Loving Lauren

Chapter 5

Lauren walked across the street and tried not to feel let down. The sun was just rising and she had so much on her mind, she couldn't enjoy the bright colors flooding the sky. She had to pick up a few more hours at the diner just to cover the cost of Billy coming out to tell her the old pump had to be replaced. Now she was looking at having to use the profits from the sale of her old gelding to Grant to help pay for it. She knew that in the next few weeks she'd have to pick up any shifts she could at the diner to finish paying for the new pump.

When she walked in the front door, she groaned silently when she saw Chase and Grant sitting at the counter bar. Just what she needed, she thought. Walking behind the counter and through the swinging door towards the back, she dropped her purse under the counter, grabbed the coffee pot, and poured herself a cup.

"Morning, how's it going, hun?" Her boss, Jamella, walked around the corner with a tray full of food. She stopped for a second and looked at her. "You look like the cat drug you in this morning."

Lauren let out a quick laugh, wanting to break into tears. "Water pump is broken. Don't ask, right now. I'll be fine. I just need the extra hours. Thanks for letting me pick up today's shift." She spoke softly, hoping no one in the front heard her.

"Well, you can have as many as you want, since Barbara is out the next few weeks after her surgery." Jamella turned and walked out the swinging door to deliver a tray of food.

Lauren tried to postpone going out front for a few minutes. She just couldn't stand to see Chase and was hoping he'd leave before she walked out there. Of course, she wouldn't be so lucky.

"Hey there, Lauren." Grant smiled at her when she walked behind the counter. She avoided looking at Chase and smiled at Grant.

"Hi, there. How's Bob doing?" She started cleaning the counter top, not really thinking about the move as she pulled dirty dishes off and mopped up some spilled coffee.

"He's doing great. It took him a few days to get used to Mr. Tomas, my new Appalachian, but he's settled in just fine." Grant's smile got bigger. She smiled back. "Chase was just telling me he's living out at your place now." Her smile fell away and she felt her heartbeat in every vein in her body. Her eyes moved to Chase and she realized he was watching her very closely, a slight smile on his lips.

"The little place by the stream needs some fixing up. I was just enlisting Grant here to help me out."

She felt her heart slow and the red haze behind her eyes slowly disappeared. "If there's anything major, just let me know. I'll have Jimmy take a look." She saw Mrs. Roberts, one of the diner's regulars, waving from across the room. "Excuse me." She left the two men and walked over to the older woman.

"How are you today, Mrs. Roberts?" Lauren was happy for the reprieve.

"Oh, just fine today, Lauren. I heard you were having some work done out at your place today. I hope you aren't having too many issues with the old house."

Lauren smiled, knowing how fast word spread in small towns. She figured she'd have to explain herself a dozen times by the end of the day. "No, just some minor issues with the plumbing. Billy assured me that everything would be back up by the end of the day."

"Oh, that's good. I was worried when I saw all those trucks heading out your way. Well, you will let me know if you need anything, won't you?" Mrs. Roberts smiled up at Lauren. Just then the bell chimed for the front door and Lauren looked over to see Mr. Graham and Mr. Holton walk in. The two had been her father's best friends, and since her father's death, their friendship had gotten even closer.