Fluke of Fate

4: Milestones..

Zella looked up to the name board of the diner, she was happy that the week long preparation to resume the diner had finally ended. It was her mother's favourite day, Tuesday that she opened, she had two people to serve, one who was eighteen year old Trevor who lived near by and wanted to job, he came along with his girlfriend, Patricia, who was apparently called pee-pee by everyone, also eighteen, had just finished school and was taking a break to chose her major, she was too smart for Trevor but their love didn't consider that as a hindrance. She had hired two women to help her around in the kitchen, Stella, a divorcee single mom to four year old twin girls and Cindy who wanted to learn how wanted to be an professional cook. Zella was surprised to see that people in the town were actually excited for the opening of Mae she knew it was because of Irene and that intimidated Zella as she didn't deal with other people's expectation well, but never the less, she feared less when her mother's presence was so strong in the diner. The day she had opened, people had started coming in and with in a week she had a set of regular customers, a set of teenagers who came with a request of Wi-Fi password and a place to hang out. Some busy employees who just want to grab a coffee and breakfast and a few travellers once in a while. All in all Zella soon became adapted the town and they welcomed her and took her under their wings with in a month. The town believed that Zella brought Irene back to life. Though much had not changed for Zella, she only smiled when she cooked. The kitchen was very different from the one that Irene had worked in, Zella liked things a little differently and mentally she could see her mother shaking her head in despair and Zella liked that she could feel her mother's presence more than ever. She woke up earlier than the birds to get started on the day, she had her organic products delivered and she had a patch of herbs she grew in the backyard. Though it took time to learn about the soil and the kind of watering each type of herbs required with in weeks she got the hang of it. She cooked healthy and everyone loved her flavours and once she would be done for the day she would clean up and close. Take a warm shower and tame her overly curly hair and flop down and try to sleep, some nights no matter how exhausted sleep wouldn't take over till dawn. Still she was satisfied seeing that she wasn't a total failure, fate has been kind to her this time she realised.

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After a three day trip Nestle was exhausted, he couldn't function without his tea, he looked at Paulina who looked equally exhausted, the years have been kind to Paulina but the crappy motel bed had taken a toll on her, he didn't have the heart to ask her to make him tea.

"Aunty will you be okay if i go outside for a bit i will buy some groceries and I will be back soon and we can start cleaning up and settling down okay?"

"You have some food before you go Nene.." Paulina said in her Spanish accent.

"I will, but first I want you and Ginny to rest, once she's up she's going to drag us to hell and back. I will be back before she gets up aunty." Nestle was glad that their distant relative had helped him out to clean up the house and all rooms except Ginny's were done and ready to live. Nestle was glad he was home but he had to get that tea "your room in on the left and we can set up Ginny's room, the one in the right, as I come back." Nestle added before closing the door. He got into his truck and drove around looking into his GPRS to find a diner. He wanted that tea no matter what it took. He finally pulled over in front of a diner and rubbed his hands, he could never stand the cold for too long he opened the door to the diner and it was almost filled with people reading paper, families enjoying their breakfast, a few teenage group of kid that looked like there were having an intimate get to gather with their phones.

Zella was serving Mr and Mrs Harold when a mysterious man into the diner, she instantly knew he didn't belong to the town, the way he looked at the diners and her heart felt weak just one look of his when his gaze locked on her across the crowded room, he walked in and took a seat in front of the kitchen, letting her know that he had come for take away. Zella nodded at her favourite customers and disappeared to the kitchen. When she came back the man was fidgeting with pen and paper, scribbling down a to-do list.

"What will you be having sir?" Zella asked straightening her apron.

"TEA!" Nestle stared into her grey eyes. "Please urgently i cant function without a tea I need that first." Nestle fumbled on his word, Zella frowned but nodded and as she was turning to head to the kitchen nestle called out.

"Toasted bread and scrambled eggs and i want that tea with crème n sugar." he smiled and a small dent came across his face, but she just kept a straight face.

"Anything else?" she asked turning away.

" I would like to have half of that chocolate cake, can you put in a box for me?"

"And?"

"That will be all for now." she nodded and left and he waited for his food to arrive. And when it came he looked past it and got hold of the cup of tea from her as though his life depended on it, he took a sip, closed his eyes and enjoyed its aroma. He got up from his seat took her hand, she was shocked, no one in her whole entire life dared to touch Zella and here was this man holding her hand against her will and looking into her eyes and said "I don't love you yet but will fall in love you if you can give me this tea everyday. Marry me.. Oh wonderful tea maker!!" seeing her face he laughed but even his ocean deep blue eyes couldn't melt her, Zella snatched her hand back and asked "Are you high or something?"

"I just happen to love tea and you make the most amazing tea.. Miss.. What is your name?"

"Zella Connors." he nodded with a smile.

"well, see you tomorrow Zella Connors." he smiled and slipped the money on the counter, took the cake and turned around to leave when he reach the door he turned again and smiled but only to find her frowning at him.

'what a weird guy! Too bad the smile is to die for..'

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