| I Love Me Some Pie! |
| Summary: | Everybody loves pie and coffee! Everybody… |
| Date: | 1942-11-14 |
| Related: | What a LOVELY Day! (http://spnlostandfound.wikidot.com/log:1942-10-03-what-a-lovely-day) |
| Players: |
 .. .. .. .. .. .. |
It's 2:30 this lovely fall day. Seems the weather is warming up some, the sunshine making the fall foliage bright and cheerful. Although it should be closed, Sister's Diner is open and bustling. Well, not bustling, per say, but there's a few people still inside. One booth is occupied by the town gossip, Bernice, and a younger than her gentleman. He appears to be in his mid forties, blonde hair and blue eyes. He's leaned over the table and is holding Benices's hand while the remaining waitresses hustle to get the two their food. And it seems their coffee mugs are always getting topped off. Everyone is smiling. From the outside, it looks like a Normal Rockwell painting.
Clifton had gotten out of work later than intended. He was hungry, but the diner would already be closed by now. Still, that didn't stop the Walker from hurrying to see if maybe he could sweet talk one of the servers into giving him some left over pie or whatever they might have. As he gets closer though, what luck! They're still open? Hey, he wasn't going to complain!
Dot is off work a bit early, as she went in a bit early to help deliver a baby this morning. She is heading out when she spots her cousin heading into the diner. "Clif!" she calls, waving to him as she scurries over, dressed in her walking clothes, slacks and a blouse with workboots.
Ah.. the Sister's diner. Lillie knows this place well… every alcove, every coffee pot, every basket that dips into vats of grease to produce delightful, artery-clogging piles of fries! Once in a blue moon the Empath comes here to fill an order for take-out… not necessarily for herself but for Josie Ellis, who is a real fiend for fries and a cheeseburger. Don't let her stance as a schoolteacher fool you.. she likes this kinda food quite well. Who is Lillie to deny her?
It is in these afternoon hours that the pretty Irish girl traipses into her former workplace, eyes bright as she approaches the counter to pick up an order. Clifton is noted, and Lillie smiles ebulliently at him. "The special is bumbleberry. Ask for apple… you'll get bigger slices. They want to make the 'special' stretch." She ofers to the Walker, before glancing thoughtfully to Bernice. Dot arrives soon after, and she fixes the other Walker cousin with a kind smile of greeting.
Bernice and the man and whispering softly together, the gossip looks genuinely happy. Josie's order is already sitting on the counter, ready to be picked up. Both waitresses are also whispering to themselves, barely acknowledging anyone else who enters the building.
Being a bachelor with no relatives in town means when it comes to meals, Nathan has to fend for himself, and he is no sort of cook. He depends mostly on the various restaurants in town to provide meals for him. Typically he will eat one in and then get a meal for the evening to go. The well dressed, even if it is in a more archaic style enters the diner, to get his own meal for the day. He is used to the place being crowded at lunch time, so he usually goes a bit later. He didn't expect so many people this time of day. "Oh, good day." he greets in his british tone, removing the hat from his head as he takes a few steps further into the establishment.
Clifton looks over in Dot's direction as she calls out, offering a surprised smile. "Hey!" His pace slows to allow her to catch up before he continues inside, "How was work?" When they get close enough for him to see Lillie and hear her advice, the Walker blinks and looks to her. "Huh. Good to know" before giving a small smirk. His gaze then goes back to Dot. Then back to Lillie. Oy. He was in the middle of an awkward sandwich! Even if it wasn't awkward for the three actually involved in the triangle, Clifton still wasn't sure what to make of all of it! So Nathan's arrival offers a welcomed distraction as Clif gives him a wave "Afternoon, Preacher!"
"Work was good. Delivered a healthy child this morning which is always nice. How was your day?" Dot asks cordially as she steps inside with her kin. She spies Lillie and her reaction is probably NOT what Clifton was anticipating. "Lillie!" she calls with a broad smile, and moves over to hug the other woman. "How are you?" She hasn't spotted Berniece and her friend yet.
The Empath watches the chatty waitresses for all of half a minute, faulting them their inattentiveness to new arrivals! Hmph! But in their defense it is close to the end of the day, when things begin to wind down and a girl, tired out from filling demand all day, is just done. Still. Lillie's thickly-lashed eyes flit from the pair of whispering waitresses to… Bernice of all people, chatting amicably to a blonde, blue-eyed man. Could he be a relative? His coloring is reminiscent of Bernice's granddaughter..
