“Hi, welcome to The Silver Spoon. I’m Betty. What can I get you?”
Erin looked up to see a woman who appeared to be in her late fifties smiling down at her. Her big curly blond hair resembled that of the singer Dolly Parton, but her kind brown eyes reminded her so much of Grandma Becky’s. “Hi. Um, I’m not sure what to get.” She grinned sheepishly at her.
“Well, I could recommend something for you if you’d like,” Betty returned.
“I would. Thank you.” Erin inclined her head in acknowledgment.
“Great. I’ll have our cook whip up the special for you then,” Betty chirped, writing on the small notepad in her hand.
“What’s the special?” Erin asked.
“It’s a surprise, but I promise you won’t be disappointed,” Betty replied with another warm smile. “In the meantime, let me get you a sweet tea.” She turned on her heels and headed toward the lunch counter before opening the latch and walking through the low door at the side. Erin watched as she tore the page from the book and slid it through the tiny window. She said a few words to whoever was on the other side before she grabbed a glass and a pitcher.
“Here you are, honey. This is sure to perk you right on up,” Betty said, placing the glass on the table and pouring the dark-colored liquid until the glass was almost filled to the brim. Then, she stood back with an expectant look.
Erin tentatively brought the glass to her lips and took a sip. The chilled, sweet, tangy taste of the herbal beverage was pleasant, and Erin found herself taking a few more sips before placing the glass back on the table.
“I knew you’d like it,” Betty beamed proudly.
Erin gave the woman a shy look. “It is nice,” she agreed. “I tasted some kind of fruit essence. What is it?”
“It’s a secret recipe, and I’m not supposed to tell anyone,” Betty leaned in to say softly.
“Oh, okay,” Erin replied, a little disappointed.
“But I’ll make an exception for you. My gut’s telling me I can trust you with this,” Betty said after a beat.
Erin simply smiled and waited.
“It’s peach and raspberry. First, I brew the tea in sweetened water, then I place a few slices of peach and some raspberries and let them steep for a while.”
“Wow, I didn’t know making tea could be such an art,” Erin marveled.
“Well, we Southerners love us some sweet tea. It’s our favorite pastime,” Betty beamed.
Erin nodded. Now she understood why the woman’s accent was so distinct. Erin followed the woman’s gaze to see a couple a few seats away, motioning to her.
“I’ll be back in a few. I need to check on a few customers. Your food will be ready shortly.”
Erin inclined her head and reached for the sweet tea as Betty left to tend to the other customers. After finishing half of what was left in the glass, she stared at the brown liquid. It wasn’t opaque, but it felt like a dark abyss pulling her down into a realm of despair. Her thoughts transported back to Dr. Stabler’s office, and the words spoken with such finality hit her with the force of a tonne.
A sob burst through her lips. Panicked, she looked around to make sure no one had heard her. Everyone seemed unaware of her distress. Erin bowed her head, allowing her long blond hair to form a curtain around her face, blocking the tears streaming down it.
“Are you all right, honey?”
Erin frantically wiped her tears, but when she looked up and saw Betty’s brown eyes staring back at her with concern, she couldn’t help the tears that burst through the dam. Her head nestled in her folded arms on the table as she silently cried. The slight movement to her right and the squelching of the leather chair told her Betty had sat beside her. The next thing she knew, the woman was patting her back comfortingly.
When Erin finally stopped crying, she turned her head to see Betty looking worried.
“Want to talk about it?” she gently coaxed.
Erin sat up straight with a sigh, looking at the brown liquid again. “I think my life is over,” she spoke gloomily.
“Why do you say that?” Betty asked.
Erin didn’t answer immediately— she couldn’t.To say the words out loud to someone will make them true.
Betty reached over and rested a comforting hand on her clasped ones. Erin looked over into her caring brown eyes.
