A Slice of Heaven (16 page)

Ronnie had waited a good, long time before wandering down the hall and hanging around outside the door. He’d caught only snatches of what Ty had said to Annie and almost none of her replies, but he’d heard enough to feel a surge of admiration for Ty.

He was still standing there when Ty finally emerged from the room.

“Ronnie,” Ty said, looking vaguely guilty. “I didn’t know you were around.”

“Just got here,” Ronnie fibbed. “I appreciate you coming by to spend some time with Annie.”

“I’ve been worried about her,” the teen said with a shrug.

“Me, too.” Ronnie debated saying more, then decided the boy needed to know how grateful he was for some of the things he’d said to Annie, hard truths that the rest of them had been tiptoeing around in some ways. “Look, Ty, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I heard a little bit of what you said in there. I think you may have gotten through to her in a way none of the rest of us have been able to do. I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”

Ty stood a little taller. “I meant every word,” he said.

“I know you did. That’s why I’m so impressed. You’ve turned into a very mature young man.”

Ty grinned sheepishly. “I’m not so sure my mom’s going to agree with that when she finds out I skipped school to come by here.”

Ronnie draped an arm over his shoulder. “Let me deal with your mom.”

Ty regarded him with relief. “My stepdad, too? He’s the baseball coach and he has all these rules about cutting class.”

“I’ll speak to him, too,” Ronnie promised. “In fact, why don’t we take care of that right now? You have any more classes this afternoon?”

Ty shook his head.

“Then I’ll call your mom and see if she and your stepdad can meet us for a milk shake at Wharton’s. Sound good?” he asked, heading for the exit.

“Sure,” Ty said. He looked away, then gave Ronnie a shy glance. “I don’t know everything that happened when you left town, but I’m glad you’re back. You and Dana Sue were always cool together. To me, you were like another set of parents, you know?”

Ronnie felt the warm sting of tears at the comment. “Thanks. I always felt like that, too.” Before he could embarrass himself or Ty by actually shedding a tear, he pulled out his cell phone, then realized he had no idea what the number was at The Corner Spa. He held the phone out. “Why don’t you give your mom a call?”

Ty regarded it as if it were contaminated. “No way. School’s not out for another ten minutes.”

“Ah,” Ronnie said. “Then tell me the number.”

“A
much
better idea,” Ty said.

When Maddie answered, Ronnie chuckled at the impatience in her voice. She was obviously swamped with whatever it was she did over there. “Sounds to me like I called in the nick of time,” he told her.

“Ronnie?”

“Yep.”

“This place has been crazy all afternoon. Sorry if I sounded snarly.”

“Not a problem. Have you got time to play hooky?” he asked, grinning conspiratorially at Ty as he did so.

“Do I sound like I do?” she said.

“No, which is precisely the reason you should take a break. Everything will seem much less stressful when you get back to it.”

“I don’t know,” she protested. “My desk is piled high.”

“Will that change if you’re gone for an hour?”

“Probably not,” she admitted.

“Then meet me at Wharton’s. I’ve been craving a chocolate milk shake. So has your son.”

There was a long silence on the other end, before she said cautiously, “Excuse me?”

“Meet you at Wharton’s in ten minutes, Madelyn,” he said. “Invite your new husband to come along.”

“You want me to include Cal when my son has apparently skipped school this afternoon? Are you crazy?”

“I don’t think so. See you in ten minutes.” Ronnie hung up before she could pester him with a lot more questions.

Ty regarded him worriedly. “You really think you can pull this off? Keeping me out of trouble, I mean?”

“Not to worry. By the time I’ve finished spinning this story, you’ll sound like a cross between Mother Teresa and Dr. Phil.”

Ty stared at him for a long time, then grinned. “Cool.”

Ronnie nudged Ty into the booth at Wharton’s, then slid in beside him so the kid couldn’t bolt. He concluded it had been a good move when Maddie came flying in, looking part Mother Hen and part Terminator.

“Cal coming?” he asked cheerfully as she sat down opposite them. Next to him Ty squirmed and avoided his mother’s fierce gaze.

