A Child Under His Tree

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They’d made it partway down the block when Tyler stopped and pointed. “What’s that?”

She glanced at the sign hanging in one of the storefronts. It was a colorful thing, featuring a black-hatted witch and a grinning jack-o’-lantern. “It’s an ad for a Halloween carnival,” she told him.

“Can we go?”

“It’s next week, bud. We’ll see.”

He ducked his chin. “That means no.”

“That means I have to think about it. Come on. I thought your stomach was all growly. When I was young, Ruby’s Café had great chocolate milk shakes.”

His eyes widened. “I can have a milk shake?”

“If you eat your vegetables first.”

“They won’t be carrots, will they?”

“I’m sure they’ll have something other than carrots.” They were the one vegetable he really hated. She’d learned that when he’d been a baby and spit them right back in her face. “That’s the café, right there.” She pointed at the building near the corner. “Race you.”

Tyler giggled and shot off ahead of her. Kelly laughed, keeping pace right behind him. There’d come a day when he’d outrace her. Of that there was no doubt. But for now... She caught him and lifted him off his feet just as he reached the door. “It’s a tie!”

He wrapped his legs around her waist. “Uh-uh. I won.”

She tickled his ribs with the hand she kept around him and pulled open the café door. The little bell hanging over it jingled softly.

Walking into the café was like stepping back six years in time.

The red vinyl seats and linoleum-topped tables were the same. Even the waitresses still wore pale pink dresses as a uniform.

Despite herself, she smiled. Tabby might be running the show, but she was certainly staying true to the history of the place.

“Find a seat where you can,” a waitress Kelly didn’t know told them as she walked by bearing a round tray loaded with hamburgers.

Tyler wriggled until Kelly set him on his feet. “Can we sit at the counter, Mommy? Please?”

Four of the round stools were empty. She gestured at them. “Take your pick.”

He aimed for the one closest to the old-fashioned cash register, climbed up onto it without waiting for her assistance and yanked off his hoodie sweatshirt. She caught it before it hit the floor and tucked it inside her bag as she sat down beside him.

It was plenty noisy inside the diner, between people’s chatter, the clink of flatware against crockery and the slightly tinny country music coming from the kitchen. She still heard the bell jingle over the door and automatically glanced over her shoulder. A white-haired woman came in and headed for one of the few empty tables. Kelly focused on the specials written on the chalkboard in the corner. The bell jingled again. Kelly was glad they’d come when they had. The place was hopping. She angled her head toward Tyler’s. “Would you rather have a hamburger or a grilled cheese sandwich?”

“Hamburger.” He swung his legs, making the stool rotate one way, then the other. “And a chocolate milk shake. Don’t forget.”

Another waitress, who looked like she was about fifteen years old, set glasses of water on the counter in front of them. “Y’all need a menu?”

Kelly shook her head. “We’ll have two burgers. One with cheese. No onions on either. French fries on the side. And a small salad.”

“And the milk shake,” Tyler whispered loudly.

“And a chocolate milk shake. Two straws.”

“That’s a familiar-sounding order.”

Kelly started in surprise, rotating her stool all the way around to see Caleb standing behind them.

“Dr. C!” Tyler held up his cast. “I didn’t break it again.”

Caleb smiled slightly. “Glad to hear it, Tyler.” His gaze went from Kelly’s face to the empty stool beside them. “Mind if I sit there?”

She did. But saying so would have revealed more than she wanted. So she shrugged. “Open seating.”

He swung his leg over the stool and leaned his arms on the counter, looking past her at Tyler. “I like the haircut. Looks sharp.”

Tyler beamed. “I hadda get it cut ’cause of the funeral.”

Caleb’s gaze flicked briefly to Kelly’s again. “Your grandma would have been impressed.”

Kelly shifted. Despite everything, she’d sent cards every year to her mom with a new picture of Tyler inside. Her mom had never responded. And so far, Kelly hadn’t seen any evidence that Georgette had kept them.