Tangled Hearts

Two

The smell of freshly baked bread and greasy hash-browns wafts through the welcoming warm air filling Happy's Place — The only diner in town.

"Come on, honey, hurry inside." Savannah calls to Theo as he rushes through the door she holds open.

"I'll be right with ya!" An older gentleman calls out, his back turned to them as he serves a couple seated at one of the many packed tables.

"I wanna sit in a booth!" Theo bounces at his mothers side, tugging her arm gently as he points to the only empty red booth by the window.

"Then let's get you in a booth, Little guy." The gentleman says, motioning them over to the table. "Just two?"

"Yep, Just the two of us." Savannah smiles as she slides into the cushioned seat following after Theo. Glancing up she meets the man who's jaw has fallen slack.

"Savannah Sheppard? Oh my god, I barely recognized you!" He exclaims and before she has a chance to respond, he's calling over his shoulder for his wife May to join. "You won't believe who's here!"

May's once dark auburn hair is now salt n pepper colored, but other than a few new lines around her deep chocolate eyes, She looks the same. They both do.

"Is that little Savannah Sheppard?!" May echoes, greeting Savannah by leaning down to hug her within the booth. "And who's this handsome fella you've got with you?"

"This is my son Theo," Savannah replies, returning May's hug. "It's nice to see you both."

"What brings you into town?" Happy asks, handing Savannah two leather bound menus.

"We're on a Mommy-Son trip!" Theo chirps, grabbing for one of the menus.

"Oh how fun!" May beams, "How about I grab you a picture and some crayons to use while you have your breakfast?"

"I love coloring!" Theo's head bobs, his mom fluffing his thick brown curls.

"That would be great. Thanks, May." Savannah hums, her eyes flittering over the menu briefly.

"I'll gladly fix whatever you'd like, However we do have special right now. What do you two think about S'more's pancakes?"

"S'more's?!" Theo's blue-green eyes flash from the goateed man to his mom excitedly, "Can I have S'more's?! Please?"

"Two orders of your S'more's pancakes please, Happy. Black tea for me, Milk for him. And could I get dark chocolate in my pancakes instead of milk chocolate, if it's not too much trouble?"

"No trouble at all, Honey." Happy smiles in a way that brings back countless memories from Savannah's childhood.

She unquestionably ate more meals at Happy's Place over the years than she did anywhere else. From before school breakfasts , to skip-day lunches, to two am milkshakes with her friends. Happy's Place never closes, Because Happy himself has long established his diner as a safe place for the kids and teens of Story Haven to go, Especially when there is no where else. It might seem like a small thing in a big city where plenty of places are open after hours, But in Story Haven, It is the only place.

"Here you go, I hope you like farm animals." May says, returning with a large white sheet of crisp paper and a plastic cup with handful of new crayons. "This pictures got a bunch on there for you to color in."

Theo reaches up and carefully takes the cup of crayons with both hands, "Thank you!"

"Good job, Buddy." Savannah praises, smiling up at May. "We've been working on our manners lately."