“Somebody had better explain what’s going on,” Maddie said tightly. “The sooner the better.”

Ronnie was glad he’d ordered the second he and Ty had gotten there. He shoved Maddie’s milk shake a little closer. “Have a sip. You’ll feel better.”

“Plying me with ice cream is not going to work,” she groused, but took a sip just the same. She’d never been able to resist milk shakes or hot-fudge sundaes. In fact, as Ronnie recalled, they were her drugs of choice when she was upset. Odds were she’d be calmer any minute now.

A few moments later, after she’d stared hard at Ronnie, then at Ty, as if trying to decide which of them to strangle first, her expression brightened slightly.

“Hey, darlin’,” the man she’d married in Ronnie’s absence said, dropping a kiss on her cheek, then turning to Ty with a far more dangerous expression. “Tyler.”

“Uh-oh,” Ty murmured beside Ronnie.

“Maddie, are you going to introduce me to your husband?” Ronnie asked hurriedly.

“Ronnie Sullivan, Cal Maddox,” she said tersely. “Now start talking. Why wasn’t my son in school this afternoon and why is he with you?”

Ronnie gave Ty an encouraging glance, then met Maddie’s gaze. “Actually, he was with Annie.”

Maddie looked startled. “At the hospital?” She turned her gaze to Ty. “You’ve been going by at night. Why would you cut class to go?”

“Because at night there are too many people around,” Ty said. “I thought maybe if I could really talk to her—you know, get in her face—maybe I could make her see how screwed up she is.”

Maddie sat back, clearly stunned. Beside her, Cal looked as if he was torn between exasperation and pride. He finally broke the silence.

“And?” he said. “How did it go?”

Ty looked toward Ronnie for support. “Pretty good, I guess. I think she really heard me.”

“He was amazing,” Ronnie said. “I was in the hallway and overheard some of it. You should be very proud of him, Maddie. He didn’t cut Annie an inch of slack. He said stuff to her that I’ve been scared to say.” He looked at Cal. “He quoted a lot of stuff from school about anorexia.”

Cal nodded slowly. “I’m relieved to know that one lesson sank in, but—”

Ronnie cut him off. “Look, Cal, I know Ty was wrong to cut class, but this one time I think he did it for all the right reasons. Couldn’t you maybe give him a break?”

Cal was clearly torn between the rules and his understanding of the good Ty had done.

Apparently, he reached a decision, because he smiled at Ty. “I am not condoning what you did…” he told him.

“Me, neither,” Maddie added sternly.

“…but I’m really proud of you,” Cal continued. “And since, technically, it isn’t baseball season for several more months, I don’t suppose I need to suspend you from a game for violating the rules.”

Maddie’s expression softened. “And I will give you a note for your teacher explaining that you had permission to cut because of a family matter, and that it was my fault for not giving you the note in advance.”

Ty’s relief was unmistakable. “Thanks. I promise I won’t do anything like this again. I just thought it was important, and I was afraid you’d both say no if I asked.”

“It
was
important, which is why we’re not coming down on you,” Cal said. “But don’t get it into your head that you can pull a stunt like this again and then expect our approval later. Next time, ask.”

“Yes, sir,” Ty said solemnly. “Could I maybe get a burger? I skipped lunch to get to the hospital.”

“Tell Grace I’m buying,” Ronnie told him, moving to let him out of the booth.

After he’d gone, Ronnie faced Maddie. “He’s grown up since I left.”

Her gaze followed Ty before she turned back. “Some days I regret that, but I have to say that today I’ve never been more proud of him.”

“Same here,” Cal said. “Do you really think he got through to Annie?”

“I’ll know more after she has her next session with Dr. McDaniels,” Ronnie said. “But I really think he did. If that’s the case, I’ll owe him for the rest of my life.”

Maddie reached over and squeezed his hand. “We all will.”

Now that he’d helped to smooth things over for Ty, Ronnie sat back and took a long, considering look at Cal Maddox. “So, Coach, tell me how you snagged the second-best woman in Serenity?”

“Second-best?” Maddie protested.