But Clif.. poor, poor Clif. Lillie is just picking up the baggie of food when Dot moves in for a hug, and the Empath responds in kind. She is well-rested and content, able to field her sense.. and she leans in to rest her head upon the other woman's shoulder briefly. The two have worked together behind-the scenes a fair deal it seems, for their greeting is indeed quite jovial. "Hallo Miss Walker," She chimes, it's getting a lot easier to say this. "I am alright.. finishing my day. You delivered a child, I overheard?"
Finally, the arrival of the good Minister. Nathan has not been sighted in quite some time, but Lillie's eyes round in recognition. "Hello, sir." She offers as she pulls out of the hug.
One of the waitresses, with a smile on her face, "We're closed!" to everyone coming in. She then looks back to the man with Bernice. The bell jingling gets the attention of the gossip and her lunch date. The man smiles, "Oh, I'm sure they're not going to order anything that's going to require you to actually cook. You can surely get them pie and coffee, right?" Immediately the waitress is nodding and moving to get coffee cups. Everyone that walked in suddenly has the hankering for pie and coffee. Huh, weird that. The man keeps talking, "I don't think I've meet everyone. Hello, I'm Medad Love." When he smiles at you, it feels warm and right. Worries are lessened and you just kinda want to keep him smiling.
"Miss. O'Cleary." Nathan gives Lillie a nod of greeting and with it a smile. "I hope all has been well with you, miss." he begins to shed his long overcoat thought there is a reticent pause when the waitresses annouces the closed bit. "A peice of pie and coffee does sound wonderful." which is a bit strange considering his distaste for coffee. He's British, he is all about the tea. The coat comes off and is hung on the rack before he goes to sit at the counter.
Well, Clifton never needed convincing to crave some pie, but now that craving was even stronger! "Thank you, Mister-" he smiles warmly, that's right warmly, as he sees Mister Love and recognizes the man. "Hey! I remember you! How have you been?" Lillie and Dot are left to their conversation for the moment. Clifton had a friend!
"Yes, a healthy little girl to one of the couples out Lincoln Way," Dot says with a smile in response to Lillie. "Well, Doctor Styne did, I just assisted," she amends. Then she hears that voice. She turns to see Berniece and Medad and her eyes widen. "Mister Love! I was hoping to run into you!" she exclaims. She moves to their table and lowers her voice. "I wanted to thank you for ah, helping me a while back, and wondered if you'd be able to do what you did for me, for others? I have a friend in desperate need of such, and another not as desperate, but who I think would be relieved of a great many personal burdens if you were to assist."
It's to be noted that Lillie isn't one to drink coffee after a 'certain' part of the day: mornings only! As her green eyes sweep over the friendly blonde stranger who spends time with Bernice, she feels this… incredible desire for coffee. For a large wedge of pie.. whatever the flavor. Lillie looks at the order in her arms ruefully, her stomach — for effect — even going so far as to snarl it's desires. What the…?
"Everything has been lovely," She offers to Nathan, her voice sweet and right.. something just feels so wonderful in the pit of Lillie's stomach. It expands into her chest, into the fiercely throbbing pony engine of her heart. How does an Empath respond to the likes of Medad Love…? Strongly. She releases Dot to make her way over to Bernice and her present company, padding softly in their direction with her expression rapt. She leaves Dot to speak in confidence to Medad, slides her gaze over to Nathan in wonderment as he settles at the counter, and finally settles upon Clif. "I really… really want pie…" She whispers, moving back toward the counter.
Indeed Clifton has a friend. Medad is everyone's friend! "Hello Clifton! I'm doing well, thank you. I can back to see if anyone has seen my necklace." Dot though gets a head tilt, "I didn't do anything special now, Dot. But if you can find my necklace I might be able to see what i can do."
The waitress pours everyone coffee and then he starts cutting slices of pies.
Nathan hasn't meet the blonde man sitting with Bernice, but with the way everyone is acting around him he is certainly becoming curious about the man. He orders his coffee and pie from the waitress and decides to do the polite thing and go introduce himself "I am truly glad to hear it Miss. O'Cleary." he tells Lillie. The reverand doesn't recall if he has meet Dot but Clifton gets a nod and greeting "Hello Mr. Walker." he hears the bit about the necklace and figures that is a good place to start up conversation "You are missing a peice of jewelry sir?" he questions "I'm Reverend Nathaniel Windsor." he droos the second part because no one wants to sound like a pompous arse. He offers a hand out to Medad politely.
