Quickly, she washed and changed into shorts. She realized the curtains were still open as she pulled a T-shirt from the drawer and was startled to see the shadow of a man behind the curtains of the house next door. She rushed to close hers, not wanting to give anyone else a peepshow-especially when she was only wearing her bra and shorts.
That's odd, she thought. Skylar recalled Mrs. Song, who was a widow, occupying the house next door. What was a man doing there? She brushed it off, thinking it could have been her son or a friend. After she looked presentable, she went downstairs to the kitchen.
"Good morning, Auntie Kelly," Skylar greeted, giving her a warm sideways hug and a kiss as she inhaled the aroma of the food. Scrambled eggs-Skylar could hardly wait to take the first bite. Kelly stopped stirring the eggs and turned to wrap her arms around her niece.
Skylar's aunt was also wearing shorts and a T-shirt. She looked like she had just got out of bed, especially since she wasn't wearing any makeup, but despite that she looked great. Just like Skylar's mom, Gina, Kelly was naturally beautiful and had flawless skin. With her hair dyed lighter, she looked young for her age.
"Good to see you," Kelly replied cheerfully, releasing her hold and placing her hands on Skylar's cheeks. "You are getting more beautiful every time I see you."
Skylar felt her cheeks turn warm. Shyly, she looked away. She was never good at taking compliments. "Thank you."
Kelly released her face, smiling. "How's your mom?"
"She's good, I think." Skylar hesitated, though she didn't know why her answer was uncertain. Perhaps it was the fact that her mom was in love, something she wasn't used to. It had been just the two of them for the longest time until her mom had met the second love of her life. Mom was happy and Skylar was happy for her, but was she really in love or had she jumped into a relationship because she was lonely? What did Skylar know of real love anyway?
"Her fiancé is treating her well?" Kelly continued to ask.
"Yes, from what I can tell. I mean, he's nice. I like him, I think," Skylar mumbled, shrugging her shoulders then turning to Kayla who was already sitting at the table, still wearing her pajamas.
Skylar plopped down next to her. Kayla looked irritable and obviously had not been paying attention to their conversation.
"So, Auntie Kelly, how about you? Dating anyone?" Skylar asked. "Mom doesn't share that part of your life."
"There is a good reason why she doesn't. Nothing serious. If I'm lucky enough to meet someone and fall in love again, I'll be sure to let you know." She winked.
Skylar could tell her aunt felt uncomfortable discussing that topic, so she didn't go any further with her questions and turned her attention to her grumpy cousin. "You're up early this morning. You didn't wake me up."
"Didn't want to bother you so soon," Kayla grumbled and rolled her eyes.
Skylar knew Kayla's eye rolling wasn't meant for her, and she wondered what was up. She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it when Kelly approached, placing Skylar's plate and a glass of orange juice in front of her. "Thank you, Auntie."
"It's my pleasure to feed my favorite niece."
"I'm your only niece."
"Is that so?" Kelly laughed, smirking. "Then I'm happy to feed my only niece."
Ready to devour her breakfast, Skylar kept one eye on Kayla and the other on the view beyond the windows. The dining room was her favorite spot in the house. The long windows provided a clear view of the front yard. Beaming in from between the branches of the trees, the sun's rays gave the illusion of Heaven's light.
"How was the drive here?" Kelly asked, nipping at the bacon she had just taken out of the pan.
Kayla almost spat out the juice she had just drank and coughed several times to get her breath back. Skylar shook her head, silently asking Kayla not to say anything. "It was fine. Nothing happened," Skylar reassured.
Kelly arched her brows in confusion, looking suspiciously from Skylar to Kayla. She parted her lips to speak, but then closed them and shook her head with a grin.
"What's wrong?" Skylar finally asked when Kelly turned to wash the dishes, giving her the chance to talk to Kayla. She could hardly get her words out. Her mouth was too full of eggs.
"I have to work at the diner today."