Ronnie grinned at her. “Dana Sue’s at the top of
my
list, darlin’, but you sure do come in close behind her.”

Cal looked at Maddie with enough heat to make Ronnie wish Grace Wharton would turn on the air-conditioning. “Sorry to contradict you,” he told Ronnie. “But in any poll I take,
Maddie
comes out on top.”

She tucked her arm through Cal’s and grinned at Ronnie. “And that, in a nutshell, is how he got me.”

“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if I think he deserves you,” Ronnie said.

Maddie laughed. “You don’t get a vote.”

Cal leaned across the table and met his gaze. “Maybe we should be talking about how you let a woman like Dana Sue get away.”

Ronnie didn’t flinch under Cal’s direct gaze. “That’s an easy one. Stupidity, pure and simple.” He winked at Maddie. “And just for the record, I’m much smarter now. It won’t happen a second time.”

Maddie’s gaze was serious as she told him, “I’m counting on that, Ronnie Sullivan. I really am, because if you break her heart again, I won’t be responsible for what I do to you.”

“And I’ll back her up,” Cal said.

Ronnie grinned at the two of them, impressed by their united front. “Not to worry. I have a plan.”

“Care to share it?” Maddie asked, her curiosity obviously aroused.

“Not till all my ducks are lined up in a nice, neat row,” Ronnie told her. “And even then, I think Dana Sue should be the first to hear about it.”

“Does this plan of yours involve the old hardware store?” Maddie asked.

Ronnie frowned. “How the hell do you know about that?”

“Sweetie, this is Serenity. Have you forgotten that gossip travels with the speed of light around here?”

He shouldn’t have, Ronnie conceded. News of his affair had certainly spread like wildfire. Of course, this time he thought he’d sworn Mary Vaughn to secrecy.

“Wipe that frown off your face,” Maddie advised. “Mary Vaughn didn’t say a word. At least half a dozen people drove by while you were looking the place over the other day. And Grace’s antennae flew up the second she saw you and Mary Vaughn get out of your cars down the block. If you’d wanted to keep it secret, you’d have had to go in there in the dead of night.”

“I’ll remember that next time,” Ronnie said. “I’d better pay Grace and get out of here. Now that at least part of the cat is out of the bag, I’d better kick my timetable up a notch. I have some calls to make.”

“Don’t keep Dana Sue in the dark too much longer. She’s bound to have heard the same gossip I have,” Maddie warned him.

And, Ronnie suspected, she was probably already turning his silence into some big conspiracy to keep her out of the loop. “I’ll tell her the minute there’s something to tell,” he promised.

Maddie winced. “You might have different definitions of when that is.”

Ronnie sighed. “More than likely, but that’s the best I can do. If she says anything to you…” he began.

Maddie grinned and held up her hands. “I know nothing.”

Cal, who’d been silent through the exchange, spoke up. “Want my advice?”

“Sure,” Ronnie said.

“Tell her whatever there is to tell right now. I may not have the same long history with Dana Sue that you do, but most women resent being the last to know, especially when the news involves someone who’s trying to patch things up with them.”

“Even if nothing’s final?” Ronnie asked doubtfully. “Even if it could all fall apart tomorrow?”

“Even then,” Cal said, glancing at Maddie for confirmation.

“He’s right,” she said. “Talk to her now, Ronnie. The sooner you make her a part of your plan, the sooner she’ll start to feel like you’re a team again.”

“Good point.” He nodded. “I’ll talk to her first chance I get.” With any luck it wouldn’t already be too late.

W
hen Dana Sue walked into the kitchen at Sullivan’s around four o’clock, Erik greeted her with a frazzled look.

“What’s wrong?” she asked at once.

“Karen’s babysitter bailed,” he said, as he frantically tried to do half a dozen things at once. He dredged catfish in a spicy cornmeal mixture, layered it in a pan, then shoved that in the refrigerator and pulled out the salad greens. Precut green beans were ready for the steamer, slivered almonds were in a bowl for garnish and he had okra stewing on the stove.

Dana Sue immediately nudged him out of her way. “I’ll take over with the salads. What are tonight’s specials?”

