Chapter 1

     Allie stepped through the doors of the new Bradshaw’s Diner and sat on one of the red leathered booths. A waiter strode over and offered her coffee, and she gladly accepted. She ran her fingers through her red hair and grasped the white mug with both hands, loving the warmth that it shot through her.

     Allie was from Wisconsin. She had traveled here, to Chicago, because her life was a tangled mess. Her parents were filing for a divorce and her best friend was too caught up in work to be there for her. To Allie, the idea of visiting Chicago seemed to free her from everything. Here she would have no worries and no problems.

     Where she would live was not yet decided. She had arrived in the city just a couple hours ago and hadn’t searched for a home beforehand. After all, Allie was spontaneous. Living life to its fullest was her goal. Wherever she ended up tonight was unknown, and she didn’t mind.

     After swallowing a swig of coffee, she glanced at the menu lying next to her hand. Bradshaw’s Diner. The printing was fine and old, a rather vintage look that suited the diner. She wondered who Mr. Bradshaw was and if he was here. The coffee was marvelous. It wasn’t the normal bitter tasting, every day coffee you drank. It was different somehow. It may be a queer comment, but something in her wanted to do it.

     Her blue eyes scanned the area around her. A man was sweeping the floor behind the counter and caught Allie’s glance.

“Excuse me, do you know where Mr. Bradshaw is?”

“In the back room. Let me get him for you.” his voice was full and curious. He turned and opened a door. Another man walked out, except he was of older age.

“Sir, I must say that your coffee is wonderful. It’s not... how do you say... the typical kind that you drink at normal diners.” she looked away and then back at him, wondering if he would act peculiar.

“Thank you, miss. You’re actually our first customer.”

“Of the day?”

“No, since we opened the business.”

     Mr. Bradshaw smiled and nodded. He then walked back to the room he came out of. The man who had been sweeping stared at her, and she wondered why. Was he expecting something? A comment? A conversation? The closer she studied him, the more she saw that his eyes weren’t blue like hers. They were green. His hair was brown and thick, something she didn’t see too often. Allie guessed he was around eighteen.

“Thank you for the coffee. How much do I owe you?”

“Fifty-two cents.”

Allie rummaged through her coin purse and pulled out the coins. The man accepted it and walked over to the register to hide them away. He watched her exit the diner.

“Excuse me, miss?”

Just as Allie was pushing the door open, she turned her head.

“Yes?”

“You look hungry. Can I get you some food?”

What a strange comment for someone who didn’t know her. Maybe that was the goal? For him to make a new friend?

“What do you have?” she came over and sat on the barstool. Her hands cupped her chin and she looked into his sparkling eyes.

“Philly cheesesteak, meatloaf, burgers, shakes, fries. You name it.” he rubbed his hands with a towel.

“How about a burger and a strawberry shake.”

     The man nodded and began to prepare her food. She noted his gestures - how he flipped the meat patty, how he pressed it to seer in the flavor. She had to admit, he was cute. Somewhere inside was a person, a man who seemed to know who he was. Only her unsuccessful days of flirting were over.

     Who was she kidding? No man had ever stuck around long. Maybe she could be successful at a friendship? She prayed she would because it would be nice to know someone in such a big city.

“Where you from?” he asked, facing the grill with his back to her.

“Wisconsin.”

“Let me guess. Small town?”

When Allie didn’t answer, he turned. She was staring at him with awe. How did he know that?

“I could tell,” he said.

“Oh? And let me guess. You grew up here?”

He turned to face her again.

“Yep.”

     The man placed a plate of food in front of her and finished preparing her shake. He didn’t k now what to say anymore, so he let her eat in silence. It would have been nice if other people were in the diner because he would have an excuse to not pay attention to her. He tried to occupy himself by sweeping and not making direct eye contact with Allie, even though he wanted to.

     She was beautiful. Whenever she looked at him, her eyes seemed to stare deep into his soul. He loved her red, bouncy curls. Who was she exactly? What was her name? Why was she here? Those weren’t questions he should be asking, so he chose to keep it to himself. However, he knew in his heart that he would regret it if he didn’t.

“What’s your name?” he cleared his throat after asking, as if he felt uncomfortable.

“Allie. And yours?”

“John.”

“Very nice to meet you, John. Thank you for the food, it was delicious. I should be going.”

Disappointment flooded his heart as he heard those words.

“No, don’t go.” he reached out a hand in her direction.

