Angel Protected

A Night to Remember

   The diner was at a lull after the evening rush, as Lari ran through the dining room bussing tables, replenishing them, and collecting her tips.
   Before she knew it, the place was spotlessly clean and she could afford herself a short break.
   "Miss Angel, why don't you let me make you a little something. You've been going non stop since you got here this morning." the tall, dark Alabama cook said.
   "I'm really not hungry, Bubba." she said, sitting on a stool at the counter.        "I could use a drink though." she said, slipping off her shoes and rubbing her feet.
   "When are you going to tell them you want a title shot? You know you deserve it." a black haired, Polynesian man asked, as he and his companions walked in.
   "Hey, honey. You got a table for us?" the sandy haired man said, as she slid her shoes back on.
   "Round two." she giggled."Of course," Her eyes got wide as she turned around to see the three men. She quickly regained her composure, fanning the blush off her face.
   She slid off the stool and straightened her uniform. She looked to Bubba for an approving nod, which she got.  She grabbed a few menus, before looking up at them with a smile. "Mr. Good, Mr. Lopez, Mr. Anoa'i. Please follow me to our best table."
   "I'd follow her anywhere. Look at the swing in that backyard." Mr. Lopez in a low chuckle, causing the other two men to do the same nodding in agreement.
   Immediately, the cook was through the counter and to her side. "Now, Miss Angel, you go on and finish your tea, I'll seat our guests for you." he said, glaring at the chuckling trio.
   "I appreciate the offer, Bubba, but I'm okay." she smiled warmly.
   "No, miss. You go on now. You have little ones that are waiting to hear from you before bed. I have this handled."
   "Little ones?" the trio mouthed at each other.
   "Bubba! We do not discuss my personal life in front of guests." she scolded softly. "Don't give me that look. I'm not angry. Just go back to the kitchen, they look hungry."
   "Sorry, Miss Angel. Your right. Sorry, sirs." he said, reluctantly going back to the kitchen.
   "You'll have to excuse him. He's a little protective. Shall we?" she said, leading the trio to their table.
   "Honey, why don't you go make your phone call? It's going to take a few minutes for us to decide what we want anyway."
   "That's very nice of you, Mr. Good."
   "Jon."
   "Yes, Jon. It is nice of you. Are you feeling alright?"
   "Shut up, Lopez."
   "Can I get you anything to drink, while you decide?"
   "Three coffees, decaf, please." Joe ordered for the trio as they all took a seat.
   "Let me guess, two pinks and milk." she giggled, knowing it was her own preference.
   "How'd you know?"
   "I didn't. It's how I make my own, sometimes with cinnamon."
   "That's how I like mine too, honey." Jon said, adjusting in his seat a little.
   "Why don't you make that call now, sweets?" Colby said with a smile, as she poured their coffee.
   "Sorry. They've been through a lot." she said, hurrying to clean up the milk she had accidentally spilled by Joe's cup, when her phone rang from her pocket.
   "Alofa, sit down and take the call, please." his eyes soft and warm, as he set her in the chair beside his own.
   "Hi, sis. Is that them? They're really upset with me aren't they?"
   "Yeah. They don't think you're coming back like their parents." her sister said, a sad tone in her voice.
   She started to cry. "Put them on video, Ro, please." she said, drying her eyes with a hankie Colby offered her, as Jon and Joe rubbed her back.
   "Calm down now. She's on the phone waiting to talk to you." She could hear the scamper of two sets of feet and smiled the most loving smile.
   A little red headed boy, about 5 years old came into the frame, followed by a little strawberry blonde girl, about 4 years old. Both of their faces were puffy and red from crying, which only made Lari feel so much worse.
   "Hey, babies. I'm sorry I was a little late calling. Things got a little busy here."
   "You not coming home?" the little girl cried.
   "Coley, please don't cry, baby. I promise I'll be home as soon as I can." she said, shielding her face from them.
   "Calm down, honey. Let us help." Jon whispered, drying her eyes.
   "No, it's okay. I'm alright." she said. "B? Are you mad at me? You know I wouldn't be here if I didn't have to be, right?"
   "I know. But..."
   "But what, B? Come on. You can tell me." she coaxed the little boy, who held onto his little sister snugly.
   "I'm scared you won't come home, like Mommy and Daddy didn't."
   That was it. The straw that broke the camel's back. Lari couldn't hide her tears any longer. "Oh, B."
   "Hey, little man." Joe said, taking the phone from her trembling hand. "Don't you worry. Lari's going to finish up here, and then she'll be home."
   "We'll make sure of it." Colby added.
   "You're Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins." the little boy said excitedly. "Sissy, it's Roman and Seth."
   The little girl blinked and rubbed her eyes. "But you on tv. How you get there?"
   Joe and Colby entertained their questions, while Jon took Lari to clean herself up.
   "I know it's none of my business, but what happened? Why are they with you?" he asked, brushing a loose piece of hair out of her face.
   "I was their babysitter. I have been since Coley was a newborn. Their parents went out for the night and got in a car accident. They were hit head on by a drunk driver at 60 mph. He never slowed down. They were killed instantly." she sobbed.
   "Oh, honey." he grabbed her and held her to his chest, crying silent tears of his own.
   "Hey, alofa. The kids want to say good night." Joe said, opening the bathroom door. "Alofa? Jon? What's going on?"
   "How long ago, honey?"
   "They've been with me for six months." Lari said, turning out of Jon's embrace.
   She ran some warm water in the sink. She washed up her tear stained face and took a few deep breaths.
   "Jon? Do you mind?" she asked, taking a clean cloth from the cabinet under the sink.
   He shook his head. "No, honey. Have at it."
   She made short work of gently washing the tears from his ruggedly handsome face. "I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm sorry."
   "Don't you apologize, honey. You and the kids have been through a lot." he sighed. "How long has it been?"
   "Six months." she said, drying his face with a warm towel.
   "Alofa? The kids are waiting." Joe said. "If we leave them alone with Colby too long, they're going to learn way too many fart jokes."
   She giggled. "He ain't lyin', honey."
   "Oh." she said, all but running back to the table.