“Thank goodness it’s the middle of the week. I think we can get away with only having one. I’m going to go with a shrimp scampi over linguine,” he said. “It’s quick and easy.”

“Perfect. Dessert?”

He regarded her with dismay. “I’ve got nothing. It hadn’t even crossed my mind. I’ve had to concentrate totally on this mental checklist I’ve been going over for the main dishes and the sides.”

For a pastry chef, that was an admission of just how stressed out he was. “Warm walnut brownies with ice cream,” she suggested, knowing it was something he could prepare in his sleep. “One big batch cut into squares and you’re done. I think there’s one of your apple pies in the freezer, too. I’ll grab it now, so it can get to room temperature by the time we open for dinner. Pop a slice in the oven, add a scoop of cinnamon ice cream to that and we’re set.”

Erik didn’t argue, though normally he would have fought her over serving something that hadn’t been prepared that day. “Do we have any of the cinnamon ice cream left?” he asked.

“If we don’t, vanilla will do. I know we have that,” Dana Sue said. It was such a staple that she made sure they never ran out. Even so, she double-checked while she was at the freezer.

“Why didn’t you call me the second you heard from Karen?” she asked as she retrieved the pie and set it on the dessert rack to thaw.

“You have enough on your plate,” Erik said. “I thought I could handle this. It’s one night and not even one of our busiest ones. It shouldn’t be a big deal.”

She grinned at him. “There’s a reason we have an assistant,” she commented. “Sometimes there’s even a need for all three of us to be here. You know that. You’re not Supercook. And this place is my responsibility. Next time there’s a crisis, call me.”

“Believe me, I will,” he said, looking a bit less harried as he began the more familiar task of mixing the ingredients for his moist, decadent brownies. “There’s one other thing you probably should know.”

“Oh?”

“One of the waitstaff called in sick two minutes before you walked in the door. I haven’t had time to phone around for a replacement yet.”

“Which one?” she asked.

“Paul.”

Dana Sue winced, trying to envision the staffing chart. Midweek they often got by with just two waitstaff, plus the busboys. Paul could handle a crowd on his own. No one else could. “That means Brenda’s it, right? She’s been here awhile, but just part-time, and always with someone more experienced. Darn, this couldn’t have happened on a worse night, with Karen off, too. I won’t be able to pitch in on the floor.”

“Tell me about it,” Erik commiserated.

“I’ll figure something out,” Dana Sue promised, just as she glanced up and spotted Ronnie in the doorway. She studied him with a narrowed gaze and made an impulsive decision that would save some time. She’d worry later about whether it was smart.

“I know you haven’t done it since we were kids, but do you remember anything at all about waiting tables?” she asked him.

“Get the orders right and don’t spill the food on the customers,” he said, regarding her with a puzzled expression. “Is this a test? Did I pass?”

“Close enough,” she said. “Grab a menu and study it. I’ll show you which tables to cover in a few minutes.”

“You want me to wait tables here? Tonight?” he asked incredulously, though he didn’t turn tail and run.

Erik appeared to be equally dismayed. “Are you sure, Dana Sue?”

“He’s a warm body and he’s here,” she said crisply. “And he owes me.”

“Now there’s a criteria for staffing I’ve never heard before,” Erik commented, then shut up in response to Dana Sue’s wilting look.

“Why?” Ronnie asked, though he’d already grabbed a menu that had been left in a rack by the door. He pulled a pair of reading glasses from his pocket and put them on.

“Crisis,” she told him, refraining from commenting about the glasses. “If you’re not sure about something, ask me, or better yet, ask Brenda.”

“That kid who waited on us last time I was here?” he asked.

Dana Sue grinned. “Tonight that kid is only one step below me on the totem pole, pal. Do whatever she tells you.”

Ronnie shrugged. “If you say so.”

For once, Dana Sue was grateful for his laid-back personality.

When most of the prep work was finally under control and Erik no longer looked so frazzled, she ducked into her office and called Annie.

“Hey, sweetie,” she said when her daughter picked up the phone.

“Hi, Mom. Where are you?”

