Queenie's Cafe (21 page)

As they walked out to his truck, Luke said, “One of these days we’re going to force Earl out of business. He’s running behind on all his payments, so I’m buying up the loans on his property.”

That didn’t make sense to Laura. “How can he spend all that money on advertising if he’s hurting for money? Television time is expensive.”

“He’s so far in debt, I don’t know how he stays in business.”

“Speaking of business,” said Laura, “I’m going back to work next week.”

Luke shook his head. “You need at least another week or two.”

“No, I don’t.” She’d been away for over a month, and her shoulder had healed. “I can’t let your mother and her friends keep doing this for me.”

Laura still carried her little knife with her, in case Earl came back. Being in the same room with him terrified her, but she wouldn’t be victimized again. If she had her way, he’d never be able to hurt anyone again. He’d be in prison.

On their way back from the flooring store in Melbourne, Luke said, “Meg wants to keep working part-time. She said if she stays on at Queenie’s, she’ll rent one of the new apartments.”

“I’d love to have her stay at Queenie’s, but can we afford—”

“Yes, we can afford it. If you get in a bind and need more help, call Judy or Mom. You can’t do all this by yourself, Laura. Judy would be glad to have the work. Her last husband left her a little money, but not enough to live on.”

“Last husband?”

“She’s been married a few times, all of them losers.”

“What do you think I should do?”

“Let Meg handle the breakfast shift. The regulars love her, especially Marv and Charley. Judy can help with the management chores. She’s a good organizer. Sit down with them and work out a schedule. Your shoulder will be tender for a few weeks and I don’t want you to overdo it.”

She wouldn’t mind having help at the café, but she wondered what Queenie would think about it. Would she think Laura was lazy because she wasn’t doing everything herself?

Did Queenie’s opinion matter?

No. Queenie was dead.

<>

Laura’s first morning back at work, Jay kissed her on the lips. “Don’t tell Luke,” he said, grinning.

“Jay Fisher, are you harassing the help?”

“Nope! Just the boss.”

“How’s the project coming along?”

“I got the units on the right almost finished. The vinyl is in and the carpet comes tomorrow. We’re all movin’ down in a couple days.”

“We? Are you still staying here?”

“Somethin’ wrong with that? I ain’t got nowhere else to go.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“’Cause I don’t want you feelin’ sorry for me.”

“And you talk to me about pride?”

“Why you sassy little—”

“Ah, ah, ah, don’t go picking on me or I’ll call Luke.”

“Why don’t you marry me and get rid of that guy? He ain’t good ’nough for you. Baby, we’d be so good together.”

She shook her head. “What am I going to do with you?” He needed a woman to love. Meg was too old for him and Judy wasn’t right. The more she thought about it, the more she wondered how Jay would like Barbara. He liked a woman with spirit, and Barbara had plenty of spirit.

Things went very well that morning. The regulars all seemed glad to have her back. She made the rounds, thanking each person for their business while she was gone.

Laura washed tables and cleaned up the dining area that morning after the regulars all left. She was alone when Earl Windsor came through the door. Although Meg was outside the back door just a holler away, Laura felt safer with a table between her and Earl. She slipped her right hand in her apron pocket and closed her fingers around her little knife.

“Well, darlin’, the place is lookin’ better all the time.” Earl looked at the café as though he owned it.

“Get out, Earl.”

“Or what? Huh? You gonna call the cops on me agin? You be nice to me, girl. Queenie was nice to me. She was nicer than Florence. Purty little gal before she got fat.”

Laura couldn’t picture Queenie with Earl, fat or not. According to Queenie, the only man she’d ever been with was Bruce Whitfield, and only after they married.

As Earl walked closer, Laura heard the back door open. He stopped cold, his eyes darting nervously from the kitchen to her and back. Was he afraid of someone hearing his threats? Of course he was. He wouldn’t want to risk going to jail. He’d gone to the trouble of planting lies with the Kingston police before he attacked her because he didn’t want any interference. He didn’t want an audience either.

“I’ll be back to collect what’s mine. I’ll put a lien on your property if you don’t pay me next time.” Earl was gone before Meg could see him.

Laura’s hand cramped from holding the knife so tightly, but Earl was gone, at least for now. She sank into a chair before her legs gave out. Had he been watching her? Or had someone in Kingston told him she was back at work in the café?

She took several deep breaths to calm herself and stop the trembling. Seeing him again had brought back the fear and pain of a night of terror.

She wanted him locked up.

Or dead.

<>

Luke came by for lunch and Laura explained what happened that morning with Earl. Before they finished their conversation, people started arriving for lunch, including someone Laura hadn’t seen in a couple years.

Annabelle Fosdick.

Just what she needed on her first day back. Laura had never liked Annabelle, and the only time she’d seen her in Queenie’s had been after school dances, when she came in with her dates. Annabelle had always acted as if she were too good to come into Queenie’s. She couldn’t be over twenty-one or so, a year older than Laura, and she’d been divorced at least twice.

Laura greeted her as she greeted all her customers, but Annabelle was less than kind in return. “It looks a little better inside, but outside it still looks like a dump. How can you work in a place like this?”

