“Oh no…I’m glad you asked me..I just haven’t been out very much since I moved back here that’s all…Let’s go in” she says quickly obviously wanting to move on from the awkwardness forming and I nod as she opens the door and motions me to go in first…Such a charmer a chuckle to myself.

“Well the place hasn’t changed at all” she remarks as a waitress approaches us

“Table for two?”  We both nod and follow her as she placed us at a booth with a window view of the street. “I’ll be back  shortly to get your orders…What would you like to drink?”

Bette and I both look at each other.  She motions for me to go first

“Coffee with cream and two sugars and a water” I say and hear Bette gasp

“Same please” Bette responds and we both slide in to the booth opposite each other

“That’s weird we like our coffee the same way” she states and I chuckle

“Yeah just like your pancake creation” I add and open the menu to the second page scanning down to number ten “And as you stated it’s number 10 on page 2”

I watch as she opens the menu and a smile spreads across her face.  She has such a beautiful smile..I never really noticed that until now.

“It’s still kind of weird to see this you know…That my strange combination of toppings I always requested on my pancakes is here for anyone to order” she chuckles setting the menu down and takes a look around “I don’t see Bea though…She’s usually the one to greet the customers”

I sigh. “Uhmm..I guess you haven’t heard”

“Heard what?” She questions hesitantly

“Uhmmm…Bea passed away earlier this year.  Her daughter Sandra is running the place”

Bette sighs and lowers her head “Shit” I hear her mutter “I..I…Didn’t know…I didn’t get much news from here where I was at”

I was about to ask her where when the waitress came back with our drink orders

“Now..What can I get the two of you?”

I look at Bette who is looking down at the menu but isn’t saying anything and I take the opportunity to order knowing we were going for the same thing