Split Love

CHAPTER 1

FRIDAY, April 20, 2018

Tlin Tlin. The bell's chime above the door was drowned out by conversation as Jasmine Davenport pushed open the diner's dark blue wooden door. The familiar smell of coffee mixed with donuts invaded her nostrils causing her lips to curve slightly.

- Good morning Jamie, sweetheart. What's going to be today? -Lynn asked as soon as she saw the girl lean against the counter. There were a few free stools, but Jamie – as she's been known since she was a child – was in a bit of a hurry that morning, preferring to have her coffee while walking to work.

- Well, - The words got stuck in her throat. She was interrupted by Toddy, Lynn's husband.

- What did I say about sugar in coffee, Lynn? Some customers don't like it.

- And what fault do I have if these people like bitter things? Toddy, most people here like sweet coffee.

- Each one who sweetens their own coffee.

Yes, Jamie was in a bit of a hurry, but she didn't mind being face-to-face with yet another of the couple's arguments. Toddy and Lynn Bishop, the middle-aged couple who owned the River Falls Diner, were well known in the small town of Willow Creek for their quarrels. There were never any big fights, Jamie had lived in the city all her life and she couldn't remember any big fight. But these little arguments and bickering happened every day - five or six times a day.

The River Falls Diner was on the corner of Main Street and Maple, right in the center of town, across from the big main square. The place was simple with some wooden tables painted in light blue and white chairs, the counter was white but with a dark top, and the stools in front of it were in black iron with brown leather upholstery. The large windows that covered the two walls facing the street, allowed consumers to look at the traffic in the streets and mainly keep an eye on people.

Important note about the town of Willow Creek: the gossip never stops.

In a small town, without major events, and with almost 4 thousand inhabitants, any news - no matter how insignificant it is - ended up becoming a long conversation among the residents.

- I'm sorry dear, Toddy has been a little bitter lately. - Lynn gave her husband a disapproving look before he walked into the kitchen.

- A medium coffee to go and a bagel, please.

She glanced over her shoulder as she waited for Lynn to make her coffee. It was 7:45AM, and there were a few people in line behind her while a few others were sitting around consuming their daily coffee fix. In less than a minute, Lynn delivered Jamie's order and she was out on the streets, sipping her coffee on her way to the Willow Creek Public Library where she worked. The River Falls Diner wasn't the only one in the small town but it was Jamie's favorite.

She never knew how to explain why, maybe it was the delicious food or the familiar smell of coffee and donuts that cheered her up, but to anyone who asked, Jamie always said the same thing "It's on my way to work".

She reached into the bottom of her caramel leather bag for the key and opened the huge green double doors of the Library. Inside, to the right, was the long reception desk, made of dark wood, with some carvings that could be seen from the front. Jamie stowed her purse in one of the balcony doors, as usual. Her eyes flicked to some unfinished drawings that had already been sitting on her desk all week, but she decided to postpone them for a few more hours. Allowing the morning light to illuminate the large dark wooden tables, Jamie opened the curtains that had been drawn. Upstairs, a cart of books needed her attention.