Chapter 9 - THE FIRST DATE
Eleven months after Derek Lawson struck Amelia, she stood behind the counter pouring coffee.
The scar near her eyebrow remained.
She no longer hid it with makeup.
Derek had pleaded guilty.
Raymond awaited sentencing on corruption, obstruction, conspiracy and other charges.
Amelia testified.
Her real name was public again.
Amelia Bennett.
But at the diner, everyone still called her Amelia.
Vincent entered at seven.
He sat in his usual booth.
She approached.
“Coffee?”
“Yes.”
“Pie?”
“Yes.”
“Anything else?”
He looked at her.
“Dinner.”
“You’re eating pie.”
“With you.”
She stopped.
Vincent Castellano looked nervous.
That was delightful.
“Are you asking me on a date?”
“I believe so.”
“You believe so?”
“I haven’t done this normally before.”
“How did you do it before?”
“Cars usually arrived.”
“Of course they did.”
“Sometimes flowers.”
“How many?”
“Too many.”
“Terrible.”
“I’m learning.”
She smiled.
“One dinner.”
His face brightened.
“With conditions.”
“Name them.”
“No bodyguards at the next table.”
“Across the street?”
“Vincent.”
“Fine.”
“No restaurant you own.”
“Difficult.”
“And I pay for myself.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then no date.”
He stared.
She stared back.
Vincent sighed.
“Fine.”
Amelia smiled.
“Friday.”
As she walked away, Angela appeared beside Vincent.
“If you hurt her, I poison your coffee.”
Vincent looked at the seventy-year-old waitress.
“I believe you.”
“You should.”
For the first time in years, Vincent Castellano was genuinely afraid of someone in his own diner.
May you like
And he loved it.
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