She looked at him, and he could tell she was curious and slightly intimidated.

“Sorry. I mean… you’re new here. Do you have somewhere to stay?”

“No, as a matter of fact I don’t.” her hand still held the door open.

“Then come and stay with my family and me. We’d love to have you.”

Was he being too forward?

“I’d like that - ”

“Great, I’ll - ”

“- but I don’t know you. I’ll find a place. Don’t worry.” and with that, she walked out the door and left John behind with a sad heart.

     Allie thought it was rather odd that a stranger offered her a place to stay. John seemed very nice, but she couldn’t accept such an offer. He almost seemed disappointed she was leaving the diner, but he had no need to be. She would probably come back for dinner or tomorrow for breakfast, depending on where she wound up.     

“Excuse me!” a man yelled behind her. She whirled around, trying to make out the face that was partially hidden by the misty afternoon. A light rain started to tickle the top of Allie’s thick, red head.

“Let’s start over. I kinda messed up back there.” it was John.

     She was rather shocked. He was asking for a second chance? Allie had been through one too many breakups, and ever since then, she decided to keep a close guard on her heart. Too many had seemed true. Too many had lied. Too many left her for a prettier woman, even when they promised they would never leave. She couldn’t deal with a broken heart. Not again. All Allie did was stand and stare at him. What else was she to do?

“Did I say something wrong?” John asked. Through the mist, he could see tears forming in her eyes.

“No.” she blinked several times, trying to rid her tears before they fell down her face. Why was she about to cry? Some girl of confidence she was.

“Don’t lie. I could see it in your eyes. You were about to cry.”

“Listen, I’ve just been through a lot, okay? I’d appreciate it if you just left me alone.” Allie turned and put her hands in the pockets of her grey coat. To John, Allie looked depressing with the drizzling rain and mist that surrounded her. The color of her coat made his heart break even more. She looked so sad. He caught up and gently grabbed her arm to stop her.

“Please, tell me. What’s the matter?” his whispered in a soft voice. Allie was glad no one else was near them. It would have been even more embarrassing. Allie simply looked into his eyes, tearing his heart in two.

“Let’s go to my house. We’ll warm up and you can tell me everything.”

She nodded. So what if he was a stranger? Allie was dreadfully cold and longed for the warmth of a fireplace. Maybe even a cup of hot cocoa. Just thinking about it warmed her up.

     They walked a ways and then arrived at the house. It wasn’t big like Allie was expecting, but it was medium and cozy. He walked her up the front steps and opened the door for her. When Allie entered, she was surprised that a huge family didn’t run up and ask who she was.

“Where’s your family?” Allie asked as John removed her coat from her shoulders and hung it up on the coat rack.

“My father is still at work. My mother is probably home, though.”

“Are you an only child?”

“Yes.”

So was Allie.

     He led her into the white-tiled kitchen and searched for his mother. Her back was to them and she was washing dishes in the sink. John opened one of the oak cabinets and pulled out two blue mugs. The mother heard the cabinet close, so she turned. Her eyes lit up as soon as they landed on Allie.

“Mother, this is Allie. She’s new in the city and doesn’t have a place to stay.”

“Very nice to meet you, Allie,” she was still scrubbing dishes in the soapy water. “I’d shake your hand, but mine are a little slippery right now.” the mother smiled at her.

Finally, Allie’s manners kicked in.

“I’m sorry if I’m intruding on you all. I just - ” I just didn’t find a place to stay before I came to the city. Yeah, that sounded responsible.

“Nonsense, Allie. You’re more than welcome to stay here.”

“Here you go.” John handed her a cup of hot cocoa. They sat at the circular table in the kitchen.

     John didn’t want to ask too many questions about Allie in front of his mother. She would probably chew him out in private for prying into a stranger’s life. John remembered why he had brought Allie here - to talk about why she was about to cry. He had almost forgotten.

“Well, are you going to talk to your friend? Or do I have to do that again?” his mother winked.

John smiled. There must have been another time this happened and John was quiet. Allie noted the relationship between mother and son. If only she could have one like that with her parents.

“Mother, I’m going to show Allie the gazebo in the backyard.” he stood and Allie followed his example.

“It’s pouring rain. Why don’t you wait until tomorrow?”

Before the mother could stop them, John was already near the back door with Allie.

“It’s a gazebo, mother. It has a cover.”

