spare bedroom is yours for however long you want it. I want to make sure that you are up on your feet and stable before you trouble yourself with looking for a house."

“Why, Mike I would almost believe that you liked having me around."

I guess it was my turn to get a sheepish expression on my face, but I quickly recovered, “Well you know, I guess you’re alright to have around and besides Sadie would miss you."

I settled our bill and she shoulder checked me on the way out to my truck, “Alright, you don’t have to admit it but I would miss being around you too."

It had been a few weeks since Sheridan started working at The Diner and her presence at home had been very scarce. She was working all the time, picking up extra shifts and sometimes doubles. I would offer her a ride whenever I could, but she would often turn me down wanting to walk. It just showed the initiative she had and the ability to persevere. It was safe to say that I was turning into a girl with feelings, because I missed the hell out of her. I missed our daily smart ass banter and Sadie missed her lounge buddy.

It’s amazing how quickly someone could settle into a normal routine and although I loved that Sheridan had a job, especially one that she was happy at, I hated that our ‘routine’ had been upturned.

The very first day of working at The Diner she came home in such a happy mood and was carrying a large white sack. That next morning she came out of the bathroom in her new work uniform, which was what had been in the sack. I had to almost quite literally catch my jaw before it fell on the floor.