“At the restaurant. We have a little crisis over here tonight, so I’m not going to be able to get by to see you. I’m so sorry. I’m sure either Helen or Maddie will drop in later. How are you doing?”

“Better,” Annie said, and for once she actually sounded as if that were the truth. “Ty came by today.”

“Really?”

“I’ll tell you about it when I see you,” Annie promised. “He said a lot of stuff that made sense.”

“I’m glad.”

“Do you know where Dad is? He hasn’t been here this afternoon, either.”

“Actually, he’s with me,” Dana Sue said. “I’ve got him waiting tables.”

Annie laughed. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope. He looks kinda cute with an apron tied around his waist.” She lowered her voice. “You know something else?”

“What?” Annie asked, obviously intrigued.

“He put on reading glasses to check out the menu,” she confided.

“No way!”

“He looked cute.”

“You thought so?” Annie was obviously encouraged.

Dana Sue considered censoring herself to avoid giving her daughter false hope, but decided just this once to be candid. “Even if he is your dad and I’m still annoyed with him, it doesn’t mean I can’t see what a hottie he is.”

Annie giggled. “Mom, you’re so funny.”

Satisfied that she’d been able to make Annie laugh, she said, “I have to go, sweetie. If it’s not too late, I’ll call you when things slow down for the night. Otherwise, I’ll be by first thing in the morning.”

“Love you,” Annie said. “Tell Dad I love him, too.”

“Will do,” Dana Sue promised, then hung up. She felt hopeful for the first time in a long time. Maybe it was because her daughter had sounded so upbeat, or maybe it was the prospect of working side by side with Ronnie for an evening. Whatever it was, it felt darn good.

Ronnie was not the fastest waiter in the universe. He blamed that partly on the fact that every single person who recognized him wanted to chat about why he was back in town. He’d caught up with a lot of old friends between balancing trays of water glasses, bread and drinks. He’d only mixed up two orders all evening, which had to be some kind of coup, considering he hadn’t waited tables in over twenty years.

It had been fun, too, and enlightening to see how smoothly Dana Sue was able to balance her duties in the kitchen with charming the diners. He caught a lot of speculative looks cast their way every time they crossed paths and paused to chat, even if the chat was about nothing more than an update on the availability of the night’s special.

The crowd finally thinned out around nine. Ronnie was about to take a breather when Helen breezed in and headed straight for one of the tables in his section.

“I came to see if the rumors were true,” she said, regarding him through narrowed eyes when he approached her table.

“Which rumors would those be?” he inquired.

“That Dana Sue is now employing the man who cheated on her,” she said. “Just how low do you plan to sink, Ronnie?”

He bristled at the accusation. “There are so many things wrong with what you just said, I’m not sure where to begin. Maybe I should let Dana Sue explain to you, since I’m sure you’d never believe a word I said.”

“I can spot a lie a mile away,” Helen countered. “I want to hear your version.”

“First, I am not working here,” he said. “I pitched in to help Dana Sue out of a jam. There was no discussion of pay. I don’t need her money. Now, are you ordering? The kitchen’s about to close. And before you ask, we’re out of the special, so if that’s what you came for, you might consider coming earlier next time.”

Helen blinked at his rapid-fire response, then sighed. “I’m sorry,” she said, surprising him. “When Annie told me Dana Sue had put you to work, I jumped to conclusions.”

“Yes, you did,” he said. “That’s something you might want to watch. It’s a bad habit, especially for a lawyer who’s been trained to postpone judgment till all the facts are presented.”

“You’re right,” she said with apparent sincerity. “I really am sorry.”

Ronnie glanced around to be sure his tables were still empty, then pulled out a chair. “Look, you and I need to make peace. I appreciate the fact that you’re only looking out for Dana Sue, but I am not the enemy. Not anymore.”

“I’ll withhold judgment on that,” she muttered dryly.

“Fair enough.”

Before he could say anything more, Dana Sue came hurrying out of the kitchen and headed straight for their table. “Brenda told me you were here,” she said to Helen. She cast a worried look from one to the other. “Good. No bloodshed.”

“Not tonight,” Helen said.

“We’re negotiating a truce,” Ronnie added.

