Baby, Don't Go

Marcus brushed at crumbs on the front of the camouflage-print apron he wore. “Shut up.”

“What, no hair net?” Kendall asked as he slid onto the stool next to Porter.

Marcus sent a glare his way, too. “If I have to box your ears right here in public, I will.”

Kendall laughed. “Relax, Marcus. We’re just giving you a hard time. We’re glad you took over this place.”

Porter made a rueful noise. “Molly, on the other hand…”

Marcus sighed. “How is she?”

“She’s stubborn, like you. She’s working in the lost and found warehouse, sure that you’ll come crawling back when you get fed up.”

Remorse shot through Marcus—he felt indebted to Molly for her loyalty, but he’d given her as much leeway as he could to make the transition from running a military-inspired mess hall to running a civilian-friendly diner. He’d have to figure out a way to make it up to her.

Alicia walked up holding the glass coffeepot. “Coffee?” she asked his brothers.

They turned over the clean coffee cups sitting on the counter in front of them.

“Sure.”

“Yes, thanks.”

They both seemed wary of the coffee and intrigued by his new manager at the same time. He could see they were brimming with questions.

“I’m Alicia Waters,” she offered with a smile that she’d never extended to him.

“Porter Armstrong.”

“Kendall Armstrong.”

“The boss’s brothers?” she asked.

Porter arched an eyebrow in his direction and Kendall wiped away a smile with his hand. “Yes, we’re the boss’s brothers.”

“Nice to meet you,” she said.

“Same here.”

“Likewise.”

She walked away and both men pushed away their coffee cups.

“Go ahead, take a drink,” Marcus encouraged.

Porter held up his hand. “No, thanks. The last time I drank coffee in here, it took the hide off my tongue.”

“Ditto,” Kendall said. “My mouth was numb for a week.”

“Just try it,” Marcus said.

Porter reluctantly lifted the cup to his mouth and took a sip. Then his eyes widened. “Not bad.”

Kendall took a drink and nodded. “Not bad at all.”

“So the coffee has improved dramatically since yesterday,” Porter said. “How about the food?”

“See for yourself,” Marcus said, waving toward the blackboard where Alicia had written the most popular items from the menu.

Porter lifted his hand. “No, thanks. I had breakfast with Nikki at the boardinghouse.”

“I already ate, too,” Kendall said.

They exchanged a quick glance and when Marcus realized what it meant, annoyance flashed in his chest. They felt sorry for him, sorry that they had someone to eat breakfast with and he didn’t.

“But I could probably choke down a biscuit,” Porter added quickly.

“Or an egg,” Kendall offered.

Marcus frowned. “Never mind. You can get something later.”

Porter took another sip of his coffee. “So…how’s your new cook working out?”

“Fine.”

“She’s cute,” Kendall said.

“Is she?” Marcus said idly.

Porter laughed. “Marcus, I know you haven’t been in the company of a woman in…well, I won’t embarrass you with the truth, but have you gone completely blind?”

Marcus gritted his teeth. “No, but considering you’re practically engaged, you should be.”

Porter scoffed. “Nikki’s the only one for me.” Then he set down his cup. “But that reminds me…I got a call from Emory Maxwell last night.”

“Emory?” Porter’s former Army buddy had been in Sweetness on leave with Porter when the devastating tornado had hit over a decade ago. Emory had been the one who’d sounded the warning siren from the water tower. “What’s he up to?”

“Still living in Florida. He and Shelby are coming back to Sweetness Homecoming weekend. His dad is coming, too.”

Marcus smiled. “That’s good. It’ll be nice to see them all.”

Porter made a rueful noise. “Emory and Shelby are going through a rough patch. He said they’ve been trying to have a baby for a while now, and it’s really wearing on their marriage. He asked if they could renew their vows in our church.”

Marcus pursed his mouth. “Will it be ready?”

“If the fabricator delivers the sections next week as scheduled, then yeah, it should be. I’m putting out feelers for a minister to come and conduct services that weekend.”

“I think it would be a fitting ceremony,” Marcus said. “Of course they can use the church.”