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He wasn’t sure when it happened, when making Chi smile had become one of his focuses in life. In fact, perhaps the main focus, other than making food for the diner. Especially strawberry recipes. Of course, the bottom line with that was making Chi smile as well. After all, if his strawberry recipes brought people into the diner, that definitely made Chi happy.
It was almost too cold for him to ride his bike, but the leather kept most of the chill out as he pulled off the interstate and took a two-lane toward the beach.
He hadn’t told Chi what he was doing, just that he would be late for work this morning. He was never late, and he never missed; this was only the second time in the years he’d been working for her that he hadn’t been there if the diner was open.
Even snow didn’t keep him away, considering his apartment was just above the diner.
As he motored into town, he noticed there seemed to be more people than usual at the diner.
That wasn’t necessarily a good thing. He didn’t like taking a morning off and having the place get busier. That didn’t say a lot for his popularity.
But he wasn’t worried. He knew the food he made was good. He knew the recipes he made were popular, and he knew they helped make a place for him in Strawberry Sands, enabled him to give back to the community and to try to make up for the beginning of his life which had been a lot more take than give.
He’d made up everything that he needed to yesterday in order to have the special be easy for Chi to put together on this chilly, early December day, with dark gray clouds overhead and water that reflected the sky’s mood.
He loved how Lake Michigan changed with the weather and the seasons and with a mind of its own.
He’d been fascinated with the lake since he first saw it, and while the house he bought might be a little ostentatious, he finally closed on a place where he could look out from almost any window in his house and see what she was doing at that very moment.
He parked his bike along the sidewalk, chilled to the bone.
He wasn’t used to driving the whole way to Chicago, and if he made a habit of it, he’d have to get a regular vehicle.
Michigan was not suited for motorcycles from about October to April. Thankfully they were in the middle of an unseasonably warm spell which was supposed to usher in a huge snowstorm along with a massive swing downward in temps.
Still, he was partial to his old roadster and normally did not spend a lot of money.
It took a bit to get in the door of the diner, talking to the patrons and chatting about the weather, town life, and pretty much anything. Everyone was familiar, and everyone was a friend.
It felt odd though, like there was something going on that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Like people were holding something back from him. It was a strange sensation, but he felt like that more than once when people stopped talking midsentence and then changed the subject quickly.
Normally just as they were talking about Chi. Odd.
He made his way to the counter, then stepped behind and walked to the back. He saw Chi take a load of dishes back, and he figured he’d stick his apron on and start cooking as soon as he washed his hands. But he really wanted to share his news with her. This seemed like a good day to share it with the community as well, since there were so many people in the dining area, and it wasn’t even lunchtime.
“Hey there,” he said as he stepped in. Chi’s back was to him as she moved the dishes off her tray and onto the counter by the sink.
“You’re back. That’s great.” She barely smiled at him as she turned around, grabbing her tray.
“I am.” He kind of wanted to tell her at a special time. To have the two of them together, talking, so he could surprise her with his good news, but the way she seemed so distracted, like she didn’t even care whether he’d come back or not, bothered him, and maybe he wanted her attention, which was why the words slipped out without any type of fanfare. “I bought the piece of property at the end of the street. The one where we talked about moving the diner. Where patrons can go out on the patio and eat with the great views of Lake Michigan.”
That was a lot more than he normally said. He’d learned from a young age to keep his mouth shut and his eyes open. But he rambled just a bit, because his words didn’t even make Chi stop moving. She had been throwing the garbage away, scraping off plates, and checking the food on the stove.
As soon as he was done, she spoke, not even looking at him.
“I told everyone today, and you might as well know too. I’m closing the diner.”
Griff knew he was supposed to say something. This was a conversation and was his turn to talk. But his mouth wouldn’t move. It had fallen open, and he couldn’t close it.
Chi grabbed the rag along with the pan of water, shoving her tray under her arm, and began to walk past him.
“You’re closing the diner?”
He’d just bought property. Planned to stay. To help her move the diner where they’d talked about.
“You mean you’re closing it in order for us to move?” It was a question, but he tried to say it like a statement. Like he knew what she was talking about.
“No. Like I’m closing it down and moving to Chicago. The lawyer that I’ve been seeing has invited me to move in with him, and I’ve accepted.”
