The Strawberry Hearts Diner(71)

“I know, Nettie. You don’t have to say the words,” Vicky said.

“Yes, I do. You and Emily were my salvation that year after I got a divorce, and you have been every day since. I’m making a will next week. Everything I own will go to you, but my half of the diner is Emily’s. That said, I still hope I live to be a hundred and drop dead in the diner after a sixteen-hour shift.”

“Nettie . . . ,” Vicky started.

“No ifs, buts, or maybes. That’s the way it is. I ain’t one much for tellin’ folks how I feel—I just had to get it done. Now, let’s go sit with the kids for a spell.”

Ryder and Emily had been sitting on the swing. When Nettie arrived, they both stood up and gave it to her. Shane and Jancy rested on the steps. His arm curved around her, drawing her head to his chest. A nice picture, but the aura wasn’t peaceful. Whatever spirit had been in the diner and was now on the porch was about to speak its mind.

Nettie settled into the swing. “So what did y’all think of the sermon tonight?”

“Didn’t hear a word of it,” Ryder admitted.

“Why’s that?” Vicky joined Nettie on the swing.

“Because we’ve got something to say and we were both worried about it,” Emily said.

“Well, spit it out,” Nettie said.

Ryder took Emily’s hand in his.

Vicky gasped.

Shane and Jancy both smiled.

“We’ve been dating since Christmas,” Ryder said.

“No!” Vicky clamped a hand over her mouth.

Emily leaned into him. “We are in love, Mama.”




Vicky felt her whole world slip out from under her. “How long has this been going on? When did it start?” she sputtered and then went on. “Is this a joke? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because at first we were just flirting and then it got serious. I wanted to tell you,” Ryder said. “But, well, you know me, Vicky. You know my reputation and you know that I’m not good enough for Emily. But I love her and I’ve changed. I’ll do right by her, I promise.”

“It’s been going on since Christmas and it’s not a joke,” Emily said.

“Then this is you asking me for permission to date my child right out in the open?” Vicky stared at Ryder as if he had an extra eyeball right in the middle of his forehead. God Almighty! Had Emily lost her mind?

Ryder took a deep breath. “This is me asking for your blessing on our marriage.”

“Sweet Lord!” Vicky whispered. Surely she’d heard him wrong. Had it gone that far without her knowing? She threw a hand over her eyes.

Nettie patted her on the arm. “Take a breath.”

Dating was hard enough, but marriage? Vicky was glad that she was sitting down. She caught Emily’s gaze, begging her to understand, pleading with her to accept Ryder. She wanted to refuse, to take Emily away to a faraway place and keep her there until she came to her senses. A picture of a convent even flashed across her mind. But she knew it would be wrong to interfere, no matter how much she wanted to. A wedding—she’d need six months to plan it. Maybe a Christmas affair with red velvet bridesmaid dresses and poinsettias all over the church.

“This is a lot to sling at me all at once,” Vicky said.

“Mama, please.” Emily crossed the porch and knelt in front of Vicky, throwing her arms around her. “I need this. I don’t just want it. I need for you to be on board with us. Not with me, but with us.”

“Okay,” Vicky said slowly as she hugged her daughter. “Ryder, you’ve got a year to prove yourself to me. You can be engaged to my daughter, but—”

“Not a year, Mama. We’re getting married three weeks from yesterday. June 24,” Emily said.

“I cannot get things ready in that . . .” Vicky grabbed her heart. “Weddings take time and planning and . . .”

“Whoa! Time for another breath,” Nettie said. “Why June 24, Ryder?”

“Because I start to work at the office in Frankston soon after that. I’ve booked a weeklong cruise for a honeymoon, and that will give us time to get moved into the trailer and get settled and . . .” He paused and looked like a fish floundering around out of water.

Nettie stood up, and Shane did the same.

“I’ll get you a chair,” Shane said as he raced into the house.

“Bring two. Emily and Ryder need the swing more than we do,” Nettie said.

Vicky was glad to let Nettie take control, because her mind was whipping around in circles. Ryder? Emily? How in the devil would she get a wedding ready in less than three weeks? She stood up and let Shane guide her to a kitchen chair, where she plopped down. Surely this was a nightmare. She’d wake up any minute and find out that it was the result of sleep deprivation, like Andy said.