Page 203

“Finally. An institution that respects working women.”

The bell chimed when we entered.

Three people sat at the counter. An older couple occupied a booth by the window. A waitress stood behind the register reading a magazine.

Everyone looked at us.

Mostly because Claire’s dress was emitting light.

The waitress lowered the magazine.

“Prom?”

“Award show,” Claire said.

I stared at her.

“What?”

“You won.”

The waitress looked at me more closely.

Recognition flickered.

I prepared the smile.

Before it arrived, she shrugged.

“Congratulations. Sit anywhere.”

Claire leaned closer.

“I love her.”

We took a booth at the back.

The menu contained forty-three items, none involving foam.

Claire ordered pancakes, eggs, hash browns, toast, bacon, and a chocolate milkshake.

The waitress looked at me.

“Coffee.”

Claire closed the menu.

“She’ll have pancakes too.”

“I don’t want pancakes.”

“You’re wearing borrowed diamonds beside a highway at one in the morning. You want pancakes.”

The waitress waited.

“Pancakes,” I said.

When she walked away, Claire reached across the table and touched the trophy I had placed beside the napkin dispenser.