She couldn’t believe they were having this discussion in the middle of the diner. “And shouldn’t we be talking about this somewhere else?” she hissed at her friend, nodding toward Albert.
“Oh, he doesn’t care.” Sally grinned widely at the cook. “He’s heard much worse from me.”
Albert grunted again, seemingly in agreement. Yet he didn’t move away from the order window. His blue eyes softened somewhat, though, as he watched the drama unfold.
“There is no way I could support a baby. No way I would even try. I’m sure it’s something else. I’m not pregnant.”
The dizziness passed, as did the nausea, and just in time as a customer came through the front door. Jennifer stood and walked to the entry. “Welcome to the Four Star,” she said handing him a menu. “You’re awful dressed up, did you just get back from the theater or something?”
“Actually, I’m meeting someone here.” His gaze traveled up Jennifer’s body and back down again before she even had a chance to seat him. The open leering made her feel self-conscious.
It was impossible to ignore the looks her customers sometimes gave her, and most of the time they did nothing but annoy her. “Would you like to hear our specials for the day, or should I go ahead and bring you something to drink?”
The bell over the door rang again and a beautiful young woman glided through.
“You must be Rebecca Stanton.” The man in the suit stood to meet his dining companion. “Alan Perry. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine, Mr. Perry,” the young woman intoned. She spoke properly, politely, as a woman with education and money would speak. They shook hands and sat down before the woman directed her eyes toward Jennifer. “I’d like a glass of water, please, light on the ice, and a lime wedge if you have it.”
Warmth spread from the tip of Jennifer’s toes to her already too-warm cheeks. This was Rebecca. The Rebecca.
****
Sally and Jennifer whispered quietly in the kitchen as Albert prepared the order: a Reuben sandwich with a side of chips for him, turkey on wheat with brown mustard for her. They could hear the couple discussing the business of something called “Baby Solomon,” while Jennifer tried her best to hold her nausea at bay.
Sally’s look of incredulous shock would have been comical at any other time. “That’s Rebecca? That’s the Rebecca you’ve been talking about? Mark’s Rebecca?”
“It has to be.” Dismay registering in her voice. “Her picture was on the bookshelf in Ruth’s apartment. I just didn’t know who she was.”
Peeking out the cook’s window, she sized the other woman up. As if perfect speech and sweetness weren’t enough, Rebecca was strikingly beautiful, as well. She dressed like someone used to getting her way, but maybe she didn’t always ask for it. She had flawless olive skin, perfectly tapered fingernails and unbelievably long eyelashes. Her flowing sequined turquoise skirt came just short of touching the floor, and her cream-colored cashmere sweater softened the look. Her mahogany hair was wrapped loosely into a bun; feathers dangled from her earrings.
Looking down at her own stained apron, water-basin hands and tennis shoes that she’d worn almost daily for the past seven years, Jennifer realized there was no contest.
No question this was Mark’s Rebecca. And Mark had to love Rebecca. Her laughter rang like a bell, and though she could have just been flashy and charming, she was more. Her light, lilting voice, which could have sounded adolescent and tinny on any other person, made her sound like a movie starlet prepping for her next sexy role.
Jennifer hated her and loved her instantly.
If things had just been different, if they’d met somewhere else, she and Rebecca would’ve been fast friends.
Unfortunately, this made it all the more confusing as to why Mark would risk it all for a night of sex with a stranger.
Nausea hit again in full. “Sally, I have to—” She sprinted to the restroom.
“I think it is baby,” Albert said to Sally after Jennifer rushed off.
“I do too, Albert,” Sally said as he handed her the orders. “But what are we going to do about it?”
The cook shrugged and Sally turned to take the orders out to the table.
It’s too bad Jennifer hadn’t met this one first, Sally thought as she smiled down at her handsome customer.
“Thank you,” he said.
“You two let me know if you’ll be needin’ anything else,” Sally drawled. She leaned forward on the table as she spoke, no attempt to hide her open flirting.
He smiled at her in return. And winked.