Clifton takes a drink of coffee, closing his eyes as the hot liquid tastes better than it should even with his long shift at the feed store. However, as Mister Love asks the question, he looks back to the man and shakes his head "I haven't seen it. Sorry," he frowns a bit before offering "I'll keep an eye out for it though!" His gaze then goes over to Lillie as she expresses her strong craving for pie, "They have the best pie here don't they?" He grins. He then looks back to Dot as his cousin talks with Mister Love, brow furrowing in curiosity. Was she trying to sneak and get pie before the rest of them?!?
"Oh," Dot says sadly for just a moment. "All right, I'll keep looking!" she declares. Which is so strange for her to give up on a cause so quickly, fixing Leona and Jesse's health issues. Regardless, she moves to sit at the counter for her coffee and pie excitedly. "Pie sounds so good right now! Thank you so much!" she declares to the waitress.
Content at the counter, waiting for her pie and coffee, Lillie waits patiently. She is so excited to have both! Wonderful, hot coffee; apple pie! She drums the counter with Josie's rapidly-cooling bag of food in an elbow, knowing that she //needs to get a move on… but she NEEDS the pie and coffee. But she is full! She does not need it, but wants it more than she should. Why is this?
Lillie waits, her smile twitching somewhat.. she waits, wonders.
Bernice seems happy to sit and listen to everyone talking. The older woman sips on her own coffee, her foot underneath the table tapping lightly. Medad nods to Nathan, "A heart shaped piece, with gold trim." he holds up his fingers to indicate it's about an inch and a half in size. Medad is sitting at a booth with Bernice, speaking to almost everyone in the should be closed diner. He watches the crowd, "I will be glad to help anyone who can help me with finding my necklace. I means the world to me." And yes, everyone hearing and seeing Medad has the urge to make this mad happy and get him his necklace!
"Do you know who made the necklace?" Nathan asks Medad "Does it have any makers marks on it, or anything else that could distingush it?" heart shaped necklaces being quite common, maybe not specifically in this area, but in general "I haven't seen anything like that come in at the shop. Have you tried asking at the pawn shops?" he reaches for his coffee, taking a sip he immediately regrets it. So bitter!
Clifton waits for his pie, taking another drink of the insanely delicious coffee. Listening to the description of the necklace he's already heard before, you'd think it was the first time Mister Love was describing it based on how intently the Walker paid attention. Chin resting on his hand, he furrows a brow and leans forward. Trying to keep the image of that description in his mind. Poor Mister Love. He just had to find this guy's necklace! They were friends after all.
Dot sips her coffee with a soft sigh. It's way better than the paint remover they make up at the homestead, certainly. She nods her head as she hears the description again, like the last time. The man had been so kind to heal her injuries, she surely needs to help him find that bauble of his. "I wonder if anyone in town actually has it? Sounds so fancy doesn't it?" she quips to the others.
A necklace? The search for a necklace? Lillie finds herself simultaneously intrigued and troubled by this sudden, powerful desire to seek out what this perfect stranger desires so strongly. Green eyes stare down at the counter that, nearly eight months ago, she used to wipe down so fervently. Dot is the next to appear at this counter and her emotional bearing is noted immediately… contentment, industriousness.. a degree of missing someone. It mirrors the Empath's feelings. The whole while she listens to Nathan's refined timbre, recollecting in her mind when she had last seen the minister. Has it truly been that long..?
"I should hope there are some leads on where to find it." Lillie adds her two cents, feeling as if the world hinges upon the discovery of this jewelry. By now plates of pie and cups of hot coffee have been set down in front of the patrons, and Lillie looks up and toward Meded thoughtfully, and finally Clifton. "Perhaps I shall ask Tilda, maybe she knows someone who could have seen it… come across it.." She things out loud in her soft, lilting way. The moneyed woman is Lillie's one in-road into the great machine of the gossip mill, much as she loathes to admit it.
