Finding Selene

Chapter Three: 13 Years Prior To Present Day

Inside they were greeted with half smiles by underpaid and overworked staff who seemed to really care if their customers were satisfied.

“Welcome in, y’all! Sit wherever you like.” The invite came from a petite long-haired red head with fire in her hair spreading to the soul in her eyes. Something about this young lady in front of them was welcoming, genuine.

“Which tables are yours, Dear?” Elianna asked, her voice musical to the ears of humans.

“Right here, ma’am.” The waitress pointed to an empty booth to the left of where they were standing and started grabbing silverware and menus.

The family slid into the booth as the table was set up for them with Selene on her own side and husband and wife sharing the opposite booth.

“Do y’all need a minute or do you know what you’d like?” The waitress, whose name tag read Steph, asked kindly.

“I want the BIGGG steak and a chicken ANNNDDDDD a waffle, please!” Steph looked at Selene with a shocked expression and Selene looked back at her with a wide, toothy, excited grin unphased, “Oh! And a water and lemonade, please!”

Steph looked at Daniel and Elianna for confirmation, it was Elianna who nodded with a chuckle and responded, “She’s little but her metabolism is big, as for me I will have your T-bone dinner, please. I would like an extra T-Bone with that, mushrooms and onions in the hashbrowns, and please have your cook season everything very well. Also, I would like a water with lemon to drink, please and thank you, my dear.” Elianna picked up Selene’s menu, along with her own and handed them to Steph so they wouldn’t get dirty.

“I would like the same as my wife please, dear, along with a chicken breast and a waffle, please. Also, my lovely wife and daughter forgot to tell you the most important part of the meal,” Daniel chuckled, “We would all like our steaks rare, thank you.”

Steph scribbled feverently on her order sheet and looked up smiling, “Anything else for you folks?” When everyone shook their heads she looked back down at her ticket book, “I’ll go ahead and get your drinks and start your waffles but we only have one cook so the rest of your order will likely take around 15-20 minutes. I hope that’s okay. “

“That’s okay Ms. Steph! We’re on vacation so you don’t have to hurry,” Selene exclaimed excitedly. Daniel and Elianna smiled in agreement which resulted in a sigh of relief and a smile returned in thanks.

“I’ll be right back with those drinks,” Steph responded before rushing off to get them.

It took no time at all for Steph to both make the drinks and deliver them to the table. The family chatted while they watched Steph run from table to table refilling drinks, clearing the dishes, and cashing out customer orders. It didn’t take long before they realized the only three individuals present to run the entire store were Steph, the manager, and the cook. All of whom seemed to be running themselves ragged. Roughly three minutes after the drinks were brought Steph came over carrying two fresh steaming waffles with butter and syrup. Fluffy, golden, and hot- the waffles hit the right spot for Daniel and Selene as they devoured them, it was after they were almost done with them that they looked sheepishly at Elianna who watched them with amusement.

"Would you like a bite, mama?” Selene held out a bite of waffle dripping with a sticky syrup and butter mixture.

“No, thank you, my love. It looks scrumptious but if I wanted a bit I would have asked or ordered a waffle,” Elianna chuckled as she slid a napkin under Selene’s dripping fork. At her mother’s reassuring words Selene sighed in relief now knowing that she wouldn’t be sharing her delicious treat. She would have shared, gladly, but the waffle was so tasty it was like having desert before lunch and how often would that happen?

As father and daughter finished their waffles Steph came by to check on the family, refill their drinks, clear their plates, and assure them that their food would be coming up shortly. To which the family assured her that they weren’t in a rush, and she could take her time. She seemed so relieved that the family was content with waiting a while longer and ended up being called away before she could express her gratitude. A few moments later Steph arrived carrying multiple plates that all smelled amazing. All five steaks pooled savory puddles of juice and blood, hash browns sported a golden-brown top with onions and mushrooms grilled to a light brown color. The chicken breast pulled apart easily and smelled very well seasoned. The family looked at the plates in front of them ravenously as their stomachs growled in acknowledgement that the food finally arrived. The family thanked Steph as she set down an array of sauces including ketchup, A1, Heinz 57, Worcestershire, and Waffle House Sauce before digging into their food. There was no light chatter or observing the going Ons around them, just the clatter and scraping of knives and forks against plates as Daniel cut up Selene’s steak for her and Elianna cut up the chicken breast before they moved on to their own food. Worcestershire was spread on the steak, adding a slight sweetness to the savory meaty flavor, while a mixture of Waffle House Sauce and A1 sauce was used to dip their steak in and Heinz 57 was used for the dipping of the chicken. Halfway through their food the three hungry werewolves sat at back and took a deep breath, wiping their faces and grinning at each other. The edge was finally off their hunger, and they could really start to savor their food. One of the few downsides to having a heightened metabolism being that you shouldn’t let yourself go an extended amount of time without eating.

Steph arrived at the table to check on them again and see if they needed take out containers. The family declined, assuring the kind and attentive waitress that they would be finishing their food before they left. True to their word the plates that had been sat in front of them were completely void of food when the family stood up to leave an hour and a half after arriving. On their way to the cash register Daniel got the cook’s attention, thanked him for the amazing food and handed him a $50 bill before getting the manager’s attention from where she was stocking the cooler.

“I just wanted to get your attention and commend you for such an amazing staff, Steph was so attentive and genuinely made us feel welcome and cared for. I saw your sign that states Waffle House isn’t in the food business but is in the people business, you and your staff truly personified that statement today.”

“I appreciate the acknowledgement. My two here today have worked over 40 hours without hesitation because staff keep calling out. They are really my best two employees.” The store manager, Lynn, responded with a sigh of relief and a grateful smile.

Elianna spoke up and told her that they were all doing very well and handed her a $50 bill just as Daniel had with the cook. As the family joined Steph at the register, Selene was smiling ear to ear. Daniel slid his debit card to pay for the bill. As the total was $82.75 Daniel also put $82.75 on the tip line. Steph paused when entering the total amount into her computer and looked over the family.

“Are you sure?” Steph asked hesitantly.

“Yes!” Selene assured her proudly, “And we have this for you as well! Thank you for making our first stop so fun!” Selene handed Steph two $100 dollar bills and waved goodbye as Steph stood there, tearing up- the family would never know they saved a life that day.

As soon as Elianna got Selene fully buckled into her seat, Selene asked for the cell phone so she could tell Apollo all about Steph and how Waffle House was so fun and yummy! Elianna obliged and as soon as Daniel, Elianna, and Selene were back on the road Selene submerged herself in the conversation with Apollo. It was if it had already been half a week rather than half a day. It wasn’t until Apollo was called for dinner that he and Selene ended their conversation and said goodnight. They agreed that more pictures would be sent, and that Selene would call him every night to tell him about her adventures. Shortly after the call ended Selene and her family stopped at a drive through to get food and continue on the road. Around 10 p.m. room 261 at the Marriott in Nashville, Tennessee was opened to let three weary travelers inside for much deserved rest. Barely making the effort to change for bed Selene climbed into the middle of the bed and fell asleep immediately. Her soft, rhythmic snores following the rhythm of her chest rising and falling making her parents giggle before they fell into bed themselves, on either side of Selene and snuggled into the soft comfort of the blanket and pillows, finally drifting off to sleep.