Laura’s tongue hurt because she was biting it so hard. Finally, she said, “Will you be eating alone today, or did you bring your latest husband along?”

Annabelle scanned Laura’s face and body and came back to her face. “At least I don’t sell it, although I have to say, I don’t see why men would pay—”

“When they could have you for the price of a cheap gold band?”

Her face burning with anger, Laura put the coffee pot down on the counter and retreated to the kitchen.

Meg gave her a squeeze. “I heard. What a bitch!”

“I never could stand her or her father.”

When Laura looked back, Annabelle had latched herself onto Luke, smiling and flirting and turning on the charm. “Oh, no you don’t,” Laura muttered to herself. She couldn’t have Luke.

“Luke,” Laura called, “Have you met Annabelle Fosdick? She’s Frank’s daughter. I think she’s looking for another husband. She’s already had what, Annabelle? Two? Or is it three?”

Luke’s eyes sparkled with a barely hidden smile. Laura walked over. “Annabelle, this is my good friend and business partner, Luke Windsor. Luke, are you shopping for a wife today?”

“No.”

Laura shrugged up her hands. “I guess he won’t be needing your services today.”

Annabelle’s face matched the red dye on her hair. “Well! I’ve never been treated so rudely in my whole, entire life.”

“Then it’s about time, isn’t it?” Laura turned to Luke. “Are you ready for lunch?”

“I’ll wait for you, Laura.”

Without a word, Annabelle marched out the door.

Laura couldn’t afford to turn away customers, but Annabelle had come here to spy for her father and to insult the owner. She didn’t need customers like that.

As she waited on other customers, Laura thought about Annabelle’s remark. Did she really think Laura was selling sex? Had Bobby told her? Of course he had.

Who else had Bobby told? Did everyone in town think she was working as a prostitute? No, not her regular customers. They all knew how hard she worked to keep this place going, and they’d seen her the morning after Earl had attacked her. But people who didn’t know her might believe it. Annabelle had always had a big mouth. She’d tell everyone in town, and business would suffer.

Time to do some damage control. But how did people fight nasty rumors?

<>

Later that afternoon, a nice looking young man in a suit and tie came in. Luke introduced him as, “Billy Berkley, an old college friend. He’s also my attorney.”

She shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Billy.”

“Laura, I’m afraid this isn’t a social visit. Even though Luke paid off your bill at Windsor Floors last month, Earl Windsor put a lien on your property.”

She’d offered him money the night he beat her, and he wouldn’t take it. He didn’t want the money then and he didn’t want it now. He wanted someone to beat and rape. Being a big shot on TV wasn’t enough for Earl. He wanted to be a big shot in the bedroom.

They talked for several minutes about the night Laura was attacked, about Earl’s visit that morning, and about the evidence and witnesses. Luke had taken pictures of the blood splatters in the apartment and on her clothes, and Billy would get copies of her doctors’ records.

Luke was still buying up Earl’s loans, and when the time was right, he’d call them in. That was fine, but Laura wanted more. She wanted that monster arrested for the attack and the ongoing threats against her.

Billy stood to leave, and Laura said, “Billy, can I talk to you about something personal?” She glanced at Luke. “Do you mind?”

“No, I’ll go check on the work at the motel. Take your time.”

Laura leaned on the table and spoke quietly. She told Billy about the conversation with her father and Florence when they told her Florence was her mother. “I want to know what Queenie held over them, why Florence left me with Dad and Queenie. They won’t tell me anything.”

“Do you know Florence’s husband’s name?”

“No.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “There’s another thing that bothers me. Earl knows Florence is my mother. How did he know?”

“Good question. I’ll start with Florence’s husband. Anything else you can tell me?”

“I found this in Queenie’s photo album.” Laura pulled the scrap of paper out of her apron pocket and handed it to him.

“That’s an out-of-state phone number.”

“It may not mean anything, but I want to know who it is and what went on around the time I was born.” Whatever happened, however Queenie manipulated Dad into staying here, it changed all their lives. Dad turned bitter, Queenie grew fat and surly, Florence lost her only child, and Laura had a miserable childhood.

<>

Judy came in at four. “Could you use some help with the dinner shift?”

Laura was chopping lettuce for salad. “Sure. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Judy put her purse in the storeroom and pulled on an apron. “Queenie’s is a nice place to work.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“I have some ideas I’d like to run past you, a couple things to consider.”

“Okay, lay it on me.” Laura finished the salad, covered the bowl, and put it in the refrigerator.

Judy leaned back on the counter. “Most of the people who come in here are regulars, so you already know what they’re gonna order.”

Laura nodded. “Usually.”

“Why don’t you cut your selection down to two entrees at night, different every day of the week, somethin’ they can count on, somethin’ to look forward to, like pot roast and fish or meatloaf and fried chicken? Shoot, most of them order the special anyway,” said Judy. “At least they have since I been here.”

“That would make cooking easier.”

“Sure would. The Sunday brunch brings in a lot of people. What would you think about doin’ that ever’ day? It’s easier than cookin’ everything to order, and you can serve more people. If you’re making two scrambled eggs or twelve, it’s nearly the same amount of work.”