Sylvia Grace

Chapter 3

Grace headed in the new comer's direction, grabbing the coffee pot for slime-ball as she passed it and trying not to look in his direction.  After flipping over one of the coffee cups that were left on the tables, she filled it, asked if he needed anything else and then turned her back on him to wait on the new table.  She was me with a wide smile and an enthusiastic, "Good morning."  Her stomach un-expectantly fluttered at the deep rumbled greeting.
She smiled back at him, "Good morning.  What can I get you to drink?"
"Some of that coffee would be just fine."  He said sitting his newspaper aside and flipping the cup over to hand to her.  She could see him looming her over out of the corner of her eye while she poured his coffee, while he didn't think she was paying attention.  This guy was smooth.
"Do you need a few more minutes with the menu?"  She asked, carefully sitting the full cup of coffee down and looking up to meet his smile.
"You're beautiful."  He said taking her off guard, enjoying her slight blush.
He was real smooth she thought before answering, "Thank you sir..."
"Taylor."  He corrected, he hated being called sir by beautiful women.  "I'm ok for now with the coffee, thank you."  He said picking up his newspaper again.
"Ok, well just holler if you need anything, I'm Grace."  She turned then and stepped over to her table of regulars, refilling their coffee.
The bell at the service window chimed just as she sat the coffee pot back down and she retrieved slimy's food.  Silverware and plate in hand, she made her way over to his table, forced smile in place.  She sat the food down and was straightening when he caught her arm.
Grace went ridged and tried to keep the panic that swept over her off of her face and out of her eyes.  "Can I help you with something?"  She asked meeting his eyes.  She could hear chairs sliding around and wondered if Tom, Earl and Ernie were watching them now.
"Yeah.  I'm looking for some information on a friend's missing daughter.  We think she was taken out this way but haven't had any luck with anyone having seen her."
"Ok."  Grace said pulling her arm away from his hand and taking a step back. "Do you have a picture?"
"No.  Unfortunately my friend's wife left with the girl when she was small and there aren't any current pictures."
Grace gave the man an incredulous look.  Was anyone buying this stupid ass story?  "No picture, but you want to know if I've seen her?  I'm not sure I can help you.  I'm not physic or anything."  She heard a snort of laughter and knew the guy with the paper was listening to them.
Taylor couldn't believe the line of bullshit this guy was giving the waitress.  No one would believe a story like that.  He was out here looking for Kleckley's daughter too but he wasn't about to advertise with a stupid ass story like that.  And the fact that this idiot had put his hand on the waitress wasn't winning any points with the locals, he noticed.  Tylor had crossed paths with this guy a couple of times in some of the towns during his own search for the girl, and this sleaze just kept being messy.  Benny had warned him there would be others looking for her but this guy just needed killing.  If Kleckley's daughter was in this town; and he was pretty sire she was, she would be on the lookout for idiots like this guy and may even be running now.
Slimy just looked up at Grace.  "Well, have you seen any unfamiliar women around?  She should be about 25 to 30 years old, black or brown hair, about 5'5"."
"Yup.  Sure have."  Grace said looking at him like he was stupid.  "We get lots of unfamiliar faces around here this time of year when the tourist season kicks off.  In fact, I think there were three or four in here this morning.  You may have just missed your girl."  Grace heard the laugh from the other table again and walked away.
She heard her name and went over to check on Tom and the boys.  "Grace, what did that sleaze ball want?"  She smiled at Tom and related the story he had told her.
Earl and Ernie laughed.  "Who does he think he's fooling with that story in a town like this.  He's crazy."  Earl said shaking his head.
"He's probably some kind of contract killer or something.  That's how those kind of movies start you know."  Ernie said looking at all of them.
"Ernie, honey, are you and Rose watching Lifetime movies again?"  Grace asked reaching over to pat his shoulder while the other laughed.
Ernie blushed, "Some of those movies are based on true stories little girl."  He scolded when she walked away to close out a ticket.
Grace cleared tables, dropped off tickets and was even able to close out slimy's ticket.  She wasn't sorry to see him go, and Becky was right, he was a decent tipper.
Becky still had a few tables going but Grace was happily down just her regular table and the stranger; who looked to now be helping Earl with his crossword.
"I'm hurt Earl.  Have I been replaced?"  Grace put her hands on his shoulders and peered over to look between Taylor and Earl.  Both men smiled at her.
"Of course not honey.  This guy's good, but not even close to your greatness."  Grace smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Do you gentlemen need anything else?  More coffee or water?"  Earl patted her hand, still resting on his shoulder.
"No Grace, we're good here.  Just bring us our tickers and we'll pay out so you won't have to worry over us anymore.
Grace brought the tickets and collected money.  As usual Tom, Earl and Ernie refused changed and surprisingly Taylor added to his.
"Thank you boys. It's been another great morning with y'all, but the lunch shift is coming in and this is where I leave you."  She said untying her apron,
"Oh no sweetheart.  Sit with us and have some juice."  Tom said pulling up another chair.  He patted the seat next to him and she sat down with a smile.
"What are you doing with the rest of your day Grace?  Did you pick up shifts anywhere else today?"  Earl was always interested in Grace's plans after her morning shifts at the café.  He thought it was strange for a girl her age to be living alone and actually enjoying the early morning shifts waitressing.
In the few short months that she had been living here in Trinidad she had become close and very fond of the three men smiling at her.  Even if they were nosey old birds.
"Always so interested Earl."  She said laughing before continuing.  "And it looks like you've acquired another inquiring mind."  Taylor looked back down at the crossword not wanting to draw any more attention to himself than he had just done.  "No big plans today boys.  I plan to lay around in the sun and be lazy for the rest of the afternoon.  I know, shocker for a girl my age."  Grace's ringing laughter made him look up again.  Tom, Earl and Ernie were doing their best to look appalled and not laugh at Grace's joke about being lazy.