     John and Allie ran through the sloshy grass with their hot cocoa mugs. Allie tried to cover her head with one of her hands, but it didn’t work as well as she hoped. She laughed at herself, and she heard a giggle from John. They skipped up the two stairs and were finally sheltered by the top of the gazebo.

     They stood there. The only warmth they had was from the mug they held. The heat radiated through their hands, making Allie colder. She knew why John brought her out here, but she didn’t want to talk about it like she wanted to when they were in the street. Just being here with him in the rain made her forget about her past. His mother was nice and the house was well kept. She was comfortable here.

“I'm just going on a whim here, but I'm guessing you aren't dying to talk about what was bothering you earlier?” John asked.

“No, not really.  I know that was the reason you brought me here, but to be honest, I forgot about it as soon as I stepped through your front door. I feel at ease here.”

“I understand. Now, you’ll need a place to sleep tonight. What would you prefer: a room or the floor of the gazebo?”

     Allie gave him a sideways glance. They laughed with each other, but it died down within a few seconds. He took a drink out of his mug and stared at the rain surrounding them. Allie wondered what was so interesting about it that grabbed his attention. She stared at it too, trying to see if she could find pleasure in it like John had seemed to.

“You know Allie, life is just like the rain.”

“Oh?” she turned her head and looked at him.

“Yeah. When life just happens, it seems to downpour. And when it downpours for a while, it feels like it’ll never end. And you don’t stand there and let it drench you. Sometimes you have to dance in it until the sun comes out. It may take a while, but it brightens up in the end.”

     What he said clicked in her head. She better start dancing, otherwise she’d be soaked to the skin. She knew things would get better, she just had to forget about her past and move on. Her parents had a reason to divorce. God must have given her best friend a lot of work so Allie could come here. And her boyfriends? Well, at least now she knew what she wanted in a guy.

“Are you standing or dancing?” John turned his head to her with his elbows on the rail. Allie watched the rain in front of her fall.

“I never thought of life like that. I think I’ll start dancing.”

     John smiled and gave her a sideways hug since they held mugs in their hands. He was glad to open her eyes. After a few minutes of silence, they walked back into the house. They saw the father sitting at the kitchen table reading a newspaper.

    When the father heard the back door shut, he tilted his newspaper down. Allie met his look and was surprised when she placed where he was from. Mr. Bradshaw was John’s father? She felt so stupid! She should have seen the resemblance at the diner when they stood side by side. Mr. Bradshaw appeared just as shocked.

“Mr. Bradshaw! Hello.” Allie shook his hand.

“You’re the girl from the diner!” he exclaimed.

“Yes, I am!” her smile broadened.

“It’s very nice to meet you. Formally, that is.” he gave a nod.

     John and Allie sat at the kitchen table with Mr. Bradshaw and talked about the diner. He had officially started the business today, and he told Allie how much he appreciated her being the first customer. The coffee, he explained, was his own blend. He wouldn’t tell Allie the ingredients, but he did admit that there were many secrets to it.

     They talked for hours. Mr. Bradshaw’s stories were so interesting and intriguing. John had probably heard them a thousand times, but Allie loved every second of it. He recounted the time when he was eleven and the United States had received their national anthem. A year later, he said, air conditioning was invented. And just before he became a teenager, the first atom had been split.

“I remember my father, too. He was in the food business as well. So many people ate at his restaurants and diners. I looked up to him for that. And that’s why I opened my own little business.”

“Those are amazing stories, Mr. Bradshaw. I had no idea you had been through so much.”

“Yes. It’s late, maybe I can tell you more next time.”

“Allie,” Mrs. Bradshaw came up behind her and put her hand on Allie’s shoulder. “why don’t you stay with us.”

“Just for tonight. I should really find my own place.”

“Well, you can stay as long as you like. You won’t be intruding.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Bradshaw.”

     She led Allie up the stairs and into the guestroom.  She apologized that the bed didn’t have fresh sheets, and Allie simply told her not to worry about it. She said goodnight to Mrs. Bradshaw and prepared to slide under the blankets. After saying her prayer, she closed her eyes. It seemed to take forever to fall asleep because there was so much to take in. But soon enough, she drifted off into a world of dreams.

Author's Note

I feel that the whole "such a good cup of coffee" thing in the beginning is awkward. Do any of you have suggestions on how to fix this? Or maybe a different idea? I am also looking for critical feedback as well. Thank you!