"Okay, so we'll change our plans. No big deal."
"Then I have to work tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after . . . you get the point?" Kayla sighed heavily. "We are short on waitresses. Mom says she can't afford to hire another one right now, and it takes time to go through the interview process. So I'll have to fill in the shifts."
"Sorry, Skylar," Kelly said, seeming to have eavesdropped on their conversation. "I know you had plans, but that doesn't mean you can't work around them. This can happen when you own a diner. When you go to college, make sure to pick a good career."
Skylar took her last bite of eggs. "Maybe I can help at the diner."
Kelly and Kayla both flashed their eyes happily at Skylar. "Yes. We can work together and then I won't be so bored," Kayla uttered, emphasizing the word "bored."
"You'll be too busy to be bored." Kelly's eyes steeled at her daughter. "But that is a great idea. I could use the extra help. Let me ask your mom if it's okay. I don't want my sister getting mad at me for making her baby girl work during her last summer before she goes off to college."
"I'm sure it'll be fine, Auntie Kelly. Mom wanted me to look for a job so I could start learning about finances. Besides, I should start paying for my own gas, but you don't have to pay me. I would only work for the experience, and this way I'll get to be with Kayla."
"Nonsense, of course I'll pay you. It won't be much, but it should help pay for your gas. Did you hear that, Kayla? Skylar thinks she should pay for her own gas . . . hint, hint."
"But I practically work for free. It's against the law to pay me so little." Kayla pouted.
"I'm your mother. I can do or say anything, within reason. Now hurry up and eat, ‘cause both of you are due at the diner in one hour," Kelly said, scrubbing the counter near the stove. After the grease marks disappeared underneath the sponge, Kelly excused herself from the room.
"What a way to spend a Saturday," Kayla whined.
"It'll be fine. At least we can be together. You'll have to teach me. I won't know what I'm doing." Skylar got up, cleared their empty plates, and set them in the sink. After she washed them, she turned to see Kayla still in the same position. Her eyes were staring blindly at the refrigerator, elbow on the table, and her right fist propping up her head.
"Hey, it'll be okay," Skylar cheered. She hated seeing Kayla upset.
"I know. It's just that we had our summer all planned out. We're supposed to go to the beach and get tan."
"We can go out at night, and don't forget-there are the weekends. Too much sun isn't good for you anyway. Besides, you already know going to the beach is not my first choice for fun. I only go for you."
"That's where the cute guys spend their summer, and you are grossly too positive," Kayla teased. "Gross, gross, gross. But that is just another reason why I love you."
"You know I'm not like that all the time, right?"
"Girl, I've seen your dark side and know about all that self-defense stuff from the classes your mom made you take. I bet you can do some major damage." Kayla giggled, pulling Skylar in for a hug and leading her out of the dining room. "Maybe the hot cop will be there. They do eat, you know."
"I hope not. I don't think I can breathe around him," Skylar exaggerated.
"Hmmm, maybe I can cuff the two of you together."
"Then I'll definitely faint."
Kelly's Diner was always a fun place to be. It was small compared to most restaurants, but it was cozy and just big enough to accommodate the local customers. Inside, the tile floor was always squeaky clean. Toward the back were the restrooms and the kitchen, but the coolest part of the diner was the large opening where the chef could be seen cooking.
It was shortly after the breakfast rush and the aroma from the food still lingered. The diner was empty and quiet except for the soft music that filled the air with a welcoming ambiance.
Being that this would be Skylar's first job, she was overflowing with excitement and nervousness. Though her stomach was constricted with anxiety, she could hardly wait. She would be making her own money, and that alone thrilled her tremendously.
"Hello, Jack. Hello, Mona," Kayla greeted. "This is my cousin, Skylar. You remember her, don't ya?"
"Hey, Kayla," Jack said from the kitchen, holding up a spatula. "I may be old, but I have a good memory, especially when pretty girls are involved. Of course, I remember. Welcome back, Skylar."