Dana Sue looked doubtful. “How’s that going?”

He grinned. “About as well as you’d expect with Helen as one of the negotiators. She’s tough.”

“It’s a good trait,” Helen said defensively.

“Most of the time,” Dana Sue agreed.

“Somebody has to hold his feet to the fire,” Helen said.

“I’m perfectly capable of doing that,” Dana Sue assured her.

“She is,” Ronnie confirmed.

Helen finally sat back and relaxed. “As long as you know I’m keeping an eye on you,” she said.

He winked at Dana Sue. “That’s a given. So, are you eating or not?” He glanced at his ex-wife. “What about you? Have you eaten anything?”

She shrugged. “No time. I’m not hungry, anyway.”

“You need to eat,” Helen said sternly. “I’ll have the salmon. Bring her the same thing.”

In the kitchen, Ronnie gave Erik the orders, put water and bread on a tray, then walked back to the stove, where Erik was already spooning vegetables onto the plates alongside salmon that had been drizzled with olive oil and herbs.

“Last customers?” he asked Ronnie.

“Dana Sue and Helen, actually.” He paused. “Can I ask you a question?”

Erik regarded him warily. “Okay.”

“I know Dana Sue’s family history,” Ronnie said. “I was around when her mom died from complications of diabetes. I know Dana Sue has always been terrified that the same thing would happen to her. Has she been diagnosed with diabetes?”

Erik shook his head, but before relief could flow through Ronnie, Erik added, “The doctor’s warned her, though, that she needs to be careful, eat properly and exercise, or she’ll need medication to control her blood sugar. It’s already inching toward dangerous territory. She’s supposed to check it at least once a day, keep track of it and report in to him once a month. But I don’t think she’s doing it, at least not daily, and probably even less since Annie’s been in the hospital.”

“Which is why you freaked over the chocolate decadence cake the other night?”

Erik nodded. “And that’s all I’m saying. You want to know anything else, ask Dana Sue.”

“Thanks. It confirms what I’d already guessed. And just so you know, I’ll watch out for her.”

Erik gave him the first genuine smile since the day they’d met. “You already have been. I’ve seen that. It’s been the only reason I haven’t offered to beat you to a pulp.”

“One more question,” Ronnie said. “The two of you…you seem close.”

“We are,” Erik agreed. “I could let you interpret that to mean that there’s something going on, but I won’t. Dana Sue and I are a team in here, but that’s it. And so you know, that’s not because I haven’t tried to convince her otherwise from time to time.”

“We’re not going to have to duel at dawn or something, are we?” Ronnie asked him.

Erik held up his hands. “Not me. I’m a pacifist. As long as you’re good to her, I have no issues with you.”

Ronnie nodded, appreciating his candor. “I’d better get these meals out there before the owner takes exception to the service. Then again, she’s probably well aware that she’s likely to get what she pays for and I came dirt cheap.”

Erik chuckled. “Make sure Dana Sue doesn’t come back in here to clean up. I’ve got that under control.”

“I’ll be back to help you.”

“No need. You could join her and Helen.”

“Something tells me it would be smarter to hide out in here till Helen leaves,” Ronnie said. “She’s not my biggest fan.”

“And you don’t think you can win her over?” Erik asked, clearly amused.

“Not in one night,” Ronnie told him. “I had years when I was around and on good behavior, and she wasn’t all that thrilled with me then.”

And even though he’d made progress with winning over Dana Sue, in the end he had a hunch she was going to be an even harder sell than her best friend, at least when it came to taking that final leap of faith.

Annie wasn’t exactly eager to see Dr. McDaniels in the morning, but for the first time her stomach wasn’t twisted into knots at the prospect of a session with the shrink. Maybe she could tell her a few things, and if the doctor didn’t get all weird on her, then maybe she could tell her the rest. It wasn’t like not admitting she was anorexic was getting her anywhere. Everyone knew it, even Ty. Having him confront her without acting like she was a freak had finally given her the courage to say it out loud. She’d actually practiced getting the words out when no one was around. After a couple of times, she’d been able to say it without feeling sick to her stomach.