Page 31

THIRTY

Erin and Kaely decided to eat lunch before they checked out the shops in town. Picking up groceries would be last.

They found Dolly’s Diner. It was a trip. Erin had never seen anything like it before. But she’d never been to Tennessee, and the one time she’d been to Branson, she hadn’t attended Dolly Parton’s Stampede. She didn’t have anything against Dolly, but there were other things to do. Her friends had been more interested in eating out and shopping than in seeing shows. She felt a stab of pain. She’d learned that emotional pain can hurt as much or more than physical pain. Her friends. It was true that she’d cut herself off from people, but not before several of them deserted her after she left the force. Even though she hadn’t been charged in the shooting, having your partner die somehow reflected badly on you. As if it were your fault. She’d gone over and over it. There wasn’t any way she could have saved him, yet her mind kept trying to find a solution. A way she could have done something. Of course, if she ever did figure out a way she could have helped him—but didn’t—it would destroy her.

She and Kaely were shown to a table. Erin couldn’t believe her eyes.

“It looks like a giant bottle of Pepto Bismol threw up all over this place,” she whispered after the hostess seated them.

The tablecloths were pink. The walls were pink. Even the chairs were pink. There were pictures of Dolly everywhere. Erin picked up the menu the hostess had left at the table. Her mouth dropped open.

“You won’t believe this,” she whispered to Kaely. “Five to Swine—a shredded pork sandwich. The Best Little Porterhouse in Texas. So-Lean—a grilled chicken breast. My Blue Ridge Mountain Po’ Boy. Backwoods BBQ Brisket. First Dog—a hot dog.” She shook her head. “I guess some of these are Dolly Parton songs?”

“I have no idea,” Kaely said. “This may have been a mistake.”

“Don’t worry, the food’s good.”

The voice from behind them made both women jump. They turned to see their waitress, a young woman wearing a big blonde wig and an obviously padded pink sweater with a darker pink polka-dotted skirt, staring at them with a rather bored look.

“I didn’t mean...” Kaely started to say.

“Yeah, you did, and you’re right. This place is ridiculous, but the food is actually delicious.” She leaned down closer to the table and glanced around before saying, “I take it you haven’t met the owner yet?”

“No,” Erin said. “Will I be glad you warned us?”

The waitress grinned. “Dolly Barton. Yeah, that’s right. She says it’s her real name, but none of us believe her. She tours the dining room every hour. You’ll get to meet her. You think the rest of this is weird? Just wait.”

She straightened up as another waitress walked past her. “So, what can I get you ladies today?”

“Can you give us a couple of minutes?” Kaely asked. “We’re not sure yet.”

The waitress nodded and walked away.

“It’s not too late,” Erin said, trying not to laugh. “We can still make a run for it.”

“Not in a million years,” Kaely said, hiding her mouth behind her hand. “This is a first. I want to see it through.”

“You’re braver than I am.”

After perusing the menu, Erin settled on the Blue Smoke Burger while Kaely decided to try the Smoky Mountain roasted chicken. Erin waved at their waitress when she looked their way. She was just starting to say something to Kaely when a door on one side of the dining room swung open, and a large woman with a wig even bigger than their waitress’s came into the room. She wore a pink muumuu with a large white plastic belt, a big pink ribbon in her hair, along with matching lipstick and nail polish. Dangling rhinestone earrings swung back and forth as she sashayed through the dining room.

Erin said a word that Kaely might not approve of, but when she looked over at her friend, she almost lost it.

Don’t laugh, Kaely mouthed. Her expression was a mixture of horror and hysterics. That was all it took. Erin covered her burst of laughter with the sound of unrestrained coughing. It was the only tool in her arsenal.

The woman hurried over to her. “Why, darlin’, let’s get you somethin’ to drink before you choke,” she said in a high-pitched Southern drawl.

“Mabel,” she hollered to one of the hapless waitresses, although she pronounced it May-belle , “will you get this po’ woman somethin’ quick?”

The waitress hurried away to get po ’ Erin somethin’ to drink, while po’ Erin tried her best not to actually choke to death in front of everyone.

Kaely looked on, obviously struggling to keep her face void of emotion. It occurred to Erin that Kaely should look more concerned about her possible demise, but before she could spit out any words, May-belle ran up to the table with a glass of water. After a couple of sips, Erin was able to catch her breath.

“Thank you,” she sputtered. “I appreciate it.”

“Trust me,” May-belle said. “We’ve had quite a few customers with breathing trouble.” She looked at them and rolled her eyes before leaving. Their previous waitress came back to the table to take their order while Dolly Barton fluttered around them, making sure Erin had completely recovered. The woman’s cologne was overpowering, and Erin was on the verge of choking again when Dolly finally took a step back from their table.

“Bonnie Sue, whatever these ladies want, it’s on the house,” she said. “On... the... house, ya heah?”

“Yes, Miss Dolly,” Bonnie Sue said.

Once Dolly was far enough away, Kaely said, “We’ll pay for our lunch. That was a nice gesture, but it’s not necessary.”

“Trust me, she won’t take your money.”

“Well, maybe we can make it up with our tip,” Kaely said.

“That’s kind of you. I appreciate it, but it’s okay. Miss Dolly pays us very well.” She smiled. “I know this place is... interesting... but you’ll love the food. Our cook is exceptional.”

“Thanks for telling us that, Bonnie... Sue?” Erin said.

“My name is actually Avery, but it didn’t fit into Miss Dolly’s perfect world. And Mabel’s name is actually Karen.”

“Your boss is quite a character,” Kaely said.

Avery smiled. “Yeah, she is. But if we need something, she’s the first in line to help us. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else. I’ll be back with your drinks. Your food will be ready soon.”

“Well, this is something I won’t soon forget,” Erin said to Kaely.

“The idea was to get you out and help you get your mind off of things.” Kaely grinned. “If this doesn’t do it, nothing will.”

Erin snorted. “If I thought it was possible, I’d think you set this whole thing up.”

“I wish I was that creative.”

Erin started to say something about their meeting with Adrian when someone else walked up to the table. It was Steve.

“I had to say hello,” he said to Kaely.

“It’s been a long time, Steve,” she said with a smile. She waved toward the empty pink chair next to her. “Do you have time for a cup of coffee?”

“I-I guess so.” Steve sat down, but he seemed nervous and distracted. “This is quite a place, isn’t it?”

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Kaely said. “Do you come here often?”

He nodded. “The food is so good, I’m willing to ignore the decor... and Dolly.”

“Is her name really Dolly Barton?” Erin asked quietly.

Steve smiled for the first time since he’d approached them. “Believe it or not, it is. I think she had it changed at some point. No one is really sure about that.”

Avery came back to the table with their drinks, and Steve ordered a cup of coffee. After Avery left, he nodded at Erin. “So how are you enjoying the cabin?”

Erin sighed. “It’s lovely. I just wish it didn’t come with its own ghost.”

Steve’s face drained of color, and he swore under his breath. “You’ve seen her too?”