In a short time Becky Lee came over and placed the meatloaf dinner on the table. Mashed potatoes covered in gravy and steaming green beans were piled on the plate. “Here’s some rolls. Fresh sweet yeast rolls. Also the best in the county—or state. Real butter, too.”
“Thanks.” Madeline eyed the mountainous plate of food before her, pretty sure that she’d barely make a dent in it.
“Yep, it’s a lot of food.” Becky Lee seemed to read her thoughts. “I’ll check back in a few minutes to see if you need anything else.”
Madeline watched the pretty, blonde waitress wind her way through the tables and head to the counter. She had a bounce to her step too, just like Rebecca. Well, maybe Comfort Crossing had some magical power that gave a person energy like that. She shook her head at her crazy, tired thoughts. She was a nutcase. Truly.
Madeline took a bite of the meatloaf and immediately had to agree with Becky Lee. It was delicious and probably the best meatloaf in the state, not that she’d ever had meatloaf anywhere else in Mississippi. She watched out the window as she ate her meal. The rolls were probably the best she’d ever tasted and she treated herself to an almost-never-happens second roll.
Becky Lee came over to the table. “You need anything else?”
“No, I’m fine. This was all so good.”
“Did you save room for dessert? We have some great pies.”
Probably the best in the county. Madeline rested her hand on her stomach. “I’m way too full.”
Becky Lee placed the check on the table. “So what brings you to Comfort Crossing?”
“Well…” Madeline paused for a moment, wondering if she was going to sound like a crazy person. “I found this letter in my mother’s antique desk. It was really old. Like no zip codes old, and just addressed to Josephine Amaud in Comfort Crossing.”
“Really? Who was it from?”
Madeline took the letter out of her purse. “I can’t really make out a return address or name. It’s just signed “O” with no last name.” She handed the letter to Becky Lee.
“There used to be a bunch of Amauds around here. Now there’s just my friend Izzy Amaud—well, her name is Isabella but I’ve always called her Izzy—and her brother, Gil. Izzy is out of town right now, though. Should be back any day. She’s got a handful of relatives, but none live here in town except for Gil.”
“Really? Where can I find this Gil? Maybe he’ll have some leads on this. Maybe he’ll know who sent it and if they ever met. Or why the letter was hidden. Or how it ended up hidden in my grandmother’s writing desk.”
“That’s a lot of questions, isn’t it?”
Becky Lee eyed her with a look that said that’s a tall order…or maybe it said she thought Madeline was crazy.
“You can find him tomorrow at the Feed and Seed. He owns it. They open bright and early.”
“Where’s the Feed and Seed?”
“Head back towards the Sweet Tea and make a right on Live Oak Lane. It’s about a block down the road. Can’t miss it.”
“Thanks so much for your help. I’ll go there tomorrow.” Madeline picked up the check and glanced at it. It sure was way less expensive to eat in Comfort Crossing than in St. Louis. “Do I pay you?”
“Yes, I’ll take care of it for you.”
Madeline pulled out some bills from her wallet and handed them to Becky Lee. “Here, keep the change.”
“Thanks. Y’all come back.”
“I’m sure I will.” She wondered how many restaurants there were to choose from in a small town like Comfort Crossing.
~ * ~
Later that evening Becky Lee stood in her kitchen by the stove, waiting for the kettle to boil to fix a cup of chamomile tea. It had been a long shift at Magnolia Cafe and she wanted nothing more than to sit down with her cup of tea and put her feet up. She loved her job, but sometimes when she pulled a double shift, like today, she got plain tuckered out.
The phone rang and she crossed the kitchen to answer it. “Hello?”
“Hey, Bec. It’s Izzy.”
Becky Lee smiled at the sound of her friend’s voice. “Izzy, how’s the trip?”
“It’s fun. Kind of nice to get away. I miss my boys, though I’m sure they’re having fun with their dad.”
“You’ll be back in a few days.”
“I know, I’m just not used to being away from them much.”
“Are you finding a lot of things for your shop?”
Izzy had taken a van and gone on a road trip to different cities, combing places to find more items for her store, Bella’s Vintage Shop.