Saving His City Girl

chapter two

After the one-and-a-half-hour drive, Katherine made it into the town and stopped at a small diner. She cursed herself for not changing out of her suit from work before traveling. Now in her dark grey business suit and heels though creased badly made her stick out like a sore thumb. Well, that and the fact that she was new in a small town where obviously everyone knew each other.

She walked through the door and a little bell rang, that made the folks the diner to stop, turn and stare at her. Gulping her nervousness down she looked around spotting an empty booth near the back, she confidently walked and sat there. The stares followed her and did not leave even after she sat down with her back to them all. That was one thing about small-town people that was a negative for her, their nosiness. They knew everyone and a new person was news everyone wanted to know about. It had its good and bad effects at the end of the day.

"Hello, honey! Welcome to Mable's! I'm Stacey. What can I get you?" A very cheerful voice asked. Kat lifted her head from the menu she had been reading to the short lady with blonde hair and brown eyes and a genuine smile. She couldn't help smiling back because of the warm vibe the lady showed. Another small town thing was their friendliness, this was something she missed in the city.

" Hi...! Um ..can I have the cheese burger order and chips with coffee?” Kat stuttered out.

"Sure love is that all?" Stacey asked after she had scribbled the order on her notebook.

" Yes thank you,” Kat replied with a small nod.

" OK will be right back with your order,” Stacey said then turned around to the others in the diner who were still staring at Kat and shouted. "Would you all mind, you are scaring the poor girl with your staring. Get back to your food.” At her command, everyone quickly turned away and back to what they had been doing.

"Sorry 'bout that honey haven't had visitors in a long time. So are you passing through?" Stacey asked.

"I'm moving here actually " Kat replied.

"Well welcome to Lambertville honey. What's your name?" It seemed Stacey was a very curious person.

"Um... Katherine Mason," Kat stammered out.

"Mason, as in old man Mason's granddaughter," Stacey asked shocking Kat.

"Yes, you knew my grandfather?" Kat asked wanting to know anything about the grandfather she had never met.

"Yeah, honey when he stayed at the farm he was always in here. He loved my pumpkin pie. He would go on and on about his grand baby in the city. It is finally nice to put a face to the name. And aren’t you a pretty one? You have your grandpa's grey eyes too." Stacey rambled." Oh honey I'm so sorry about your grandpa. It must be hard for you having never met him and all."

"Thank you, ma'am," Kat responded, not sure how to feel.

She did wish she had met Christopher Mason and gotten a chance to know him. All she knew was he was a hard man and a very successful business man. At least that’s what her father had told her mother and her mother had told her.

"Hey now, I’ll not be having none of that ma'am nonsense it's Stacey to you. With the way your grandpa spoke about you I feel like I know you already. Now let me go get your order," Stacey said with one last smile then walked away to what Kat assumed was the kitchen.

While waiting for her food Kat studied the diner and immediately fell in love with it. It had an old-school homey vibe with red and white booths. There were high stools by the counter where customers could sit and eat if they preferred. Kat could see herself becoming a regular once she settled in.

"Here you go, honey. Enjoy and holler if you need anything else," Stacey said with a big smile as she put the food on the table.

Kat smiled back and did not hesitate to dig in. She was starving and the burger was extremely delicious. Afterward, she paid and asked for directions. Stacey was more than happy to help and even informed Kat that they were going to be neighbors too.

"Thanks for everything Stacey," Kat told her glad to know she would have a friendly neighbor.

"It is a pleasure dear. Again honey welcome to Lambertville." Stacey said with a dazzling smile that Kat could not help but to return before walking out of the diner.