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Chapter Three: Clear Water

The town of Clear Water was quite cozy. I quickly learned I had been staying in the sketchy part because once I got through the first set of lights the town was bursting with life and color.

Small trees lined the Main Street, as their leaves shimmered in the gentle breeze, showing off the start of their autumn transition. People young and old greeted each other as if they were old friends. My heart constricted painfully as I watched couples wrapped in each other's arms as they walked, some even stopping to share a kiss, everyone seemed madly in love and happy. A part of me longed for that type of happiness as my mind drifted to what it might be like to be loved.

The honk of a car behind me alerted me that the light had turned green. Man, I needed to get out of my head I was turning into such a space cadet. I continued to drive past the brightly colored and slightly old-fashioned shops and restaurants. Until I reached the second set of lights and turned left. The old lady was right, you definitely couldn't miss the diner.

I felt as if I had stepped right into the fifties with its vintage retro feel. A grin filled my face and I felt excitement at the thought of checking it out. I parked around back and checked my reflection to make sure my eyes weren't still red, before stepping out into the cool crisp morning. The smell of bacon and eggs wafted through the air as the squeals of delighted children reached my ears.

"Honey!" a familiar voice shouted from behind me.

The little lady from the motel was walking toward me, a large grin on her face. Her short white hair bounced lightly as she walked and her vibrant blue glasses only emphasized the twinkle in her eye.

"I see you found the place" she clasped her hands joyfully. "Come along now! Let's get you some breakfast. On the house of course!" she looped her arm through my own and I felt as if she practically made us skip our way to the dinner. Despite her slightly bizarre mannerism, her positive energy was a much-appreciated distraction so I didn't find myself minding.

She opened the door and two young boys wrestled their way out, their mom scolding them as they passed. The mom shot me an apologetic smile right as the little old lady chastised, "mind your Ma Thomas!"

"Yes, Nan." Thomas sheepishly said, releasing the other little boy from a painful-looking headlock. If he had a tail it would probably have been tucked between his legs as he scurried off.

"Thanks, Nan, Thomas has been such a handful lately I might have to get you to come over one of these days and set him straight!" The mother smiled adoringly after the boys, who were now jumping in a mud puddle.

"You're doing a great job, Nancy, but you know I'll always come over with my wooden spoon if asked!"

The women giggled and hugged each other goodbye.

When the woman Nancy had started to walk away, Nan turned to me and gestured her arm towards the door, "after you my dear."

I walked through the door and nearly gasped. Waiters and waitresses were delivering food while on rollerblades, a jukebox sat in the far corner of the room near what looked like a small dance floor. The booths and bar stools were covered in classic red leather and sat on the black and white checkered floor. I could see straight into the kitchen where cooks were busy flipping pancakes high in the air and catching them in a pan. This was particularly amusing to the young children who sat patiently on barstools cheering the chefs on while they waited for their breakfast.

The staff all wore traditional light red diner uniforms and a white apron. Some even had on funny little white hats.

For the first time in a long time, I laughed. There was so much excitement and happiness in the air it was contagious.

"It's pretty great isn't it," Nan stated while watching me with amusement.

"Is the whole town here?" I asked with a smile.

She chuckled "not quite but it sure gets lots of youngins out of bed bright and early on a Saturday morning! Oh look! There's an empty booth way at the back, let's go sit down there, that way the kids won't see me and jump all over our food!" She escorted me to the back where we both took a seat.

"I hope you don't mind me joining you" she added as they sat.

"Not at all" I grinned, and I for once actually enjoyed having company. Maybe this will be the fresh start I needed after all.

I was about to ask Nan, how long she has lived in Clear Water when the entire diner went silent. Surprised, I looked up from the menu to see a tall and muscular man walk into the restaurant . He couldn't have been much older than me but the power and authority radiating off him made him seem much, much older. My heart clenched tightly in my chest when he came to a stop. His body stiffened and I saw his nostrils flare as a momentary look of confusion crossed his face. With his brows furrowed and a frown etched on his face, he turned his head in my direction. Before he could spot me I dove deeper into the booth and out of his sight, my body felt hot as a blush formed on my cheeks.

Then, through the window, I could see a guy with sandy blonde hair around my age jog up to the front door. He burst into the diner and called out to a group of friends. Seemingly unaware of the tension in the room. The guy's entrance seemed to snap the room out of the trance it was in and soon enough the children were giggling and running around as if nothing had happened. 

Despite the children resuming their previous antics, the adults and teenagers still seemed to be on edge. For a second time, I peaked a look around the edge of the booth, trying to sneak a look at the first man who came in. He had his back turned toward me, but I still couldn't help but admire the way his muscles tensed beneath the black t-shirt he wore.

I jumped when I felt something blot the corner of my mouth.

"You're drooling dear" Nan smirked as she dabbed the corner of my mouth with a napkin.

Blushing again, I looked down at the menu while mumbling an apology.

Nan gave me a knowing look and whispered as if he'd be able to hear her, "he's quite the looker that man, but it's best to stay as far away from him as you possibly can. I have a lot of respect for him but he has a deeply haunted past."

I wanted to ask her more, like what his name was, but I let the subject drop. Instead, I asked "so what's good here?" sliding myself back into the corner of the booth and out of view from the rest of the diner.

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Gosh, I wonder who the mysterious man could be ;)

Happy reading!