Medad gives further details, "The creator 's name is Sandra Evertson. A truly gifted artisan. I believe her initials are on the back of the pendant." He nods, "I'll need to go ask at the pawn shop, thank you, Nathan." Dot gets an uplifting smile, "Maybe? I should hope if someone has it they'll give it back!" Lillie is just nodded to, that sounds like a good idea to him!
Nathan knows little about jewelry or designers of said jewelry so the name just gets a blank expression "You might want to check nearby towns as well." he suggests "If it was stolen the person might not want to pawn in nearby in case it is recognized by the shop owner."
"Maybe I can ask patients who come to the clinic," Dot adds in cheerfully. Such a pleasant way to spend one's afternoon, with pie and coffee, friends and family, talking about jewelry!
The Empath stores that name away into her keen mind, though there is a degree of trouble to her expression despite the wonderful taste of sugar melting upon her tongue; despite the feeling of wellbeing that this blonde man instills within her. That in itself warrants the slightest, slightest naggling of wariness deep within the Empath's mind. But at the same time, how could she be so wary of her new friend?! God above, when did she become so wary?!
Gently, Lillie pushes back from the counter, setting down payment for fare and tips. A long, measured gaze at Medad and Bernice, her sweet expression settling upon Nathan next.. and finally back to Dot and Clifton. "I shall do my best to find a lead." She smiles gently, before bowing her head once. "I've a meal to get to a friend of mine lest she have my head for it being cold. Do take care."
Medad sighs, a sound to break all hearts, "That is where I've been, searching all the towns. I don't think it's been stole, just…m displaced." He raises a hand to wave as Lillie leaves, "Thank you. Take care of Josie!" But then he turns that wonderful smile to Dot, "That's a great idea! Mayeb someone has seen it on someone even!"
"I'll come call on you soon, Lillie! I have some blueberry jam to thank you for your help," Dot says with a bright smile to the other woman. She turns, coffee cup in hand, to grace Medad with her finest smile. She seems in much better spirits than the first time the man saw her in her injured state. Life must be going well for the little nurse. "Oh yes! I hope so! I do so want to find it for you!"
The slender young woman pauses at the door, cinching her coat shut. Did he just say…. maybe the waitresses spoke of Josie's name while filling the order, or there's a name scrawled on the bag. Lillie chides herself… emotions govern her life more often than not. She's not suspecting Medad of anything, but this fierce desire for pie and coffee when she hadn't wanted any of it previously.. huh! Weird!
Lillie has to beat back the urge to practically run to the nearest pawn shop, greasy bag of fries and a hamburger in her arms, to search. Snapping out of it, she smiles openly at Dot as the nurse speaks of jam. "I should like that very much. Come by anytime." Offered earnestly. With an enigmatic smile to those present, Lillie turns up her collar and glides out the door.
"I assume you have checked the lost and found at the police station?" Nathan asks Medad. That's one of the first places he would have went to locate it. "Though if it was misplaced in a shop…" well who knows where it could have gone "Good bye Miss. O'Cleary." he gives the woman a smile and nod as she begins to depart.
Medad looks between the two woman, nodding with approval. It's almost as if he knows. "Nothing would make me happier if you could bring me my necklace, Dot. But Blueberry jam is also very important! Do you make it yourself?" Even as he asks this he reaches across the table to pat Bernice's hand. "Or you getting tired, dear Bernice?" She blinks, shaking her head, but yes, she is tired.
"I have, but not since I returned. I'll go there after Bernice and I are down here." Sage nodding, "Yes, that is why I am asking everyone to keep their eyes open for it. It could be anywhere."
"I do, Mister Love!" Dot exclaims merrily, "Shall I bring you some tomorrow? Are you still staying with Bernice?" she asks.
"I will keep a look out for it." Nathan says, still holding the coffee mug in his hand, everytime he takes a sip its the same thought 'why am I drinking this?' maybe later, when he goes over this in his head he will realize something was not right, but at the moment his hindsight hasn't kicked in yet. "How long will you be in town Mr. Love?"
Medad laughs, which brings joy to everyone, "I will stay long enough to get the blue berry jam!" His teeth flash and those blue eyes twinkle, "For a few days. Hopefully my necklace will be found in that time!" He then offers, "Perhaps a little sugar will help the coffee, Nathan?"
"Excellent! I'll bring some by Bernice's tomorrow!" Dot declares, before paying for her unintended dessert meal. She slides off her stool and waves to the other. "Off home now. Have a wonderful afternoon!"