“Hey, we all need a helping hand sometimes. And you seem like a nice person. I hope everything works out for you.”
As it turned out, she owed Hank a huge debt of gratitude. Maxi didn’t know Gabe personally, but as Hank had promised, she had a vast network of connections. One of which turned out to be Gabe’s neighbor. Hank stuck around, appearing just as anxious as she was to know what would come next.
“So what are you gonna do now, kiddo?” Maxi asked from behind the bar that Sara had been sitting at for the last hour. “Hank can take you to his place if you’re sure he’s home, or you could call and ask him to swing by and pick you up.” She scratched her head thoughtfully before adding, “But that would ruin the surprise.” Then she snapped her fingers so loudly that Sara jumped. “I got it, give me his number and I’ll tell him he needs to head this way.”
“What will you say when he asks why?” she asked, thinking surely Maxi’s request would seem a little unusual to Gabe.
“I can talk my way around anyone. Boy won’t even realize ’til later that he doesn’t know any more than he did to begin with.”
Hank nodded in agreement, obviously having firsthand experience with it.
Sara wrote down Gabe’s number and handed it to the other woman before turning to the man who had been so much help to her.
“How much do I owe you, Hank?”
She was surprised when he waved her off. “No charge, my friend. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I should be paying you.”
“No way.” She frowned as she began peeling off bills. “I don’t want you to get into trouble with your employer. I’ve tied you up for hours now.”
He turned sideways in his chair, giving her a kindly smile. “I work for myself, so it’s not an issue. Really—I want to do this, all right?”
Sara was so touched by his kindness that mere words didn’t seem adequate. As if sensing her struggle, Hank got to his feet, probably wanting to avoid a sappy moment. But she stood as well and gave him a shy hug. “Thank you so much, for everything. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. I couldn’t have gotten this far without you.”
His face reddened. “You’re welcome, Sara. Call me if you need a ride . . . or anything else. I’m happy to help,” he added as he handed her his business card. “I hope everything works out. I’m sure my aunt will update me later,” he said, and laughed. They chatted for a few more minutes, and then he was gone, and she felt rather forlorn without her new friend.
“All right, I’m going to call your fella. Keep quiet so he doesn’t hear your voice,” Maxi instructed as she pulled a phone from under the bar and pressed some buttons. “Hey, Gabe, this is Maxi from Maxi’s Diner. Listen, I’ve got something of yours here. So you need to swing by and pick it up. And don’t be putting this off ’til tomorrow, it can’t wait. We’re open until ten tonight.”
When Maxi put the phone down, Sara asked the question she feared the most. “What if he doesn’t come?”
Maxi shrugged, not appearing concerned in the least. “Then I’ll take you to his place on my way home. But I’m betting he’ll be here. Just a feeling I have. Now, why don’t you go freshen up in the restroom, and when you come back, I’ll get you some dinner. It might be a while before he makes it here, so you can take a nap on the sofa in my office after you eat. Poor thing, you must be tired by now.”
“That sounds amazing,” she said. She felt oddly at peace as she walked to the back of the diner. This whole thing might blow up in her face, but she’d done it. She was taking charge of her life and doing things on her own terms.
Whether things worked out with Gabe or not, she knew she’d be okay. She was no longer a secondary character in someone else’s life; she was the star of her own. She’d taken the risk, and she desperately hoped that Gabe was going to be the reward.
Chapter Seventeen
Gabe was exhausted when he walked to his truck. He’d been at the base since five that morning, and it was nearly nine at night now. They decided not to spend the night in the field due to the fresh snowfall and some computer problems, so he was headed home. He started his truck, hoping it warmed up quickly, as he was chilled to the bone. He pulled his phone from the glove box, since they weren’t allowed to have them during training sessions. The screen showed he had a voicemail from a number he didn’t recognize. He considered leaving it until later, but it could be one of his soldiers. So he clicked the button to listen. Then he replayed it twice more. What could he possibly need to pick up at Maxi’s Diner? He’d have thought it was a wrong number if she hadn’t said his name. “Shit,” he mumbled as he turned his truck toward town instead of his place.
He wasn’t sure what he was expecting when he walked into the restaurant, but other than a few lingering patrons, it was almost empty. He stepped up to the counter just as a tall woman with short gray hair came out of the back. He thought he remembered her as the owner, but he wasn’t positive. She tilted her head to the side before saying, “Gabe, I presume?” Even though it was more of a statement than a question, he nodded. “You cut it kind of close. Were you at work?”
“Yes, ma’am. I got your message and came straight here. Would you mind telling me what this is about?” Why do I feel as if I’m on some kind of job interview? It wasn’t so much what she said but the way she appeared to be assessing him. He’d been in here only a few times with Jason, but he knew it was popular with the soldiers at the base. He wondered if one of them was playing a prank on him. So not the time for it.
She hesitated briefly, “How about I show you instead?” Damn, this is getting weirder by the moment.
His first inclination was to decline her strange offer, but he wanted to get the hell out of there. “Um—sure.”
She pointed to the rear of the building. “What I called you about is at the back table. Be quiet, though, you don’t want to disturb—it.” He could only stare at her retreating back in amazement. He almost left at that point. He was too damned tired for this bizarre intrigue.
But once again he ignored the voice in his head that urged him to run. Instead, he moved in the direction she’d indicated and was surprised to see someone either sleeping or passed out in the last booth. When one of his boots made a loud squeaking noise on the floor, not only was he startled, but the person a few inches away sat bolt upright. It can’t be. She was blinking at him as if just as shocked. “Gabe?” she finally croaked out.
“Sara? How—when did you get here?” She came. She took the flight. He still couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. He never seriously considered that she’d actually do it.