Writing down Pastor Dean’s order of steak and fries, she then looked expectantly at Willa. “How about you, Willa?”
“I’ll just take coffee.”
“Bring her the same as I’m having.”
Seeing that Willa was about to argue, Ginny gave the pastor a quick wink when Willa turned her head in his direction, then took off before she could change the order.
Putting the order in, she fixed their drinks, then carried them to the table before checking on her other customers. When she saw the plates come up to the window, she went back to the counter to grab a tray.
She kept busy, occasionally giving some of the customers reprimanding glares when she caught them staring at Willa’s table for too long. It wasn’t going to be a stellar day for tips, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t bear the hunted expression on Willa’s face, feeling censorship from everyone.
By the end of the meal, Ginny noticed that Willa seemed more relaxed and not as self-conscious. She went back to their table when the pastor motioned for her to bring the check.
“I didn’t realize you worked here?”
“I was fired from my last job,” she answered Willa without embarrassment.
Willa nodded at her sympathetically. “I was wondering where you were the last time I stopped in at the insurance office.”
“I have to work two jobs to make up for losing that one. I’m also working at the theater.”
“I imagine working two jobs can’t be easy.”
“I’d rather work four jobs than put up with old man Dawkins.” She wanted to gag in disgust every time she thought of Carter Dawkins.
Willa must have seen the disgust on her face. “I didn’t mean to upset you. If there’s anything I can do, let me know. If I open the bakery I’m planning, maybe I can offer you a job. But it’s going to be a while,” Willa added hastily.
Ginny wanted to jump up and down at the offer, barely managing to keep from making a fool of herself. “Let me know. I don’t mind this one, but the theater is third shift.”
“I’d be glad to hire you.”
The woman stole her heart with her kindness. Ginny couldn’t believe that she would take a chance on her. She was aware that people in town considered her trash, just another Coleman bastard that even her mother didn’t want. It didn’t help that the Coleman’s still refused to mix and mingle with the townspeople. Even though she no longer lived with them, she was still tarnished by their name—proudly so. No matter that she was a good worker, lived a quiet life, and had never had a boyfriend, the town as a whole still considered her bad blood and wanted nothing to do with her, as if being associated with her would contaminate them.
“Thanks, Willa. I heard you’re engaged. Congratulations.” She looked at both her and Pastor Dean, thrilled that the man she respected was smart enough to snag the sweetest woman in Kentucky.
The two of them were perfect for each other. Both took helping the community seriously, whether it involved the church or not. Pastor Dean had tutored her right up until graduation and had wanted her to go to college. When she told him that she was content to stay here, he argued with her incessantly, only backing off when she stopped going to church.
She wasn’t the only student he had helped. More than one owed their degree to him. Willa had funded the food program that made meals for low-income students, supplying them during the weekends, holidays, and summers.
“Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow in church.”
With the thought of a possible new job and working with someone as nice as Willa, Ginny practically walked on air the rest her day. Even Carly leaving early—again—couldn’t ruin her mood. Her job situation was miserable. She’d been forced to leave the insurance company after her boss nearly raped her, then had to get two jobs to manage paying for her car, food, and the rent for her small room at Toby’s house. She’d been too busy with getting out of Lisa and Dalt’s house to entertain thoughts of a career.
Cleaning and mopping the restaurant in record time, she then stuck her head through the order window and gave a wave. “I’m leaving, Toby.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Locking the door behind her, she went to her car then drove to the movie theater. After parking she took out a blueberry protein bar.
Letting the stress of working at the diner ease off her shoulders as she listened to music on her car radio, Ginny stared out at the parking lot, watching the customers trickle out in small groups as the movies let out.
Finished with her blueberry protein bar, she took out a small, half-full pack of gummy bears that she had sealed in a reusable plastic snack bag and put them in the pocket of her black pants.