Page 159 of The Surprise Play

He waits a beat, watching me carefully before nodding, “Good. Because I don’t want her to feel like she has to change for anybody. She might not be the fashion queen of Fledgling, and she might not keep up with all the latest and greatest trends, but my little girl is golden, through and through. I love that she’s different to everybody else, and I don’t want her changing to try and keep you happy.”

I smile at him, appreciating his impassioned speech. “She doesn’t need to change to keep me happy.”

He clearly appreciates that, and I’m rewarded with a smile and a shoulder slap before he points at my chopping board. “Finish those up and I’ll get you working on some onions for me.”

“Yes, sir.” I nod, returning to my slicing and dicing.

Tommy puts on music, and he’s soon dancing around to a tune while filling orders like a seasoned pro. I doubt I contribute much, but he seems to appreciate the company, and I get an education in all things ’50s.

He tells me all about the history of the diner and howhe fell in love with the place the second he walked into it. He wanted to stay true to its original design, and that’s why every upgrade has simply been a shinier version of what once existed.

When there’s a lull, he takes me for a quick tour of the place, resting his hand against the jukebox and staring down at it with affection.

“We’ve managed to keep this thing going. The maintenance costs way too much, but I just can’t replace it. Our repair guy complains every time the thing breaks down,” Tommy laughs. “But I can’t let it go.” He turns and points to the black-and-white checkered floor. “Bess used to be in here every day after school. She’d do her homework while sucking down a vanilla shake, and then she’d serve the various tables. People love our girl.” He grins. “And every weekend, she’d come in early with me and help me open up for the later breakfast service. I’d let her choose songs from this jukebox and she’d dance and sing, spinning around in her own little world.”

His smile is rich with fatherly tenderness.

“I take it that’s where she got her love of all things retro, then?”

He chuckles. “Yep. You can blame Darla and me for that one. We met at a rock-n-roll dance club and never looked back. Our girl had no chance.” He tips his head with a thoughtful pout. “I just wish she had more opportunities to really let that shine, you know?” Sadness sweeps across his expression then. “Darla spent hours at her sewing machine, perfecting that birthday present for our Bessie… and I’m not even sure when she’ll get to wear it. I want the world to see that beautiful craftsmanship, but I worry that if she walks around Nolan U sporting a poodle skirt, she might get…” His expression buckles with obvious torment, and he blinks at a sudden rush of tears. “I just want her to have a good college experience.” His voice wobbles.

“Tommy,” I whisper, hating the distressed look on his face, “what happened to her in high school?”

He shakes his head, his shoulders sagging as he mumbles, “A lot of things that shouldn’t have.”

“Like what?”

He clenches his jaw, deep wrinkles forming across his forehead. “Name-calling, verbal abuse, ugly pranks set on embarrassing her. They were relentless, and I watched my little girl go from this happy ray of sunshine who used to skip and sing her way to school…” He shakes his head, his voice cracking. “To a loner who just wanted to hide in her room and read books all day.”

He looks so wounded, my chest is starting to hurt.

“I just wanted her to be a normal kid and have friends like everybody else. But she couldn’t catch a break.” He sniffs, nodding like he’s trying to pull himself together. “I understand why she hid herself away.”

“She never told me any of this,” I murmur, feeling like I’ve just been sprayed with a clip of bullets. Fuck, the truth hurts.

“She won’t want me to tell you, so don’t try forcing it out of her.” He presses his lips together, then clears his throat and tries for a smile. “I’m just so grateful she’s away from those bullies now. She’s finally got a chance, you know?”

I stare at him, forcing myself to nod, because telling him the truth just might break his heart.

Grabbing my arm, he gives me a friendly squeeze, looking up at me with an expression I will never be able to say no to. “You take care of my girl, okay?”

“Of course I will.” My voice is husky and raw, but it’s an easy thing to agree to.

He gives me a closed-mouth smile. “I’d give anything to see her come out of that shell of hers, and I think you can help her do it. She seems… lighter since you’ve come into her life. You keep it up, son. I just want Bess to be happy.”

I’m about to promise him that I’ll do everything in my power to make her the happiest girl alive, but two new customers arrive before I can say it.

They’re two of Tommy’s regulars, meaning I’m dragged forward to meet this duo who’ve watched Satch grow from a young girl to the woman she is today.

They seem shocked that I’m her boyfriend, clearly thinking that Satch was destined to end up a lonely cat lady or something. And if shewaslucky enough to find someone, it wasn’t a strapping football player.

Dammit. I hate that.

What makes them think Satch doesn’t deserve the best of everything? Like she’d be lucky to settle at all?

Well, fuck that!

My insides churn with irritation for the next hour as I move back into the kitchen, trying not to imagine what Satch had to face each day at school as I help Tommy put the orders together. I mentally swing from wanting to rant at him for not homeschooling his daughter—why didn’t you protect her?!—to pleading with him to tell me every ugly detail so I can understand this thing in full.