“You have to teach me how to figure them out, too.”
Cam smiled, broad and sure. “Done. We can get started right now if you’d like.”
Rose stood and gathered up her packet of information. “I can’t. My parents are up for the weekend.”
“How about Monday? After we close the diner.” Cam stood, too. “I’ve worked in restaurants on and off since I was a kid. I can fill in for a few days.”
Rose ignored the flutter of nerves hearing them described as we but she didn’t have many options. She didn’t have much time, either. Squaring her shoulders, she agreed. “Monday, after we close.”
Her future and Greg’s legacy depended on this. Rose needed all the facts before seeking out Linda’s attorney. Time wasn’t on her side and Cam might be her only hope. He was also an attractive man. One she knew little about. If this was some sort of game for him, a way to come on to her, he could prove to be her biggest fear.
“Oh, Rose, this is lovely!” Her mother looked around, smiling as she entered the diner. Her parents had showed up sooner than expected. “Your father is parking the car. This is so nostalgic with the red vinyl chairs and spinning stools. I love it.”
“I’m glad.” Rose gave her mom a big hug.
Many told Rose that she resembled her mom. They shared the same eye color and clothing size and practice of dyeing their hair. Although, her mom covered gray with a light brown shade; Rose used her naturally mousy color to hide. She didn’t care to be noticed, especially by men. Once upon a time, Rose had experimented with more striking shades for the fun of it. Not now. Everything she did had to have a bigger reason, a purpose.
The rattle of pots and pans sounded from the kitchen. Her mom craned her neck to see. “Is that Greg?”
“He’s upstairs getting cleaned up. That’s our cook.” Rose hesitated. Cam was only filling in, but she didn’t want her folks to know about all the drama today.
Her mom frowned. “We came too early.”
“Not at all.” Rose had finished wiping down the tables and chairs while Cam cleaned up the prep station and last bit of the kitchen.
Her father tapped at the front door.
Rose waved him in and gave him a hug. “Thanks for coming.”
Her father gave her an extra squeeze before letting go. “We had to see where you were and this is quite a place you’ve got here.”
“Grandpa!” Greg charged straight for him.
“Heyyyyy.” Her father enveloped her son in a bear hug.
Watching them, Rose swallowed the lump lodged in her throat and turned to lock the front door. She and Greg hadn’t been here a month, yet it seemed much longer. Maybe accepting the Deans’ offer would give her enough for Greg’s college fund if she put it all away. Maybe she should play it safe and not risk her son’s future. Greg might be better off near her dad facing the high school years.
Maybe her dreams should wait.
“Rose, I’m taking off.” Cam stood in the kitchen doorway.
Thoughts scattered and she momentarily stared. “Yeah, okay.”
Cam stared back. “I’ll see you Monday.”
His tousled hair curled from the steam of washing the remaining dishes. The front of his shirt showed water spots, as well. Why did he have to look so good? “Thanks for everything.”
Her mother stepped forward. “You’re the cook?”
“That’s Cam,” Greg volunteered. “He took over after Chuck quit right in the middle of lunchtime.”
Too late, Rose couldn’t shush her son from letting that news out of the bag.
Her mom cast her a worried frown before extending her hand toward Cam. “I’m Louise, but my friends call me Lou. And this is my husband, Frank.”
“My parents.” Rose pointed out the obvious.
Cam shook first her mother’s hand and then her father’s, giving them that gleaming smile of his. “Nice to meet you both.”
“So, what happened?”
“Mom, I’ll tell you later. I’m sure Cam wants to leave.” She gave him a pointed look. She didn’t need her folks knowing anything but the positive stuff.
“Right, okay then.” Cam hesitated.
Her mom’s gaze swung from Cam back to her.
Greg kept going. “Chuck got mad at Mom and quit. Cam was in here eating lunch and he just started cooking. It was great.”
“I’m filling in until Rose finds someone permanent.”
“I see.” Her mom’s eyes narrowed. “Thank you for helping Rose.”
“He makes the best cheeseburgers,” Greg said. “Way better than Chuck.”
“Not better than mine.” Her dad ruffled her son’s hair.
“I don’t know, Gramps. They’re pretty good.”
“Thanks, buddy.” Cam fist-bumped her son’s ready hand. “I really do need to leave, though. Very nice to meet you both.”
“See ya, Cam.” Greg grinned.
They watched him leave, and Rose braced for the inevitable questions.
“Is that true? He just got up and helped out? Who is this guy?” Her father beat out her mom.
“His name is Cam Zelinsky. He grew up here and he’s got restaurant experience.”
“Doesn’t he have another job?” her mom added.
Rose sighed. She didn’t know exactly. She was placing the future of her diner in a stranger’s hands reviewing those tax returns. “He owns his own business, but I’m not sure what. I’ll find out more next week.”
“Hmm.”
Rose could see the gears turning inside her mother’s head. “Come up and see the apartment. I’ll change and then we can go for a walk around town.”
Her mom kept pace with her while Greg and her father dawdled, looking over the diner more closely.
Rose paused, in case there was something on his mind, but her father was looking at a grouping of framed vintage postcards that depicted Maple Springs around the turn of the century. Even then, this area had lured folks from downstate for the pristine summer months.
“Greg sure seems to like this Cam fellow,” her mom whispered.
“Mom...” Rose knew where this was headed and slammed on the brakes. “We met him today. Please, don’t even go there.”
“What?” Her mother tipped her head. “Why not?”
“Because.” Rose kept walking.
Her mother knew better than anyone the heartache she’d gone through when Greg had turned four. That’s when Kurt had served her divorce papers and Rose had been a mess. Her mom had urged Rose to move back home, so she did. Her mother had watched Greg while Rose worked erratic restaurant hours waitressing. In time, she’d been promoted to waitstaff supervisor and then finally she’d landed an events manager position. Her parents had been the anchor she’d needed after being set adrift by her husband.
The sad thing was that even after a failed marriage and her last dating disaster, her mother still wanted to see her only daughter